With the holiday season quickly approaching, an issue that can cause a lot of contention is holiday parenting time. If you are in the process of creating a parenting plan schedule, it is extremely important to make it as detailed as possible. For example, what holidays are included, and when is the pick-up/drop-off time? If a break is included, what day does the break start? This doesn’t mean you can’t be flexible and make changes to the holiday schedule at a later date, but if there is a disagreement, it’s good to have a default schedule that can clear up any contention.
What if you already have a parenting plan that isn’t as specific as it needs to be? If you’re running into problems with a vague holiday schedule, there are a few things you can do. First, get any agreements in writing (texts or emails can work). Second, have your travel plans and schedule confirmed ahead of time with the other parent, and get that confirmation in writing. Most importantly – always plan in advance! If you wait until the last minute, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to have the Court intervene and resolve the dispute before the holiday.
If you have any questions or need assistance with a holiday parenting plan, please contact me to schedule a free, 30-minute consultation.