What Can I Do Create a Fair Holiday Custody Schedule?

The holidays are an exciting time of the year, as everyone comes together to celebrate the season. However, for divorced parents and their children, this can be an incredibly complicated time of the year. Taking time to create a holiday custody schedule is critical for these matters as it will help ensure that you can each spend time with your child. The following blog explores some of the most common custody splits and how New Jersey family law attorneys can help you through these difficult matters.

What Are the Different Kinds of Custody for Holidays?

For many divorced parents, creating a holiday custody schedule is critical to ensure these seasons go as smoothly as possible. These plans will override the typical plan in place to ensure each parent is able to spend time with the child on special occasions.

Generally, the first option for creating a new parenting plan for the holiday season is to alternate holidays. This option splits holidays annually, allowing each parent the chance to see their child. The following year, the parents would swap holidays, so they can celebrate with their child. For example, during even years, Parent A has the child on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, while Parent B has custody on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. They would then swap holidays the following year.

Another common option is to assign fixed holidays to each parent that they will have annually. However, this option can be challenging as both parents may want the “bigger” holidays, like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or the Fourth of July.

Finally, you may find that you can split the actual holiday so each parent can spend time with the child on the special occasion. This can be ideal as it allows the child to have time with both parents without feeling guilt, which is unfortunately common with children of divorce.

Which Holiday Custody Schedule Is the Best?

It’s important to understand that what works for one family may not work for your family. As such, it’s important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each option. For example, a fixed schedule offers consistency but can make matters more complicated if something arises that could warrant a change. Similarly, splitting the day can be ideal for the parents but hard for the child as they may end up spending most of the day in the car traveling to and from each home.

As you can see there are several important considerations you must make when determining which holiday custody schedule is the best for your family, it’s in your best interest to connect with an experienced attorney. At Haber Silver Russoniello & Dunn we understand how complicated the holidays can be. As such, our team is committed to helping you and your family through these times. Connect with us today to learn how we can assist you.