Farhan Hassan | July 9, 2012 
Working adults and parents have grown accustomed to odd or non-traditional work hours. In simple terms, the traditional “9-5” job seems less common now days. This is even more evident in certain professions. Doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters, to name a few, are all familiar with long hours on the job. Even for people in more traditional professionals, the workplace has become more fluid, where checking work email after hours has become commonplace. Moreover, limited or frequent travel has become an expectation for many employers.
When custody becomes an issue in a divorce, are these individuals who work odd or non-traditional hours at a disadvantage when it comes to a custody determination? The answer: no. The Court must make a determination of what is in the best interests of the minor child. This topic has been discussed extensively on this blog in the past – click here or here for more about custody and parenting plans
Many divorcing parents who work non-traditional hours are fit, custodial parents, and should not be prevented from gaining joint or even sole physical custody of minor children. To be sure, it is easier to create a parenting time schedule for parents who work more traditional, “9-5” hours. However, attorneys at Alithis Family Law have represented many individuals who work long hours and who work in demanding professions (e.g. doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters, etc.).
To devise a workable parenting time schedule, it takes creativity and patience to look at a work schedule to devise a solution to what can seem like a difficult problem. These solutions may include a rotating “week-on, week-off” schedule, or a rotating summer-school year schedule. It may also include longer weekends, or even additional time for vacation and over the holidays.
If you are going through a divorce and work long or non-traditional hours, or simply want to learn more about how Minnesota divorce attorneys at Alithis Family Law can help create a workable parenting time schedule, contact our office for a free consultation about your specific situation.
