After Divorce: Who Gets the Children for Thanksgiving?

 Posted on November 14, 2022 in Child Custody

A growing number of children are having to deal with instability due to their parent’s divorce. They probably have no idea where they will spend Thanksgiving. Perhaps you went through a bitter child custody battle and having your children for specific holidays can be a contentious topic. But can you get along during the holidays for the child’s sake? Well, the Texas Family Code outlines exact steps for parents to take, especially if you do not see eye to eye.

Splitting Up Holidays

Orders by the court involving child custody are guided by what is in the best interest of the children. But if the parents cannot agree with arrangements that have been approved by the court in Texas, major holidays are split up between parents in the following manner:

• Thanksgiving – The parent with custody will have the child during odd years beginning the evening after the child leaves school for the Thanksgiving holiday and ending in the evening on the following Sunday. The same is true for the other parent during even-numbered years.

• Christmas – In 2022, an even-numbered year, the parent without primary custody will be able to take the child the day school lets out for Christmas vacation through December 28. After that, the parent with main custody will take the child until school starts again. In odd-numbered years, the primary parent takes the child when school breaks for the holiday through the same day in December. The other parent takes the child back until the day before school resumes.

• Mother’s Day and Father’s Day – The mother will have custody of the child at 6 p.m. on Mother’s Day weekend and the father will have custody of the child on Father’s Day weekend. At this time the Texas Family Code does not provide an alternative for same-sex couples.

• Child’s Birthday – The parent with primary custody has the child on their birthday. The other parent celebrates with their child for two hours in the evening.

On other holidays such as Easter or Labor Day, parents alternate having the child every other year.  

Are Changes to the Holiday Schedule Allowed?    

Parents should adhere to this schedule whether they live next to each other or miles apart. However, there may be other holidays your family celebrates, so changes to a standard custody arrangement can be made. At The Law Office of Linda Risinger an experienced attorney can help you make those changes and try to make sure everyone complies.  

Contact a Collin County Child Custody Lawyer

If you have any questions about custody arrangements over the holidays, an experienced Denton County child custody attorney at The Law Office of Linda Risinger can help answer any questions you may have. Call 972-294-6533 for a free consultation.

Sources:

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/FA/htm/FA.153.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6313686/