When you and your former spouse first divorced and agreed to a holiday custody schedule, you had good intentions to honor its terms. After all, the two of you focused on the best interests of your children, just as the Gulf Coast’s family law courts must.
But as your children grew older, the holiday custody schedule started to be too restrictive. It just is no longer working well for your growing family. What recourse do you have?
Work together to draft a workable plan
If you and your ex have a civil relationship and can work together, this is your best option. It is cheaper and easier by far to simply figure out what does and doesn’t work for you and your kids.
But if the relationship is less than friendly, this might not be the best plan of action. Technically, both parents are legally bound to honor the terms set forth in the custody agreement filed with the court. Any deviations could become the basis of a civil complaint to authorities that the other parent is non-compliant with the order. In the worst-case scenario, a vindictive ex could accuse you of contempt and take legal action.
Learn the value of compromise
If you want to take your child bow-hunting for the first time at the deer camp over Thanksgiving break, you might offer to give their other parent extra time with them over the Christmas holidays. The same holds true when an extended family from out of state arrive to celebrate the winter holidays. Agreeing to swap weekends to accommodate your ex and allow your child to spend time with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents is gracious.
Modify your custody agreement
When the holiday custody order you have in place no longer works, it might be time to modify the order and file it with the court. This way, you remain compliant with the new terms but still have the structure of a formal order to guide your custody decisions.