I have learned from my thirty-four years of experience as a family law attorney that establishing a custody schedule for the holidays is one of the most challenging and stressful issues for parents when splitting up. When you separate, you need to create a schedule for the children so that you can plan for your holidays and other important events.
Establishing a visitation schedule that details the holidays as soon as possible allows everyone the ability to make plans during their time.
If an event is outside your scheduled time with the children, you will need to ask the other parent to make a change, or your kids won’t be attending with you. Parents always find it challenging to juggle all the holiday festivity invites, and it becomes even more challenging after separating from the other parent. One of the most important things to remember is your children’s best interests. Remember how many transitions they will have to endure over the holidays. While a schedule might seem okay to you, remember that your children are the ones who will have to be attending holiday events in two different homes. Therefore, give careful thought to ensuring that they have some downtime to rest and have quality one-on-one time with you during your visitation time.
As a parent, you must manage your immediate and extended families’ expectations. You may have to adjust your holiday traditions, such as moving a family tradition to a different day. Getting through the holidays is one of the most challenging issues for separated parents because it can be hard for your extended family to accept change.
On the other hand, this can be a good time for you and your kids to establish new family traditions and create special memories. Getting your kids involved and seeking their opinions and ideas can help you navigate the challenges of a holiday season. You might be surprised to hear which family traditions are important to your kids or how much they would enjoy doing something new and different.
When discussing and working out a visitation schedule, you want to create an enforceable written Agreement.
Hopefully, issues and disagreements don’t arise. But if they do, you will need a well-written and enforceable Agreement to protect your time with your children. And suppose the other parent ever refuses to comply with your written Agreement. You can then file in Court to enforce your Agreement and also obtain attorney’s fees if your Agreement has an enforceable attorney’s fees provision.
If you or someone you know needs representation in any custody or visitation-related matters, you can schedule a consultation with me or one of the other experienced family law attorneys at Andalman & Flynn by calling 301-563-6685 or visiting our Contact Us page.
About Andalman & Flynn, P.C.: Founded in 1998 in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, Andalman & Flynn has forged a distinguished reputation for legal excellence. The Firm practices family law, estate planning, and probate throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia, and represents individuals seeking disability benefits throughout the country. The Firm focuses on cases that impact the rights of everyone and is there for clients when responsive legal help is most critical. The Firm has provided legal analysis on national and local television and radio, and its attorneys often testify before legislative bodies and are routinely invited to contribute to prominent legal publications. For more information about Andalman & Flynn, please visit the website at andalmanflynn.com or call 301.563.6685.