Christmas Parent Time (Fa-la-la-la following your decree)

The Christmas holiday is fast approaching, which means you may be wondering about your visitation over the Christmas break. As with most holidays, Christmas can be a time with strain over who has the children. Always refer to your decree for your visitation schedule, read it often and become familiar with what it says. If you have standard holiday visitation, refer to the schedule below.

This is the minimum schedule for parent-time for children 5 to 18 years of age. (Found in 30-3-35)

In years ending in an odd number, the noncustodial parent is entitled to the following holidays:

• the first portion of the Christmas school vacation as defined in Subsection 30-3-32(3)(b)
• including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, continuing until 1 p.m. on the day halfway through the holiday period, if there are an odd number of days for the holiday period, or until 7 p.m. if there are an even number of days for the holiday period, so long as the entire holiday period is equally divided.

In years ending in an even number, the noncustodial parent is entitled to the following holidays:

• Thanksgiving holiday beginning Wednesday at 7 p.m. until Sunday at 7 p.m.; and
• the second portion of the Christmas school vacation as defined in Subsection 30-3-32(3)(b) , beginning 1 p.m. on the day halfway through the holiday period, if there are an odd number of days for the holiday period, or at 7 p.m. if there are an even number of days for the holiday period, so long as the entire Christmas holiday period is equally divided.

While keeping the standard in mind, it’s important to remember that the holidays are a time to celebrate family. That being said, do your best to make the holiday joyous for your children by working to accommodate your ex in functions for your children such as: religious activities, family functions, and other traditions. Remember…. ‘tis the season of giving.