For many children and their parents, the most important times of the year are the holidays. Spending Christmas, Thanksgiving, Independence Day, or birthdays can be highly significant. Deciding who gets to see their child for a holiday can be very emotional, which is why courts require a timesharing arrangement. Florida’s legal system encourages cooperative parenting, focusing on creating timesharing schedules that prioritize the child’s best interests.
Ft. Lauderdale Lawyer for Holiday Timesharing Plans
If you are in the middle of divorce proceedings or are about to start, consider contacting an experienced divorce and child custody lawyer in Ft. Lauderdale today. We have handled many dissolutions of marriage cases, and we understand how difficult it can be to establish a cooperative parenting plan.
Our offices are centrally located at 401 E. Las Olas Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, just minutes from the Broward County Central Courthouse. If you have been arrested or are subject to investigative procedures in Miami, West Palm Beach, East Naples, or LaBelle, Florida, then contact our firm immediately.
Call (954) 500-5555 for a face-to-face consultation.
- Legal Framework for Holiday Timesharing in Florida
- Common Approaches to Holiday Timesharing
- How Courts Handle Holiday Timesharing Disputes
- Examples of Holiday Timesharing in Practice
- Hire a Lawyer for Developing a Timeshare Plan in Broward County, FL
Legal Framework for Holiday Timesharing in Florida
Florida Statute 61.13 is the main law governing parental responsibility and timesharing in Florida. This statute requires parents to develop a parenting plan that serves the child’s best interests, including specific provisions for holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions.
The goal of timesharing, including holiday schedules, is to help children maintain strong relationships with both parents. Florida courts encourage parents to work together to create a holiday schedule that respects family traditions and divides time fairly. If parents are unable to reach an agreement, the court may step in to create a holiday timesharing plan that reflects the child’s best interests and considers the circumstances of both parents.
Common Approaches to Holiday Timesharing
While every family’s situation is unique, there are several common approaches to holiday timesharing in Florida:
- Alternating Holidays: A popular approach is to alternate holidays each year. For example, if the mother has the child for Thanksgiving in 2024, the father will have the child for Thanksgiving in 2025. This arrangement ensures that both parents have the opportunity to celebrate major holidays with their child, promoting a balanced relationship.
- Splitting Holidays: Some parents choose to split certain holidays so that the child can spend part of the day with each parent. For instance, the child might spend Christmas morning with one parent and Christmas evening with the other. This arrangement works well when parents live close to each other, allowing for easier transitions.
- Fixed Holidays: In some cases, parents may agree that specific holidays will always be spent with one parent. For example, the child may always spend Mother’s Day with the mother and Father’s Day with the father. This type of arrangement provides predictability and stability for the child.
- Extended Holiday Breaks: During school breaks, such as winter or spring break, parents may choose to either divide the entire break or alternate it each year. This allows for extended time with each parent, which helps maintain strong parent-child relationships.
How Courts Handle Holiday Timesharing Disputes
When parents cannot agree on a holiday timesharing schedule, Florida courts may intervene to establish a plan. Under Florida Statute 61.13, the court considers various factors to determine the best arrangement for the child, including:
- The child’s age and specific needs
- The ability of the parents to communicate and cooperate
- The child’s relationship with each parent
- The child’s preference, if they are mature enough to express one
- The distance between the parents’ homes
- The ability of each parent to provide a stable environment
The court’s primary focus is always the best interests of the child. The goal is to create a holiday schedule that supports a healthy relationship with both parents while minimizing disruptions to the child’s routine and taking into account practical considerations like travel.
Examples of Holiday Timesharing in Practice
Here are some examples to illustrate how holiday timesharing might work:
Example 1: Emily and Jack have two children and agree to alternate holidays. In 2024, Emily will have the children for Thanksgiving, while Jack will have them for Christmas. The following year, they switch, allowing Jack to have Thanksgiving and Emily to have Christmas. This alternating schedule ensures that both parents have an opportunity to celebrate important holidays with their children.
Example 2: Laura and Michael live in the same neighborhood and decide to split certain holidays. Their daughter, Sophie, spends Easter morning with Laura and Easter afternoon with Michael. This arrangement allows Sophie to participate in traditions with both parents, providing her with a balanced holiday experience.
Example 3: David and Sarah have decided that Sarah will always have the children for Hanukkah, while David will have them for Christmas. Since both holidays occur around the same time, this arrangement allows the children to experience the traditions of both parents without conflicts.
Additional Resources
Model Timesharing Plan – This document from the 15th Judicial Circuit provides a standardized framework for parents residing in different states to arrange time-sharing with their children. It outlines default schedules for weekends, summer vacations, and holidays.
Hire a Lawyer for Developing a Timeshare Plan in Broward County, FL
Holiday timesharing planning can be a bitter process, but it doesn’t need to be. The Bacchus Law Firm is an experienced family law firm dedicated to finding cooperative solutions to child custody cases.
Call Bacchus Law Firm for more information about how our experienced family law attorney can help you. We have handled many dissolutions of marriage cases, and we understand how difficult it can be to establish a cooperative parenting plan.
Our offices are centrally located at 401 E. Las Olas Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, just minutes from the Broward County Central Courthouse. If you have been arrested or are subject to investigative procedures in Miami, West Palm Beach, East Naples, or LaBelle, Florida, then contact our firm immediately.
Call (954) 500-5555 for a face-to-face consultation.
