Parenting Plans: Let’s Talk About Holiday Schedules

Every family law case involving children requires a parenting plan to be created and put in place. Whether you are currently walking through a Florida divorce, have been divorced for a while, or share custody with a non-spouse and former partner, you either currently have or will have a parenting plan in place. The goal of this plan is to protect the children involved and ensure their needs are met and they are cared for. It also helps all parties, including the children, to know what to expect for certain weeks, weekends, holidays, and more. 

Holiday and School Break Schedules

One of the biggest parts of any parenting plan is a holiday schedule. While the day-to-day parental responsibilities matter a great deal, the holiday schedules are what most co-parents argue about. It’s essential to get the holiday parenting plan figured out as early as possible in the custody process so that everyone can rest easy and know what to expect. 

Here are the holidays and school breaks that should be included in your parenting plan: 

• Major holidays - Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas

• Parent-specific holidays - Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, parents’ birthdays

• School breaks - fall break, Christmas break, spring break, summer break, three-day weekends

• The child’s birthday

Each of the occasions above should be planned in advance. Some families prefer to alternate major holidays or opt for combined/shared celebrations. Others split them up where one parent always gets one holiday, and the other parent always gets another holiday. Longer breaks from school typically include alternating weeks or longer blocks of time split between each parent. 

Details Matter in a Parenting Plan

When putting together a holiday schedule for your parenting plan, be sure to include specific details so that everyone understands what needs to happen and there is no gray area to argue about. 

Be sure to note when transitions will occur, as well as who is responsible for the transportation to and from the transition. Other things to consider include how the child will communicate with their parents when they aren’t with them, how the plan may change as the child gets older, and the responsibility of each parent to transport the child to specific events during their parenting time. 

In ideal situations, parents work together to create a shared parenting plan that includes holidays, day-to-day responsibilities, decision-making responsibilities, and more. When parents cannot agree, the judge overseeing the case will issue the final judgment on the parenting plan. 

Child-Focused Divorce Attorney

Here at Adkins Family Law, we always prioritize the well-being of the children involved and work to create the parenting plan that is best suited for them. Stability and healthy attachment are essential, and we work with all our clients to determine the best interests of the children before making our recommendations for the parenting plan. We aim to help you achieve a peaceful divorce with strong protection for you and your children.

If you need help navigating changes to your parenting plan, finalizing your divorce, establishing a more comprehensive holiday parenting plan, or anything else related to family law and custody, we are here to help. Serving Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding areas, our team is committed to helping you at every step of this journey. We are here to support the stability of your children and provide you with peace of mind that your relationship with them is protected. Get in touch with our team today to learn more about how we can help you with parenting plans, divorce, and all facets of family law.