As the holiday season quickly approaches, you might be concerned about how to prepare for the holidays. How will you approach Halloween and help your children pick costumes? Do you have plans for Thanksgiving? It can be confusing, especially if you have not reviewed your child’s custody agreement and holiday schedule.
Why Should I Review My Time-Sharing Agreement?
Your time-sharing agreement is a fluid document that should be reviewed and updated as needed to ensure it meets your family's changing needs. When your child’s custody agreement was created, you most likely discussed the holidays with your child’s other parent and created a holiday schedule. Holiday schedules often outline how custody is handled, including school breaks, government holidays, and religious holidays. It will also outline how the custody exchange will occur over the holiday season and can even outline what to do with holiday vacations.
If you don't review your time-sharing agreement regularly, you may not follow your child’s holiday schedule as written, which can complicate your custody situation. If one parent is found to repeatedly violate the current custody agreement, court order enforcement might be needed to ensure both parents accurately follow the child’s time-sharing schedule and custody agreement.
How Often Should I Review My Time-Sharing Agreement?
It's generally recommended that time-sharing agreements be reviewed every six months to ensure you are up to date on your child’s holiday schedule. However, if there have been major changes in your family's circumstances (e.g., a move, a change in work schedule, etc.), then you may want to review your agreement more frequently.
When Should I Review My Time-Sharing Agreement?
The best time to review your time-sharing agreement is before the start of a new season or holiday. We recommend you review your holiday schedule each September or October and conduct another review each spring before your child's spring break. That way, you'll have plenty of time to make necessary changes to the agreement and avoid any last-minute scrambling.
If you would like, you can always review this time-sharing schedule with a trusted family law attorney. With the attorney, you can ask any questions you might have about your current order and prepare for any adjustments that might be necessary.
Don't Deal With Family Law Matters Alone
If it's been a while since you've reviewed your child’s holiday schedule, now is the time to do so. A biannual review can help you feel more comfortable with your child’s time-sharing agreement and the holiday season ahead.
If you have any concerns about your child’s holiday schedule, schedule a virtual consultation with our attorney today by calling us at (310) 736-2063 or contacting us online. We can help you review your custody situation and prepare for the holidays.