Many prospective clients and newly separated parents ask our Greensboro custody lawyers about whether a court would order them to share custodial time on their favorite holidays. Generally speaking, the answer is yes. Although each case is unique, it is typical for a court to award each parent half of the holiday time, absent an alternative agreement between the parents. Sometimes this manifests itself in the parents splitting a holiday in half. For example, Mom might have the child on Thanksgiving from from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and Dad might have the child from 2:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Alternatively, some courts prefer to have the parents switch off years. In other words, Mom might have the child on Thanksgiving in odd numbered years and Dad might have the child on Thanksgiving in even numbered years. Courts are especially likely to use this option when the parents do not live close to one another. However, there are some holidays that are almost always awarded to one parent or the other. Mothers can typically expect to see their children on Mother’s Day and fathers can typically expect to see their children on Father’s Day. If you have questions about possible holiday arrangements, our Greensboro custody lawyers would be happy to advise you.
