The Domestic Relations Committee is seeking comments on proposed changes to Indiana’s Parenting Time Guidelines. The guidelines are used by courts, parents, and mediators as a model to aid in scheduling frequent, meaningful, and continuing contact with each parent.

The most substantial change is a new section on Shared Parenting and the principles of how to put it into practice. The proposed changes also include:

• Parenting time during a public health emergency
• Reducing potential for third-party conflict when children are dropped off/picked up between homes
• Uniformity of pick-up and drop-off times on holidays and birthdays
• Transportation to and from extracurricular activities
• Text messaging as a common type of communication
• Immunity of parenting coordinators
• Removal of the section on parallel parenting

Feedback will be accepted until 1:00 p.m. (Eastern), Friday, May 14, 2021. Comments may be submitted online or sent by mail to the Indiana Office of Court Services, c/o Domestic Relations Committee, 251 N. Illinois St., Suite 800, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

The Domestic Relations Committee of the Judicial Conference of Indiana is composed of judicial officers from across the state and receives staff support from the Indiana Office of Court Services. The Committee will review public comments to assist in recommending amendments of the Parenting Time Guidelines to the justices of the Indiana Supreme Court. The Court has final authority over the guidelines.