How Divorcing Parents Handle Summer Breaks and Holiday Vacations
When parents divorce, one of the most important and sometimes challenging aspects to resolve is how to handle custody and parenting time. In New Jersey, family courts encourage parents to create parenting plans that outline how children will spend time with each parent throughout the year, including summer vacations and major holidays.
A Somerset County family lawyer can help divorcing parents develop a parenting plan that reflects the best interests of the child while also addressing the practicalities of each parent’s life. Attorneys are helpful when plans need to change, too.
Planning Ahead and Holidays to Keep in Mind
Summer break offers unique opportunities for extended parenting time, family vacations, and enrichment activities like camps. But without a clear plan in place, it can become a source of conflict.
Some divorced parents in New Jersey choose to alternate summer breaks each year or split the summer in half. For example, one parent may have the child for the first half of the summer, and the other for the second. Others opt for a week-on, week-off arrangement to maintain consistency.
Parents may include provisions for special trips or summer camps too, including how far in advance vacation plans need to be communicated and what approvals are required if travel is out of state or international. Having these details in writing helps reduce last-minute misunderstandings and allows children to enjoy their summer with minimal stress.
And when it comes to holidays, it’s important to have a clear, fair schedule to avoid disputes. New Jersey courts often encourage parents to alternate holidays each year. For instance, if one parent has the children on Thanksgiving in odd-numbered years, the other would have them on Thanksgiving in even-numbered years.
Common holidays addressed in parenting plans include:
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
- Hanukkah
- New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
- Easter or other religious holidays
- The child’s birthday
- Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
Splitting a holiday can be an option as well especially if the parents live close to one another. Yet others prefer to alternate holidays, regardless of where they live, to allow uninterrupted time with each parent. Flexibility and cooperation are key to ensuring children have meaningful holiday experiences with both parents.
Modifying Plans as Children Grow
As children age, their needs and preferences may change. A plan that worked well when the child was five may not suit them as a teenager with their own schedule and interests. Parents can return to court to request modifications to the parenting plan or work with a mediator or attorney to reach a mutual agreement. An experienced Somerset County family lawyer can guide you through negotiations, ensuring your agreement is enforceable.
Have you been wondering how family holidays will be handled as you move to separate? Parents can create a custody schedule that provides stability and allows everyone to enjoy breaks and holidays. Talk to the legal team at the Law Offices of Kisha M. Hebbon, LLC about your New Brunswick, North Brunswick, Piscataway, Edison, Somerset County, or Middlesex County parenting plan concerns. Contact us to schedule a confidential consultation.
