Child Custody and the Holidays

 Posted on December 27, 2023 in Family Law

Parenting time arrangements around the holidays are a delicate situation. The holiday season brings enough stress that figuring out how quality time is best spent in a joint custody agreement may only compound the issue. Parents have plenty of choices to make when it comes to parenting splits during the holidays. An attorney can also offer their advice and help you draft a parenting schedule if necessary.

How To Split Holiday Parenting Time

Divorced parents can use some tried and true methods for parenting time for every holiday in a calendar year. A few of these methods include:

• Every other year (alternating years)
• Holiday splitting
• Fixed holidays
• Doubling up

Parents are also free to figure out a new method for whatever best fits their needs and remains in a child’s best interest.

Alternating Years

“You get Christmas this year, then I get Christmas next year.” A very easily implemented method for parenting time around the holidays is to take turns. Parents decide who gets what holiday the first year and then alternate the following year. It ensures that the parent and child experience each holiday with one another at some point.

Holiday Splitting

Instead of one year on and one year off, this method keeps parent and child together for all holidays in the same year. The catch is that one parent gets the child for half the day while the other will take over for the latter half. Parents must decide which time works best for their and their children’s schedules. Parents who work similar shifts or have the same times off could also alternate day and night if that works better.

Fixed Holidays

One parent may value one holiday over another and prefer to share that holiday with their child yearly. This could cause complications if the other parent also loves that holiday similarly. However, as long as parents can agree on which holidays are “theirs,” this could be an excellent method for your holiday parenting plan.

Doubling Up

If the actual day of the holiday does not matter, then doubling up for holidays can be a great choice. Doubling up means one parent could get their children for Christmas Eve, while the other will call them for Christmas Day. Both parents enjoy the Christmas spirit with their children in the same year for separate 24-hour periods.

Contact a DuPage County, IL Child Custody Attorney

Setting up a parenting plan can be more complex than you may comprehend. Establishing a schedule that both parents can agree to takes a lot of forethought and compromise. Law Office of Martoccio & Martoccio can help you develop an amicable parenting plan for both parties involved. All you need is an experienced Hinsdale, IL family law and divorce lawyer at your side. Contact our office at 630-920-8855 for a free consultation to discuss any related legal issues you require answers to.