Make Sure You Have a Plan for the Holidays
Having a plan can help avoid custody disputes during the holidays.
It’s November 1st, and (like it or not) holiday season is just around the corner. Whether you are in the earliest stages of separating or you have been divorced for years, now is the time to revisit your plans for the holidays. Parents will want to create a schedule tailored around the best interests of their children so that the kids can have a loving, peaceful holiday experience.
The best holiday schedules are the ones agreed-upon by co-parents and that focus on the children. Since every family celebrates the holidays at different times and in a variety of ways, there is no cookie-cutter solution that can be implemented successfully by everyone. That said, when parents cannot agree, the courts will not hesitate to craft a schedule for you to follow.
Most child custody orders (whether entered into by agreement or decided by a judge) provide a plan for how parents will split physical custody of their children over the holidays. The holiday schedule takes precedence over your normal child custody schedule.
Here are some things to consider when designing your holiday child custody schedule:
- Will you need a large chunk of time to accommodate travel over the holidays?
- Which holidays and traditions are most important to your family?
- Is there a schedule that would maximize your children’s participation in extended family gatherings on both sides of the family?
- Are you and your ex able to set aside your differences for a few hours and spend any portion of the holidays together?
The holidays should be joyful, but we understand that when child custody issues are involved, the holidays can be stressful as well. Regardless of where you are in the process, we can help you initiate a custody action or modify your current order. Contact us today at (717) 883-5671 or FamilyLaw@jsdc.com to schedule an appointment with a family law attorney at either our Hershey or Mechanicsburg office.