1. What is a Parenting Time Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the percentage of parenting time based on overnight stays and total nights in a given period.

Purpose: It helps parents and legal professionals calculate parenting time percentages for custody arrangements in Indiana.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( PT \) — Parenting time percentage
• \( N \) — Number of overnight stays (dimensionless)
• \( T \) — Total nights in the period (dimensionless)

Explanation: The number of overnights is divided by total nights to get a decimal value, then multiplied by 100 to convert to percentage.

3. Importance of Parenting Time Calculation

Details: Accurate parenting time percentages are crucial for determining child support obligations and maintaining fair custody arrangements under Indiana law.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of overnight stays with one parent and the total number of nights in the period (default 365 for annual calculation). Overnights cannot exceed total nights.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why are overnight stays used for calculation?
A: Indiana courts typically use overnight stays as the primary metric for parenting time as they best represent actual custodial time.

Q2: What's the standard period for calculation?
A: One year (365 days) is standard, but shorter periods may be used for temporary arrangements.

Q3: How does parenting time affect child support?
A: In Indiana, parenting time percentages directly influence child support calculations through the parenting time credit system.

Q4: What counts as an overnight stay?
A: Any night where the child sleeps at one parent's residence counts, regardless of the exact hours.

Q5: How accurate does this need to be?
A: Courts typically require calculations accurate to two decimal places for official purposes.