4-3 Custody Schedule
A custody arrangement where one parent has 4 days per week and the other has 3 days, creating a near-equal split with consistent weekday routines.
What is the 4-3 Schedule?
The 4-3 schedule is a fixed weekly arrangement where one parent consistently has 4 days and the other has 3 days. Unlike alternating schedules, the same parent always has the same days. This can work well when one parent has a schedule that better accommodates extended weekday time.
How It Works
Here's what a typical week looks like:
Parent A has Monday-Thursday. Parent B has Friday-Sunday. Same pattern every week.
Overnight Breakdown
| Parent | Overnights/Year | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Parent A (4 days) | ~208 | 57% |
| Parent B (3 days) | ~157 | 43% |
Shared Custody Status
With 157 overnights for the parent with fewer days, the 4-3 schedule qualifies as shared custody in all states.
Pros
- Very simple — same schedule every week
- No need to track which week it is
- Only 2 exchanges per week
- Consistent school routines
- Qualifies as shared custody in all states
- One parent gets every weekend
Cons
- Not a true 50/50 split (57/43)
- One parent never has weekends
- One parent misses weekend activities
- Can feel unbalanced over time
- No variety in the schedule
Best For
- Families where one parent works weekends
- Parents who prefer predictability over equality
- Situations where one parent is primary school support
- Children who struggle with schedule changes
Variation: Alternating 4-3
Some families use an alternating 4-3 where parents swap which one has the 4-day stretch each week. This achieves a true 50/50 split:
The alternating version gives each parent equal time and weekend access.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many overnights is a 4-3 custody schedule?
A fixed 4-3 schedule gives one parent ~208 overnights (57%) and the other ~157 overnights (43%) per year. An alternating 4-3 gives each parent 182-183.
Is 4-3 considered shared custody?
Yes. Even the parent with fewer days has 157 overnights, which exceeds shared custody thresholds in all states (typically 90-104 overnights).
How does 4-3 compare to week-on-week-off?
Week-on-week-off is a true 50/50 with 7-day stretches. A fixed 4-3 is 57/43 with shorter stretches. Week-on-week-off has longer time away from each parent; 4-3 keeps transitions more frequent but manageable.
Can we adjust which days each parent has?
Absolutely. The specific days can be customized to fit work schedules. Some families do Thu-Sun for one parent and Mon-Wed for the other.
See Your 4-3 Schedule
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