A consistent holiday schedule can create stability so a child can prepare for where they will spend their time. There are a few ways parents can create this schedule, depending on how they get along and wish to split their time.
Modifications
If you don’t currently have stipulations for the holidays in your visitation schedule or if you need to update what you do have, you can hire a family lawyer to draft agreed provisions for the judge to sign off on or revisit a family court and request a modification directly from the judge in a hearing. Doing so may ensure you get the time and/or specific holidays you would like with your child. To accomplish this, speak with a child custody attorney for help drafting the new terms of your schedule.
Types of Holiday Schedules
Ideally, most parents would love to spend every holiday with their child. If you and your ex are on good terms, perhaps you can continue celebrating holidays as one unit. Most estranged couples, however, prefer to come up with an alternate solution. Parents generally split the holidays using one of the methods listed below:
1. Rotate
One way you and your ex can create a schedule is by switching who has the child on a given holiday each year. For example, if one parent has the child for Thanksgiving this year, the other parent will get the child on Thanksgiving on the following year.
2. Fixed
For parents who prefer having their children on the same holidays each year, a fixed schedule might work best. A fixed holiday schedule allows parents to plan their personal schedules around the holiday schedule more effectively because it remains the same from year to year.
3. Split
If you and your ex live close to each other, you can each your child on the same day. For example, you could have your child the night before the holiday and the next morning, and the child’s other parent can spend time with your later that afternoon and evening.
4. Customize
You can mix and match any variations that fit your and your child’s other parent’s life. An experienced attorney can help you customize your whole schedule ahead of time while the parents are agreeable so that it takes the stress out of planning later when emotions might be higher.
Protecting Your Parental Rights
If you create or update a holiday visitation schedule, our attorneys can help. We can discuss the options with you to work out what is best for your situation.
Call our family law firm at (469) 646-7763 or contact us online for your legal consultation.