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Is 50/50 custody realistic with two working parents?

CAquietcreek1 month ago

We both work full-time and live 20 minutes apart. The kids are 6 and 9. Can we actually do 50/50 or does one parent always get more time?

2 replies

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Grace Mensah avatarGrace MensahVerified Attorney1 month ago

It's very common in CA when the parents live within the same school zone and can coordinate. Common schedules: 2-2-3 (you and your partner alternate three-day weekends, with the weekdays in 2/2/3 blocks), week-on/week-off (older kids handle this better), or 5-2-2-5. The biggest predictor of whether 50/50 actually works isn't the schedule, it's how civil the handoffs are. Pick the schedule that minimizes handoffs if you can't be in the same room without tension. Bring a draft proposal to mediation rather than asking the mediator to design it from scratch — you'll get a much better result.

deepwater1 month ago

We do 2-2-3 with a 7 and 10 year old. The transition days are the hardest. Tip: use a shared calendar (we use OurFamilyWizard) so the kids know who is picking up.

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Please readThis is a community space for sharing personal experience — it is not legal advice, and posts here are not from Lawma or your attorney. We strongly encourage you to post under an anonymous handle, keep questions general, and avoid posting private details of your active case. For advice about your own situation, message your attorney.