Custody schedules
In a week on, week off schedule, the children live with one parent for a full week, then with the other parent for a full week. It is a 50/50 schedule with one handover a week.
A week on, week off custody schedule is the simplest 50/50 plan. Each parent has seven nights in a row, then the children move to the other home for seven nights.
The main choice is the changeover day. Friday and Monday are common, because a school pickup or drop-off can be the handover.
Also called alternating weeks, 7-7 or one week on, one week off.
Two weeks, then it repeats
Parent A Parent B
Here is a Friday changeover, starting on a Monday:
That makes two handovers in every two weeks. Each parent has the children for seven nights in a row.
Pros and cons
Week on, week off often suits older children and teenagers. They can manage a week away from one parent, and they value fewer moves. For younger children, many families start with a 2-2-3 or 2-2-5-5 and move to alternating weeks later.
Some families add a midweek dinner with the other parent, so the gap feels shorter.
Hand over at Friday school pickup, so each parent starts their week with a weekend.
Hand over on Sunday evening, so each week starts fresh on Monday.
Add a dinner or an afternoon with the other parent in the middle of the week. In Casewell this is a daytime visit.
Track it in Casewell
Pick it from the patterns. Casewell fills in who has the children each night, this week and next.
Use Swap sides or Move by a week until the nights match your order or agreement, then set the handover times.
When a night changes, record it. The calendar counts the nights with each parent, and your PDF can include the schedule.
Compare
| Schedule | Split | Handovers in 2 weeks | Longest time apart | Weekends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-2-3 | 50/50 | 6 | 3 nights | Alternate, Friday to Sunday |
| 2-2-5-5 | 50/50 | 4 | 5 nights | Alternate, Friday to Sunday |
| 3-4-4-3 | 50/50 | 4 | 4 nights | Split: Saturday alternates |
| Week on, week off | 50/50 | 2 | 7 nights | Alternate, as part of each week |
| Every other weekend | 86/14 | 2 | 12 nights | Every other weekend with Parent B |
Counted over two weeks with the handover times the app uses by default. Try the patterns side by side with the custody schedule comparison tool.
Common questions
Casewell helps you keep track of a schedule. It does not give legal advice or decide what a court will order.
It often suits older children and teens, who value fewer moves. Younger children may find a week apart from a parent long, so many families use shorter blocks first.
Friday and Monday are popular, because the handover can happen at school. Sunday evening is common for families who want each week to start on Monday.
Yes. Each parent has seven nights in every two weeks.
One a week, or two in every two weeks.
Choose Week on, week off in Casewell and pick the handover times. The calendar fills in, and you can record any swapped weeks or holidays.
Set up your week on, week off schedule, record changes, and count the nights with each parent.
Casewell does not provide legal advice or guarantee professional acceptance.
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