Blog

Make Sure You Have a Happy Thanksgiving

Holidays are stressful enough without having to worry about holiday visitation with the kids. It is critical when you enter into a Marital Settlement Agreement or Mediation Agreement regarding custody and visitation that you have the holiday schedule locked in with great specificity.

Each parent should know exactly when they have the child(ren) during Thanksgiving for each given year. You should have spelled out in your agreement when the Thanksgiving Holiday begins. You would need to specify that the Thanksgiving Holiday is from when school lets out prior to the Thursday of Thanksgiving until whatever day you agree on for the holiday. Or, you may want to say that Thanksgiving is from Thursday morning of Thanksgiving Day at a specific time to Sunday at a specific time.

Still other people may want to split the Thanksgiving Day visitation with the child(ren) in half with the child(ren) being with one parent in the morning starting at a specific time until maybe 2 pm in the afternoon. The other parent would have the child(ren) from 2 pm in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Day until a certain time on Thanksgiving night. AGAIN, THE KEY IS THE SPECIFICITY. The last thing you want to do during the holidays is be in court fighting over the kid’s holiday visitation. Also, if you wait to the last minute, you probably will not get a court date.

In Seminole County it takes approximately three(3) months to get a hearing before the General Magistrate and approximately six (6) months to get a hearing before the judge. If you are specific with your language in your agreement, you avoid further confusion and litigation.

Be specific with exact details in agreement. You can never be too detailed. You are better safe than sorry. That way you will be guaranteed a Happy Holiday with your child(ren) no matter what holiday you are celebrating.

HAVE A HAPPY AND BLESSED THANKSGIVING.

If you have further questions regarding custody, please contact Ann Marie Giordano Gilden Esquire at Ann Marie Giordano Gilden, P. A. to set up an initial consultation.

This information is provided only as educational materials, and does not constitute the providing of legal advice, and does not create an attorney client relationship.