Holiday Visitation

The holidays can be challenging if you are recently divorced or still going through a divorce, especially when children are involved. Holiday visitation can often be challenging for parents to deal with or agree on because both parents must agree to spend time away from their children during some holidays.

A parenting plan can alleviate tensions between co-parents and allow the children to enjoy the holiday.

Despite your feelings toward your ex-spouse or soon to be ex-spouse, there are several reasons why both parents should work together to create and implement an effective plan for holiday visitation:

1. A plan will ensure that both parents will have some time with the children over the holidays;
2. The certainty of a plan will allow parents to make travel plans, if necessary;
3. A plan also will give parents the ability to make arrangements for taking time off work or getting child care during the time the children will be out of school; and
4. Therefore, the children will know what to expect and may be able to cope with the changes a little better.

In making an agreement, parents should consider that the prospect of spending time away from members of their family is not an easy one for children either. Thus, parents need to implement a plan that allows children to spend equal time with both parents, to the extent possible. You may want to consider some sample holiday visitation provisions below.