Navigating Child Custody Schedules During Holidays: A Comprehensive Guide
Posted on: June 21, 2023
The complexities involved in crafting a child custody plan can be daunting, especially when it comes to agreeing on holiday schedules. This article aims to provide you with tips from an experienced family law attorney at Law Office of Michael L. Fell. For further consultation, don’t hesitate to call us at (949) 585-9055 .
Understanding the Fundamentals of a Child Custody Visitation Order
Creating an in-depth visitation plan can alleviate future misunderstandings or conflicts that could adversely affect all parties involved. Particularly, the schedule should clearly detail the child’s whereabouts during vacations, holidays, and special occasions. Ordinarily, if you and your co-parent can reach a mutual agreement, a court order may not be necessary.
Inclusion of Important Holidays and Milestones in Your Order
While drafting the holiday visitation order, ensure the inclusion of significant holidays and special occasions like New Year’s Day, MLK Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Easter, Spring Break, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Winter Break, New Year’s Eve, the child’s birthday, and the birthday of each parent.
Consideration should also be given to any days your child is out of school or dates that hold particular significance to you. Bear in mind that designated holidays override regular visitation days. Therefore, if a holiday allotted to your co-parent falls on your regular weekend with the child, the co-parent will have custody on that day.
Exploring Multiple Alternatives for Holiday Schedules
When both parents reside in close proximity, scheduling for the holidays becomes significantly easier. For instance, one parent may have specific holidays in even years and the opposite in odd years. Alternating or dividing three-day weekends or holidays is also an option. For example, a child may spend Christmas Eve and morning with one parent and Christmas evening with the other. There are innumerable arrangements possible. The main aim should be to devise a schedule that feels fair to both you and your co-parent.
Modifications: Complex but Feasible
We recommend that you find a plan that you foresee working in the long term. Although modifications to a custody agreement are feasible, if the other parent doesn’t agree, you will need to convince a judge, which can be challenging. Judges tend to avoid disrupting the child’s routine unless there is compelling evidence to justify the change.
No matter your position in the process, having a skilled attorney is invaluable. Law Office of Michael L. Fell is here to provide you with the legal support you need. Call us today at (949) 585-9055 to request a complimentary legal consultation.
