weekends after divorceHolidays, Summers and Weekends after Divorce -Updated

 

May starts it all off, doesn’t it?  We start with Mother’s Day, then school ends, Father’s Day, Fourth of July and then school starts all over again!

This time of year is filled with end of school year activities, awards ceremonies, summer planning and holidays.  Springtime and summertime bring changes to parenting time and possession schedules with Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, the end of school and long periods of summer possession.  Let’s talk about how holidays, summers and weekends after divorce affect parenting time within Standard Possession in Texas. And, remember, always review your divorce decree first.  And, remember, you probably have a paragraph or two that allows you to agree to something different from Standard Possession.

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day

Standard Possession after divorce includes time for both parents for holidays.  Mother’s Day is the first holiday that is a weekend holiday and it is followed in June by Father’s Day.   Most of the other holidays after your divorce will be included in the Standard Possession as well including Christmas, Spring Break, and Thanksgiving.

Mother’s Day is always observed on the second Sunday in May.  Father’s Day is always observed on the third Sunday in June.  Both of these weekend holidays allow Mom or Dad to pick up the kids from the other parent on their respective holiday if they don’t already have them for that weekend.  Usually you will pick the kids up at 6:00 p.m. on Friday before the Sunday holiday and then return them at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday or some other time that you have included in your divorce decree.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day and Independence Day (Fourth of July) aren’t included in the Texas Standard Possession schedule, but talk to your lawyer if those are important holidays or traditions for you.  Watch out for Memorial Day weekend.  That holiday moves around within the school year because it’s the last Monday in May.  Sometimes Memorial Day is observed on a Monday during the school year and sometimes school is already out for the summer. And, sometimes we have weather make-up days for schools.  So, your possession time will depend on the school district and your weekend possession schedule with the Monday holiday. If you’ve got a Monday holiday, review your decree to see when that holiday time ends.  With Standard Possession the parenting time is likely to be 6 p.m. on Monday.

Thursday Possession

Your Thursday times end when the school year ends, unless you have something else in your divorce decree.  Under a Standard Possession schedule the weekend periods and then extended summer possession is all that happens once school is over.  And, the weekend period of possession is the only period of possession that continues on through summer.

Summers after Divorce

Bottom line: when you are a divorced parent, read your decree first and often.

Summers after divorce are by choice and notice.  Parents choose their longer periods of time, give notice to the other parent and operate under their summer possession times for the remainder of the summer.  Under Standard Possession in Texas, possessory conservator parents give notice first and the managing conservator parents follow with notices for their time with the kids.  If you forgot to give notice this year, you may still have some options listed in this post.

A great understanding of your time with your kids for the holidays, summers and weekends after divorce will lead to a great summer.

As always, this is very general educational information.  Call today to talk about your case.

Jill O’Connell

940-497-5454