Resolution options for child custody agreements during the holidays

The topic of child custody is rarely easy for divorced couples to navigate. With that being said, it is important for parents to try to come to an agreement without getting the courts involved and without causing too much emotional and mental stress. While there are many factors to consider, a lot of divorced parents can become rather stuck when faced with agreeing on custody during the holidays.

Because the holidays are rooted in tradition, parents do not like the idea of spending a certain holiday without their children. Unfortunately, the reality of divorce and child custody arrangements means that a decision will have to be made. Three potential resolutions to child custody disagreements in regard to the holidays are:

Preemptive Agreements
The most ideal way to handle child custody decisions is to come to an agreement before the divorce is finalized. If you have yet to divorce, consider speaking with your spouse about child custody during the holidays. Many couples find that alternating holidays every year works well; other couples switch off between holidays like Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Further, if you are still friendly with your ex-spouse, some couples even choose to spend a portion of the holidays together so that they can both be with their children on a specific day.

Negotiate and Compromise
Sometimes, plans fall through. If you have a custody agreement in place, but something comes up like a family reunion or if a family member is ill and it will likely be their “last” holiday, it is important to discuss deviating from the arrangement with your ex-spouse as soon as possible. If your request is on rather short notice, it may not be approved.

Head to Court
This option should be your last resort. However, if a parent is not complying with the child custody agreement in place, if he or she is making unreasonable demands, or if he or she is bullying or forcing the other parent into a new agreement, a petition can be filed with the court in order to have the in-place child custody agreement enforced. This usually results in a hearing and potential fines or imprisonment for the offending parent. Because of these repercussions, involving the courts is a decision that should not be made lightly.

Child custody during the holidays is not an easy topic of conversation, but it is an essential topic of conversation. Try to avoid involving the courts. If a decision cannot be reached, you may have to change the entire child custody agreement so that more rules are put into place in an attempt to prohibit any deviation from those rules.

In order to determine whether or not your child custody agreement needs modification or if you simply need help coming to a decision on child custody during the holidays, contact The Gucciardo Family Law Firm today. Specializing in family law, the attorneys at The Gucciardo Family Law Firm can help make the child custody process as stress-free as possible for all parties involved.