The 60/40 Custody Split
Primary parent has ~60% of overnights, secondary parent has ~40%. Common middle-ground arrangement.
Two-Week Pattern
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
A
A
A
B
B
B
B
A
A
A
A
A
B
B
Parent A
Parent B
How It Works
A common 60/40 pattern: Parent A has Monday-Wednesday every week (3 nights), Parent B has Thursday-Sunday every other week (4 nights), Parent A has Thursday-Sunday on alternating weeks. Parent A ends up with ~8-9 overnights per 14-day cycle.
Best For
Parents with unequal work schedules where one can handle more weekday caregiving but both want real involvement.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Gives secondary parent real weekday presence — school drop-offs, homework, dinners
- Less demanding than 50/50 when one parent's schedule is tighter
- Can qualify for shared-custody tax benefits in many states (check state rules)
Cons
- Still unequal — secondary parent misses some key weekday moments
- Exact day assignments vary by family; less standardized than 50/50 schedules