Holidays should be about quality family time. However, after divorce, navigating parenting time during these important days can be overwhelming. To reduce stress, it’s crucial to create an effective holiday custody schedule. Implementing a trusted plan will not only relieve tension for you but also alleviate the stress for your child. Regardless of the status of your relationship with your former spouse, it’s important to put your children first. Please continue reading to explore the different types of holiday visitation schedules and how our trusted Monmouth County Child Custody Attorneys can help incorporate holiday provisions into your custody agreement.
What Are the Different Types of Holiday Schedules Available?
The holiday season can bring unique challenges for co-parents. As such, it’s important to establish a holiday custody schedule. A holiday custody schedule will outline how children will spend their holidays and special occasions. This is different from the traditional custody agreement for daily and weekly schedules. Generally, holiday visitation schedules are included as part of a parenting plan. Once the court has approved the agreement, the holiday schedule will become as official as the general custody agreement, meaning both parties are obligated to follow the schedule.
Different types of parenting schedules can be employed to help you and your former spouse navigate the holidays. The first option is a rotating schedule in which parents alternate holidays. Essentially, holidays are assigned to each parent for even years and then swapped for odd years. Another option is to assign fixed holidays based on which holidays they cherish the most.
If you and your former spouse are on good terms and celebrating together would not increase conflict, you may consider sharing holidays. This would eliminate the stress on the children of traveling between the two families. If this cannot be accomplished, you can decide to divide the holidays into two parts, enabling the children to see each parent on the day itself. Nevertheless, you can use a combination of these schedules depending on your unique family dynamic.
How Do I Choose the Best Holiday Custody Schedule for My Family?
While planning a holiday custody schedule, the first thing you should consider is your child’s needs. To determine the best parenting plan, you should consider the age of your children, the distance between homes, your work schedules, religious beliefs/traditions, and any other factors that may impact the schedule. Communication and cooperation is vital. To craft the best holiday custody schedule for your family, you need to prioritize the best interests of your child.
Unfortunately, your former spouse may not be willing to work with you to divide holiday custody. If this reflects your circumstances, it’s in your best interest to contact an experienced lawyer who can help you fight for a fair parenting plan. Connect with the legal team at Paone Zaleski & Murphy today to learn more about how we can assist you during these difficult times.
