Holiday Time-Sharing Tips From A Family Law Attorney
Updated: Jul 27, 2022
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The year is three quarters of the way over and the last few months ALWAYS fly by. Now is the time to start considering your holiday plans for the end of the year. Time-sharing agreement changes aren't difficult when both parties agree. However, in the event your co-parent is adversarial on any types of changes, you need to prepare in advance. Many factors go into holiday planning and its best to cover all the bases in order to ensure a happy holiday for your child.
What Things Should I Consider When Deciding On Holiday Time-Sharing?
School schedules.
Children have just begun a new school year, but holiday season is right around the corner. Do you know the holiday schedule for your child's school? Take note of holiday observances to help you better plan for days out of school. Holiday breaks are a great time for families to plan vacations or fun things to do together. Make sure you keep up with all school closure so you aren't caught off guard.
Extended Family.
Many children have extended families who love to see them around the holidays. Perhaps a trip to grandma's or a family reunion is in the works. Be flexible when it comes to allowing your child to spend time with their extended family, even if it isn't your side of the family. Remember, time-sharing is about what is in the best interest of your child, even if you don't particularly like it.
Traditions.
Do you or your child's other parent have holiday traditions that you'd like to keep intact? Incorporating family traditions is a great way for families to bond around the holidays. Allowing your child to participate in family traditions with their other parent is a great way to extend love to your child without being involved. On the other hand, if you have a family tradition you feel is important to include your child in, be sure to include that in your time-sharing agreement.
Childcare.
If you have school-aged children, childcare may not be a daily issue. However, when holiday breaks roll around you will need to decide where they will stay (if you work during the day) and who will cover the cost (if staying in daycare, camp, or other child care facility). This is an important part of your time-sharing agreement, especially once your children are no longer in daycare and old agreements have expired.
Vacations.
Many families like to use holiday breaks for vacations. Sometimes vacation plans of one parent may overlap with another parents designated time with the children. It is best if you both work together to allow flexibility for these events, but in case you can't, it needs to be added into your time-sharing plan before the holidays.
Links For School Calendars for 2022-2023
**JALISA NEEDS TO UPDATE THESE
Helpful Links For Holiday Planning:
Leon County School Calendar 2021-2022
Wakulla County School Calendar 2021-2022
Gadsden County School Calendar 2021-2022
Jefferson County School Calendar 2021-2022
Liberty County School Calendar 2021-2022
Taylor County School Calendar 2021-2022
Max Factor is a Divorce Attorney in Tallahassee, Florida with decades of experience in family law. He is dedicated to helping families develop well-rounded time-sharing plans that benefit children. To schedule a consultation to discuss your current time-sharing contact our offices at 850-577-1699.