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Splitting child custody and visitation during the holidays

On Behalf of | Sep 10, 2021 | Child Custody

Divorced couples in New York who have children often have to compromise on custody and visitation. During the holidays, you may want to split custody time with your former partner. This can make things better for your kids as they get to spend that time with both parents even if it’s separately. Here are some ways to split custody and visitation that might work.

What are common ways for parents to split custody and visitation during the holidays?

Many parents decide to split child custody and visitation by alternating holidays every other year. For example, that means you would get the kids during Thanksgiving while your ex gets them during the holiday season for Hanukkah or Christmas. The following year, your ex would have the kids over during Thanksgiving weekend while you would get them for the holiday season.

If you and your ex live close to one another, you can split the holidays in half. You can have custody and visitation of the children during the morning and early afternoon. Then, for the late afternoon and night, your ex can take them for the rest of that holiday.

For fixed holidays, there may be special arrangements. You and your ex might agree on taking the kids during certain holidays every year. For example, if the Fourth of July is particularly special for you, you and your ex might decide that you get child custody and visitation during that holiday every year.

Consider what holidays are especially important to you

While New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Christmas are the obvious holidays that are important to many people, there are others that you may deem important to you. While deciding with your ex who will get child custody and visitation during the holidays, you can take your favorites into consideration. In addition to religious holidays, you may want your kids on certain days like birthdays, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, anniversaries or other days.

When deciding who gets the kids during particular holidays, don’t involve your children in the decisions. It can be too much pressure on them. Leave it between you and your ex, but keep a set schedule so that the kids know what to expect.

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