The Texas Family Code has very specific instructions about divorced parents and holidays. Although parents can have other arrangements if approved by the court, this is the standard approach to handling post-divorce holidays in Texas. It is characterized by every-other-year “possession” (the Texas term for visitation) during school vacations and major holidays.
The Family Code spells out the following schedule:
The Texas Family Code allows for extension of child possession when a holiday falls on the Friday before or the Monday after a regularly scheduled weekend. It also is specific about the arrangements for Christmas and Thanksgiving when parents live more than 100 miles from the child’s primary residence.
The law presumes that the standard holiday arrangements are in the best interests of the child unless parents agree on other arrangements that the court approves.
Agreeing to standard or nonstandard dates and times is only the beginning. The parent with possession of the child must also identify the best ways to celebrate these holidays. Some suggestions include:
The bottom line for holiday celebrations is to stay relaxed and focus on the children. Remember, it’s not about you; it’s about them.