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How Can I Arrange Child Custody for Holidays?
As you can imagine, the holiday season brings unique challenges for co-parents. Although this is supposed to be a time to celebrate with loved ones, the stress of scheduling your children’s time with family during these special days can be overwhelming. To reduce this stress, it’s crucial to consider establishing an effective holiday custody schedule. Please continue reading and contact a trusted Ocean County Child Custody Attorney who can help you create a holiday custody schedule for your family so you can enjoy this important time with your children.
What is a Holiday Custody Schedule?
A holiday custody schedule is an agreement between parents that outlines when each of them will have custody of their children during the holidays and special occasions. Essentially, it specifics which parent the children will be with during these times, overriding the traditional parenting plan in place. Establishing a holiday custody schedule is necessary to avoid misunderstandings over which parent has the children on special occasions. Ultimately, it can help reduce conflict and ensure that everyone has the chance to spend time together on important days.
Generally, holiday custody schedules can be either rotating, fixed, or split. A common approach is alternating holidays annually. One parent celebrates the holiday in even years, and the other gets odd years. This plan ensures that both parents have at least one major holiday per year. Another option is to divide the holiday into two parts so the child gets to see each parent on the day itself. For example, the children may have breakfast with one parent and dinner with the other. Then, they could flip that schedule the following year. This is a viable option if the parents’ homes are nearby. Furthermore, you can assign specific holidays to each parent based on which they value the most. This arrangement is common when one parent cherishes a holiday much more than the other.
How Do I Pick the Best Plan for My Family?
Like everything, each type of schedule has its benefits and drawbacks. That said, it’s important to examine your unique circumstances and family dynamic. To determine the best holiday custody schedule, you must consider your children’s age, the distance between homes, work schedules, religious beliefs, and traditions, as well as any other factors that may impact the potential schedule. To best prepare your holiday co-parenting schedule, it’s in your best interest to seek the guidance of an experienced attorney.
At the Law Office of Sarina Gianna, LLC, we are prepared to help you negotiate a fair custody arrangement for these important days. If your spouse is not willing to work with you to divide holiday parenting time, our firm can help protect your rights. Connect with our firm today to learn more about how we can assist you.
