Most intact families have established holiday traditions for their family. After a divorce, this may all change. The courts generally have established standard orders for parenting time that many people have adopted. Each varies county by county. However, those orders can be modified by agreement. The standard order is basically a default arrangement utilized when parents have difficulty agreeing with one another. It is NOT intended to be the ‘perfect” parenting order in all cases.
What Does A Holiday Parenting Time Standard Order Look Like In Montgomery County, Ohio Divorce Court?
Under the standard order in divorce court, holiday parenting time in Montgomery County, Ohio looks like this:
HOLIDAYS:
The non-residential parent shall have the children on the holidays in Column 1 in odd-numbered years and the holidays in Column 2 in the even-numbered years. The residential parent shall have the children on the holidays in Column 1 in even-numbered years and the holidays in Column 2 in odd-numbered years.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Presidents Day |
| Easter Sunday | Memorial Day |
| Fourth of July | Labor Day |
| Beggars Night (6:00 to 9:00 p.m.) | Thanksgiving Day |
Parenting time shall be from 9:00 a.m. the day of the holiday until 9:00 p.m., except for Beggar’s Night as observed in that parent’s community. When the holiday falls on a Monday immediately following a non-residential parenting time weekend, the non-residential parent shall be entitled to keep the children continuously from 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 p.m. Monday.
Parenting Time, Communication And Flexibility Paramount When Building Holiday Traditions After Divorce
The bad thing about this schedule is that while it is 100% equal in alternating the holidays year to year, this schedule reduces the opportunity to create holiday traditions in each home. It seems there is a growing trend now for parents to actually split holidays and keep the same ones year to year, such as Thanksgiving or Fourth of July. These way regular holiday traditions can be planned in advance for each year for the kids and both families. You might want to think about that concept if you are in the process of negotiating parenting time or working on that issue with your ex.
Anything that helps the parents get along amicably post-decree is certainly a positive step. Communication and flexibility is is paramount when building memorable holiday traditions even after divorce. Everyone at Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues wish you and yours a wonderful Memorial Day and successful planning of your holidays and creating some terrific holiday traditions even post-divorce!
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Attorney Robert “Chip” Mues has been focusing his legal practice throughout Southwest Ohio primarily in divorce and family law matters since 1978. Chip is passionate about family law and has proudly published the Ohio Family Law Blog since 2007. In addition, he is the managing partner of Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues. To learn more about him or the law firm, visit the firm’s website at www.hcmmlaw.com. Appointments are available in person, over the phone or by Zoom. Call us at 937 293-2141.
