When couples get divorced and start to set up a child custody schedule, they will usually consider the year-round schedule while they are at work and the children are at school. Many parents will make midweek exchanges, but some parents will simply exchange the children every other week. There are numerous different schedules that can work, depending on how evenly child custody has been divided between the parents.
However, there are some situations where this standard schedule will not necessarily apply. It is important for parents to plan in advance or know when modifications may be necessary.
Breaks from school
First and foremost, with school-age children, parents need to consider when they are going to have breaks from their normal schedule. This could include summer vacation for three months, for instance, and it also includes some holidays, such as Christmas break.
Holiday celebrations
Speaking of holidays, parents often need to look at major holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving to decide how they want to handle celebrations. Some parents celebrate the holidays together, others trade holidays every other year, and still others have separate celebrations, such as celebrating Christmas on the weekend before the actual holiday.
Important events
Finally, parents need to consider how they are going to handle important events like a child’s graduation or their birthday. These are times when both parents often want to be present. That certainly may be possible, but they have to work together to determine how it will affect their custody rights.
This helps to demonstrate some of the complexities of making a child custody schedule and when it can be beneficial to work with an experienced attorney.