Utah Code § 81-9-303

Optional schedule for parent-time for a minor child five to 18 years old
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(1)
(a) The optional parent-time schedule in this section applies when establishing a parent-time
schedule for a minor child who is five to 18 years old.

(b) For purposes of calculating child support, the optional parent-time schedule in this section is
145 overnights.
(c) Any impact on child support shall be consistent with joint physical custody.
(2) The parents and the court may consider the increased parent-time schedule in this section
as a minimum parent-time schedule when the parties agree or the noncustodial parent can
demonstrate:
(a) the noncustodial parent has been actively involved in the minor child's life;
(b) the parties can communicate effectively regarding the minor child or the noncustodial parent
has a plan to accomplish effective communications regarding the minor child;
(c) the noncustodial parent has the ability to facilitate the increased parent-time;
(d) the increased parent-time would be in the best interest of the minor child; and
(e) any other factor the court considers relevant.
(3) In determining whether a noncustodial parent has been actively involved in the minor child's
life, the court shall consider:
(a) demonstrated responsibility in caring for the minor child;
(b) involvement in childcare;
(c) presence or volunteer efforts in the minor child's school and at extracurricular activities;
(d) assistance with the minor child's homework;
(e) involvement in preparation of meals, bath time, and bedtime for the minor child;
(f) bonding with the minor child; and
(g) any other factor the court considers relevant.
(4) In determining whether a noncustodial parent has the ability to facilitate the increased parent-
time, the court shall consider:
(a) the geographic distance between the residences of the parents and the distance between the
parents' residences and the minor child's school;
(b) the noncustodial parent's ability to assist with after school care;
(c) the health of the minor child and the noncustodial parent in accordance with Subsection
81-9-204(4);
(d) flexibility of employment or another schedule of the noncustodial parent;
(e) ability to provide appropriate playtime with the minor child;
(f) history and ability of the noncustodial parent to implement a flexible schedule for the minor
child;
(g) physical facilities of the noncustodial parent's residence; and
(h) any other factor the court considers relevant.
(5) If the parties agree or the court enters an order for the optional parent-time schedule under
this section, a parenting plan in compliance with Section 81-9-203 shall be filed with any order
incorporating the optional parent-time schedule described in Subsection (6).
(6) The following schedule is considered the optional parent-time to which the noncustodial parent
is entitled to the minor child:
(a)
(i) one weekday evening to be specified by the noncustodial parent or the court or Wednesday
evening if not specified, beginning at 5:30 p.m. and ending the following day upon delivering
the minor child to school or at 8 a.m. if there is no school; or
(ii) at the election of the noncustodial parent, one weekday specified by the noncustodial parent
or the court:
(A) beginning at the time the minor child's school is regularly dismissed until the following day
upon delivering the minor child to school or at 8 a.m. if there is no school; or

(B) if there is no school, the noncustodial parent is available to be with the minor child, and in
accommodation with the custodial parent's work schedule, beginning at 8 a.m. and ending
on the following day upon delivering the minor child to school or at 8 a.m. if there is no
school;
(b)
(i) beginning the first weekend after the entry of the decree, alternating weekends beginning at
5:30 p.m. on Friday and ending on Monday upon delivering the minor child to school or at 8
a.m. if there is no school; or
(ii) at the election of the noncustodial parent, beginning the first weekend after the entry of the
decree, alternating weekends:
(A) beginning at the time the minor child's school is regularly dismissed on Friday and ending
on Monday upon delivering the minor child to school or at 8 a.m. if there is no school; or
(B) if there is no school, the noncustodial parent is available to be with the minor child, and in
accommodation with the custodial parent's work schedule, beginning on Friday at 8 a.m.
and ending on Monday upon delivering the minor child to school or at 8 a.m. if there is no
school;
(c) each holiday granted to the noncustodial parent in accordance with the holiday schedule
described in Subsection (15); and
(d) extended parent-time with the minor child when school is not in session for summer break in
accordance with Subsection (7).
(7)
(a) For extended parent-time with the minor child under Subsection (6)(d) and at the election of
the noncustodial parent, the noncustodial parent is entitled up to four weeks of parent-time
with the minor child when school is not in session for summer break, beginning at 8 a.m. on
the first day and ending at 8:30 p.m. on the last day.
(b) For the four weeks of extended parent-time for a noncustodial parent under Subsection (7)(a):
(i) two weeks shall be uninterrupted parent-time for the noncustodial parent; and
(ii) two weeks may be interrupted by the custodial parent for a weekday visit on the same day
on which the noncustodial parent is granted weekday day parent-time.
(c) A custodial parent is entitled to uninterrupted parent-time with the minor child for two weeks
when school is not in session for summer break, beginning at 8 a.m. on the first day and
ending at 8:30 p.m. on the last day.
(d) Extended parent-time described in this Subsection (7) shall be consecutive, except that the
four weeks of extended parent-time for the noncustodial parent may be divided into two 14-
day separate periods that are not consecutive.
(8)
(a) Each parent shall provide notification to the other parent of the parent's plans for the exercise
of parent-time for summer break under Subsection (7).
(b) For the notification requirement described in Subsection (8)(a):
(i) in odd-numbered years:
(A) the noncustodial parent shall provide notice to the custodial parent by May 1; and
(B) the custodial parent shall provide notice to the noncustodial parent by May 15; and
(ii) in even-numbered years:
(A) the custodial parent shall provide notice to the noncustodial parent by May 1; and
(B) the noncustodial parent shall provide notice to the custodial parent by May 15.
(c)

(i) If a parent fails to provide a notification within the time periods described in Subsection
(8)(b), the complying parent may determine the schedule for summer break for the
noncomplying parent.
(ii) If both parents fail to provide notice within the time periods described in Subsection (8)(b),
the first parent to provide notice may determine the schedule for summer break for that
parent and the other parent.
(d) If a custodial parent intends to interrupt a noncustodial parent's parent-time under Subsection
(7)(b)(ii), the custodial parent shall provide notification to the noncustodial parent of the intent
to interrupt parent-time within 10 days after the day on which the custodial parent receives
notification of the noncustodial parent's plans for the exercise of interrupted extended parent-
time.
(9)
(a) An election should be made by the noncustodial parent at the time of entry of the divorce
decree or court order, except that the election may be changed by mutual agreement, court
order, or by the noncustodial parent in the event of a change in the minor child's schedule.
(b) An election by either parent concerning parent-time shall be made a part of the decree and
made a part of the parent-time order.
(10)
(a) Changes may not be made to the parent-time schedule under this section, except that if a
conflict arises in the parent-time schedule, the following order of precedence shall be applied
when determining which parent is entitled to parent-time:
(i) the holiday schedule for Mother's Day or Father's Day under Subsection (15);
(ii) the holiday schedule for the minor child's birthday, unless a parent is exercising
uninterrupted extended parent-time under Subsection (7) and takes the minor child away
from that parent's residence during the uninterrupted extended parent-time;
(iii) the holiday schedule for any holiday under Subsection (15) that is not Father's Day,
Mother's Day, or the minor child's birthday;
(iv) extended parent-time under Subsection (7); and
(v) the schedule for weekday or weekend parent-time.
(b) A parent exercising parent-time for the minor child's birthday may bring other siblings along
for the minor child's birthday.
(11) A stepparent, grandparent, or other responsible adult designated by a parent, may pick up the
minor child for parent-time if the other parent is aware of the identity of the individual and the
parent will be with the minor child by 7 p.m.
(12) If a holiday falls on a regularly scheduled school day, the parent exercising parent-time shall
be responsible for the minor child's attendance at school for that school day.
(13) If there is more than one minor child and the minor children's school schedules vary for
purpose of a holiday, at the option of the parent exercising the holiday or the parent's half of
the holiday, the minor children may remain together for the holiday period beginning the first
evening that all minor children's schools are dismissed for the holiday and ending the evening
before any minor child returns to school.
(14) If there is a minor child five to 18 years old and a minor child under five years old and both
minor children are the children of the parties, the parents and the court should consider an
upward deviation for parent-time with all the minor children so that parent-time is uniform based
on a schedule under this section.
(15) The following table is the holiday schedule for parent-time under this section.

Holiday Holiday Time Period Years
Noncustodial
Parent is
Granted
Holiday
Years Custodial
Parent is Granted
Holiday
Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.
Day
(1) Holiday begins
:
(a) at the time that school is
dismissed for Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. Day; or
(b) Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the election
of the parent granted the holiday.
(2) Holiday ends
upon delivering of the minor child
to school on the day that school
resumes.
Odd years Even years
Presidents'
Day
(1) Holiday begins
:
(a) at the time that school is
dismissed for Presidents' Day; or
(b) Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the election
of the parent granted the holiday.
(2) Holiday ends
upon delivering the minor child
to school on the day that school
resumes.
Even years Odd years
Spring Break (1) Holiday begins at:
(a) the time school is dismissed for
spring break; or
(b) 5:30 p.m. on the day that school
dismisses for spring break at the
election of the parent granted the
holiday.
(2) Holiday ends
upon delivering the minor child
to school on the day that school
resumes.
Odd years Even years
Memorial Day (1) Holiday begins
:
(a) at the time that school is
dismissed for Memorial Day; or
(b) Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the election
of the parent granted the holiday.
(2) Holiday ends:
Even years Odd years

(a) upon delivering the minor child to
school on the day following Memorial
Day; or
(b) at 8 a.m. on the day following
Memorial Day if there is no school.
Mother's Day (1) Holiday begins at 5:30 p.m. on
the day before Mother's Day.
(2) Holiday ends on Mother's Day at
8:30 p.m.
All years if
noncustodial
parent is the
mother or
other parent
designated in
the order.
All years if
custodial parent
is the mother
or other parent
designated in the
order.
Father's Day (1) Holiday begins at 5:30 p.m. on
the day before Father's Day.
(2) Holiday ends on Father's Day at
8:30 p.m.
All years if
noncustodial
parent is
the father or
other parent
designated in
the order.
All years if
custodial parent is
the father or other
parent designated
in the order.
Juneteenth
National
Freedom Day
(1) Holiday begins on Friday at 5:30
p.m. and ends on Saturday at 5:30
p.m., if Juneteenth National Freedom
Day is on the day before Father's
Day.
(2) Holiday begins on Sunday at 8:30
p.m. and ends on Tuesday at 8:30
p.m., if Juneteenth National Freedom
Day is on Father's Day or on the day
following Father's Day.
(3) Holiday begins at 5:30 p.m. on
the day before Juneteenth National
Freedom Day and ends at 8:30 p.m.
on the day following Juneteenth
National Freedom Day, unless
Juneteenth National Freedom Day
is on Father's Day, the day before
Father's Day, or the day following
Father's Day.
Even years Odd years
Independence
Day
(1) Holiday begins on July 3rd at
5:30 p.m.
(2) Holiday ends on July 5th at 8:30
p.m.
Odd years Even years
Pioneer Day (1) Holiday begins on July 23rd at
5:30 p.m.
Even years Odd years

(2) Holiday ends on July 25th at
8:30 p.m.
Labor Day (1) Holiday begins
:
(a) at the time that school is
dismissed for Labor Day; or
(b) Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the election
of the parent granted the holiday.
(2) Holiday ends
upon delivering the minor child
to school on the day that school
resumes.
Odd years Even years
Fall Break (1) Holiday begins at:
(a) the time that school is dismissed
for fall break; or
(b) 5:30 p.m. on the day that school
dismisses for fall break at the
election of the parent granted the
holiday.
(2) Holiday ends
upon delivering the minor child
to school on the day that school
resumes.
Odd years Even years
Halloween (1) Holiday begins on October
31st or the day that Halloween is
traditionally celebrated in the local
community:
(a) at the time that school is
dismissed; or
(b) at 3 p.m. if there is no school.
(2) Holiday ends at 8:30 p.m. on the
same day the holiday begins.
Even years Odd years
Thanksgiving (1) Holiday begins
at:
(a) the time that school is dismissed
for Thanksgiving; or
(b) 5:30 p.m. on the day that school
dismisses for Thanksgiving at the
election of the parent granted the
holiday.
(2) Holiday ends
upon delivering the minor child
to school on the day that school
resumes.
Even years Odd years

Winter Break
(First Half)
(1) Holiday begins at:
(a) the time that school dismisses
for winter break; or
(b) 5:30 p.m. on the day that school
dismisses for winter break at the
election of the parent granted the
holiday.
(2) Holiday ends on December 27th
at 8:30 p.m.
Odd years Even years
Winter Break
(Second Half)
(1) Holiday begins on December
27th at 8:30 p.m.
(2) Holiday ends upon delivering
the minor child to school on the day
that school resumes after the winter
break.
Even years Odd years
Day of Minor
Child's
Birthday
(1) Holiday begins at 3 p.m.
(2) Holiday ends at 8:30 p.m.
Even years Odd years
Day Before
or After
Minor Child's
Birthday
(1) Holiday begins at 3 p.m.
(2) Holiday ends at 8:30 p.m.
Odd years Even years

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