Whether you are a divorced parent or were never married to the other parent , you probably have some anxieties about the upcoming holiday season. Even if you have a child custody order, it does not mean you will never encounter any child custody issues as you move forward. Life is not always predictable and obstacles can arise, especially during this hectic time of year. Continue reading to learn more about the child custody issues that may arise during the holidays.

Issues You May Face During the Holidays

A holiday visitation schedule typically has precedence over the regular repeating schedule, so it is important to keep this in mind when you arrange your schedule for the year. However, even with a plan in place, there are some problems that can still come up.

Here are some of the child custody issues you may face during the holidays:

• What happens if it is your holiday with the kids, but your ex’s weekend for scheduled visitation? Since holiday visitation has precedence over the regular schedule, you will have the kids for the holiday weekend. If the following weekend is yours as well, you would have the kids for two weekends in a row. It might not seem fair to your ex, but the plan will also work in your ex’s favor in the future.

• If my ex missed Thanksgiving with the kids, how do we handle Christmas? If your ex missed their Thanksgiving with the kids for some reason that was unavoidable, you do not have to share Christmas, but you may want to consider being a little flexible and sharing it. Extending some goodwill can help nurture a better co-parenting relationship.

• I made a verbal agreement about holiday visitation with my ex. Can my ex cancel? Your ex can cancel because your verbal agreement was not court ordered. Unless there is a good reason not to, a judge will likely tell you to follow your written agreement.

• Would my ex’s holiday with the kids be forfeited if they often miss visitation? Even if your ex misses regular visitation with the kids, it does not mean holiday visitation will be denied. You will have to follow the court order.

The holidays can be a stressful time, so if you need more answers, our legal team is here to help.

Attorney Schneider loves to help parents create a very specific, written agreement that is right for the needs of their family.

Schedule a Consultation to Discuss Your Holiday Visitation Schedule!

At The Law Offices of Andrea Schneider, our family law team is committed to helping families navigate some of the most challenging cases. If you are experiencing problems with your holiday visitation schedule, you can rely on us to help you achieve a resolution.

Reach out to our law office today at (619) 304-8499 to schedule a consultation with our attorney to get started.