Major Holiday and Vacation Parenting
In Georgia, parents of minor children must prepare and submit a Parenting Plan detailing each parent's visitation schedule. This plan includes regular "Weekend and Weekday" visitation and "Major Holiday and Vacation Periods." According to Georgia law, the Parenting Plan must specify where the child will be each day and how holidays, birthdays, vacations, and school breaks will be spent.
The Major Holiday and
Vacation Period schedule will outline parenting time during holidays and
vacation periods and is usually based on the child's school calendar. If the
child is not enrolled in school, parents may use their local public school
district calendar or a daycare/homeschooling program calendar. Using these
calendars ensures the schedule is updated annually without relying on specific
dates that may change.
An example of a
standard Major Holiday and Vacation Period schedule can be visualized below:
·
Spring
Break Vacation
Spring
Break begins at school dismissal and ends when school resumes. In odd-numbered
years, the mother has Spring Break, while the father has it in even-numbered
years.
·
Mother's/Father's
Day
Mother's
Day visitation is from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with the mother, and Father's Day
is from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with the father.
·
Summer
Break
Summer
Break starts on the first Friday after school dismisses and ends on the Friday
before the new school year begins. Parents follow the regular Weekend and
Weekday schedule but can take two weeks of exclusive vacation time, which must
be scheduled in advance.
·
Fall
Break Vacation
Fall
Break begins at school dismissal and ends when school resumes. The mother has
Fall Break in even-numbered years, and the father has it in odd-numbered years.
·
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Break starts at school dismissal and ends when school resumes. The mother has
Thanksgiving Break in odd-numbered years, and the father has it in
even-numbered years.
·
Holiday
Break (Christmas Break)
In odd-numbered years, the father has the first half of Holiday Break, and the mother has the second half. In even-numbered years, this is reversed. The midpoint of the break is defined by counting the days, with the first full day after school dismissal as day one and the last full day before school resumes as the final day.
Customizing Your Plan
Parents can deviate
from the standard schedule as needed. This flexibility allows families to adapt
the plan to suit their needs, ensuring it meets the child's best interests.
Additional holidays, such as three-day weekends or religious holidays, can also
be included. For birthdays, a common compromise is to allow each parent at
least one hour with the child on their birthday.
Creating a Parenting
Plan that suits your family's unique needs ensures stability for your child. By
discussing and considering important factors, you and your co-parent can design
effective Weekend & Weekday and Major Holiday and Vacation Periods schedules.
The primary goal is to support your child's best interests and reduce the need
for future modifications.