Parenting Time

What is parenting time?

Parenting time is about how parents manage the actual time spent with their children after separation or divorce. Unlike decision-making responsibility, which centers on the authority to make major decisions about a child's life, parenting time is about the day-to-day relationship between parent and child. At Sarbazevatan Law, Sourena Sarbazevatan provides specialized support to ensure these arrangements serve the child's best interests.

A parent who has parenting time but no decision-making responsibility still has the right to ask for, and receive, information about the child's health, education, and well-being from the other parent.

Ways parenting time can be divided

• Reasonable parenting time: if parents can cooperate, parenting time can be left open and flexible, letting them make plans that are easy to change.
• Fixed parenting time: a specific, detailed schedule that may set out holidays, long weekends, birthdays, and religious occasions, as well as who is responsible for pick-up and drop-off.
• Supervised parenting time: in some situations parenting time must be supervised by another person, such as a relative, friend, social worker, or Children's Aid worker, for example where the parent has a drug or alcohol problem, has abused the child, or has threatened or tried to take the child away.
• No parenting time: in the most extreme cases a parent may have no parenting time, for example where they have seriously neglected or abused the child, or the child's safety cannot be protected.

Does child support affect parenting time?

No. Parenting time and child support are separate legal issues. A parent cannot be denied parenting time because they have not paid child support, and a parent usually still has to pay child support even if they do not have parenting time.

Can someone other than a parent get time with a child?

Yes. When someone who is not a parent or step-parent wants to spend time with a child, such as a grandparent, aunt, or uncle, they can ask the court for a contact order.

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Establishing parenting time

Establishing parenting time is crucial so that children keep a stable and meaningful relationship with both parents after a separation or divorce. Working with a seasoned parenting time lawyer like Sourena Sarbazevatan helps you navigate this process effectively.

Negotiation

The negotiation phase is pivotal. It involves detailed discussions, guided by a skilled lawyer, to reach a schedule that is in the best interests of the child. Sourena provides counsel that respects the cultural dynamics of all parties and helps reduce conflict, fostering a cooperative environment.

Mediation and legal proceedings

When direct negotiations stall, mediation brings in a neutral third party to help establish a fair arrangement. If mediation does not produce a satisfactory outcome, the process may move to court, where Sourena defends your rights and your children's welfare.

Common parenting time schedules

There is no single schedule that works for every family, and Ontario law does not impose one. The right arrangement depends on the children's ages, the parents' work and living situations, the distance between homes, and above all the children's best interests. Common arrangements include:

• alternating weeks between each parent's home
• a 2-2-3 rotation that keeps both parents involved during the week
• one parent on weekdays and the other on weekends
• alternating weekends with a shared division of holidays and school breaks
• mid-week visits or dinners to keep contact regular

A well-drafted schedule also sets out how holidays, birthdays, and special occasions are shared, and how exchanges and day-to-day communication will happen, so that everyday life runs smoothly for the children.

Changing a parenting time arrangement

Children's needs change as they grow, and a schedule that worked for a toddler may not suit a teenager. A parenting arrangement can be changed by agreement at any time, and where parents cannot agree, a court can vary an order if there has been a material change in circumstances, such as a move, a new job, or a change in the child's needs. We help parents adjust arrangements smoothly and, where necessary, bring or respond to a motion to change.

Keeping conflict away from the children

However a schedule is set, the way parents communicate has a lasting effect on their children. Speaking respectfully about the other parent, sharing information promptly, and using tools such as a shared calendar or a co-parenting app can make a real difference. Courts pay close attention to which parent supports the child's relationship with the other, and undermining that relationship can carry consequences. Sourena Sarbazevatan helps parents build practical, low-conflict arrangements that put the children first.

Why choose Sarbazevatan Law

Sourena understands the distinctions between parenting time and decision-making responsibility, and is committed to tailored solutions that protect the rights and welfare of children. As a lawyer serving the Iranian and Persian communities, he handles the cultural and legal complexities of family law with care, in English and Persian.

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