Utah Parenting Time Calculator

Utah calculates parenting time by counting the total overnight stays each parent has with the child over a 365-day year. The percentage is determined by dividing a parent's overnights by 365—for example, 182 overnights equals approximately 50%. Under Utah Code § 81-6-206, this overnight count directly affects child support calculations, with different worksheets used depending on whether each parent has at least 111 overnights annually.

In Utah, each parent must have at least 111 overnights per year (approximately 30.4%) to qualify for joint physical custody under Utah Code § 81-6-206. This threshold determines which child support worksheet applies—the Joint Physical Custody Worksheet for 111+ overnights or the Sole Custody Worksheet for fewer than 111. The difference between 110 and 111 overnights significantly impacts both the custody classification and child support calculation.

The 2-2-3 schedule, codified in Utah Code § 81-9-305, is Utah's statutory equal parent-time arrangement resulting in 182/183 overnights per parent annually. One parent has Monday-Tuesday nights, the other has Wednesday-Thursday nights, and weekends alternate Friday through Sunday. This rotation ensures children see both parents every few days, making it particularly suitable for younger children who benefit from frequent contact with both homes.

Utah uses the income shares model where parenting time directly reduces child support obligations. Parents with 111+ overnights each use the Joint Physical Custody Worksheet, which adjusts support based on the exact overnight split. More parenting time means lower child support payments because the parent is directly covering expenses during their custodial periods. Even with 50/50 custody, the higher-earning parent typically pays some support to equalize household resources.

Utah allows parenting plan modifications when there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances since the last court order, such as relocation, remarriage, or changes in the child's needs. Either parent may file a Petition to Modify Parent-Time through the Utah Courts. If the other parent opposes the modification, mandatory mediation is required before a court hearing. The court will evaluate whether the proposed change serves the child's best interests under Utah Code § 81-9-207.

Utah Code § 81-9-304 establishes age-graduated schedules for children under 5, recognizing that young children need frequent contact with both parents but cannot tolerate extended separations. For children 12-18 months, overnights begin with one per week. For toddlers 18 months to 3 years, the statute allows alternating weekends plus a midweek evening. Utah courts and child development experts often recommend the 2-2-3 rotation for toddlers over week-on/week-off, as it limits time away from either parent to just 2-3 days.

Under Utah Code § 81-9-302, most holidays alternate between parents on an odd/even year rotation—for example, the noncustodial parent has Thanksgiving in even years and the custodial parent has it in odd years. Mother's Day and Father's Day always go to the respective parent from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. regardless of year. Birthdays are split, with one parent getting the actual day (3-9 p.m.) and the other getting the day before or after, alternating annually. Holiday schedules take precedence over regular parent-time when conflicts occur.

First right of refusal in Utah requires the on-duty parent to offer parenting time to the other parent before using a babysitter, daycare, or relative for childcare. Under Utah Code § 30-3-33(15), now incorporated into Title 81, parental care is presumed better than surrogate care. The threshold is typically 3-4 hours of needed care. This right must be explicitly included in your custody order—simply incorporating the code section may not automatically create it. Courts may decline to order it in high-conflict cases or when domestic abuse is present.