How Does Holiday Visitation Work?

Holiday Time with the Children

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season are upon us, and while many parents work hard to find that special present for their child, others are determining how they will spend time with their child to celebrate the season. Colorado allows parents to work holiday arrangements into their parenting plans. Here are some of the options available to parents.

Annually Alternating Holidays

Perhaps the most common arrangement in parenting plans is the method of alternating holidays annually; such an approach ensures that each parent is provided with an equal amount of holiday time with their child. Many parents typically include holidays some people consider “major” such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, but some parents include holidays such as Easter, the 4th of July, and others in this type of arrangement.

To give a basic example, say that a couple is deciding how to work out celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas with their children. Using the alternating holidays arrangement, one parent could have the child on Christmas during odd-numbered years while the other parent has them for Thanksgiving. The next year, an even-numbered year, they would switch the holidays that they have with their child.

Splitting the Holiday

Another arrangement parents have previously chosen is to split the actual holiday itself between the two of them, allowing each parent to spend time with their child on the holiday. A very basic example of this would be a child spending the morning and early afternoon of a holiday with one parent before transitioning to the other parent’s care for the remaining part of the day.

This can be a bit difficult to work through consistently, considering the transportation factor as well as how exactly to split the day, but it is a fair option for those it would work for.

Custom Arrangements

Parents have the option of working out their own custom arrangements in their parenting plans. This depends entirely on whether or not you and your co-parent can agree on how to handle holidays, but should you be able to work out an agreement, you can include that in your parenting plan for it to become part of your court order.

Using an Attorney for Parenting Plan Issues

If you find that you are having a difficult time working through your parenting plan with your co-parent, it might be helpful to enlist the help of an attorney who is skilled in negotiation and can help you work out an arrangement that works for both of you. At Law Office of Alexandra White, PC, our team is sensitive to the desire of spending as much time with your children as possible; we are committed to helping you find a resolution that meets your needs and the needs of your children.

To learn more about parenting plans in Colorado or to speak with a member of our team, call us at (303) 647-4245 or visit us online.