Scott Law Offices is focused on family. The holiday season is all about family. Holidays can bring a certain amount of stress for many people. When two people share child custody in Arizona, that holiday stress is often magnified. Avoiding child custody and parenting time issues during the holidays can reduce stress for all involved. By doing so, the children can enjoy a great holiday experience with both parents. Here are some things to consider:
Check Your Paperwork
Your court orders for child custody and parenting time are binding. Oftentimes there are specific orders regarding holiday parenting time set forth in your parenting time orders. Stick to this schedule unless and until the orders are formally changed. Most parenting time arrangements can be modified so long as the parties have a mutual agreement in writing. Before making any modification to the parenting time schedule, be sure to follow the procedures for modifications set forth in your court orders.
Travel
Be sure to check your custody orders for limitations on travel. It is often the case that advanced notice must be given to the other parent prior to traveling out of State with the children. Sometimes permission must be obtained from the other parent to allow the children to travel out of State. Plan ahead and give sufficient time for any necessary discussions related to travel. Also, you may want to consider allowing some form of video chatting between the children and the other parent while you are travelling. This may ease any stress that the children and the other parent may feel from being away from each other during the holidays.
Trade Time
If you find that you need to keep the children for extra time over the holidays or hope to have the children on a day that is not designated to you in your custody orders, consider trading time. You could offer the other parent extra days at any time during the year or possibly offer them a holiday that would normally fall during your parenting time. Flexibility is important in any co-parenting situation.
Be Nice
Though it may be difficult, try to be nice. A little bit of compassion and tolerance can go a long way. This can alleviate stress not only for you and the other parent, but for your children. Communication is often the key to avoiding difficult holiday disputes. Having effective communication and playing nicely with the other parent will set a good example for your children and may help them to have a happy holiday.
If you have questions about your parenting time schedule or child custody orders do not wait until last-minute. Avoid the stress of last-minute holiday disputes by addressing potential holiday parenting time issues well in advance of the holidays and court closures. Contact a Scott Law Offices custody attorney for your free consultation.