If you are divorced, who has the child on which holidays of a particular concern this time of year. The holidays are full of emotion and traditions. It can be difficult for parents in Hackensack to adjust to the idea of not having their child with them on every holiday. But they need to process these emotions in a healthy way so they can also help their child adjust to the holidays post-divorce.
Physical custody orders in New Jersey
In New Jersey, both parents have a right to frequent and continuing contact with their child following a divorce. A child custody order should include a clause stating where the child will live and when. The decision will be made based on the best interests of the child.
Sometimes the court orders one parent to have sole physical custody of the child while the other parent has appropriate visitation time with the child. Sometimes the court orders both parents to share joint physical custody of the child, meaning the child is in each parent’s care relatively 50% of the time.
Custody and the holidays
A holiday parenting schedule can take several forms. Sometimes parents alternate years for holidays. For example, one parent might have the child on Thanksgiving on even years and the other parent might have the child on Thanksgiving on odd years.
Some holidays can be shared. For example, one parent might have the child on Christmas Day from morning until noon, and the other parent might have the child on Christmas Day from noon until 7:00 p.m.
Each child custody order is decided on a case-by-case basis. While parents might have their own preferences about child custody, any child custody decisions must honor the child’s best interests, especially on holidays. Parents can help make the holiday season joyful for their child by honoring their child custody order and respecting each other’s scheduled parenting time.
