Feedback on Parenting Time Guideline Changes

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines are guidelines regarding custody and parenting time arrangements which are utilized by courts, mediators, and attorneys in family law cases. Indiana has a domestic relations committee which worked on creating the guidelines and they are responsible for proposing updates to the Guidelines as needed.

The domestic relations committee has proposed changes to the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines. As part of the proposal process, the committee is seeking input from the public on the proposed changes. Since the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines presumptively apply to every court case where custody and parenting time is an issue, changes to these guidelines significantly impact the community.The proposed changes can be found at: Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines. The domestic relations committee provided the following highlights on the proposed changes:

• Parenting time during a public health emergency.

• Reducing potential for third-party conflict when children are dropped off/picked up between homes.

• Uniformity of pick-up and drop-off times on holidays and birthdays.

• Transportation to and from extracurricular activities.

• Text messaging as a common type of communication.

• Immunity of parenting coordinators.

• Removal of the section on parallel parenting.

Feedback on the proposed changes will be accepted until 1:00 pm Eastern on Friday, May 14, 2021. Comments may be submitted online at Comment on Parenting Time Guidelines or sent by mail to the Indiana Office of Court Services, c/o Domestic Relations Committee, 251 N. Illinois St., Suite 800, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

We encourage you to review the proposed changes and provide any feedback you may have.