Guidance When Navigating the Most Sensitive of Parenting Time Conflicts

Traditional Rosh Hashanah jams Everyone at DeMichele & DeMichele extends the very best wishes to our friends, colleagues and clients celebrating celebrating Rosh Hashanah. L'Shanah Tovah! While the holidays are typically a time for fun and family, unfortunately, many of our clients find it's a time of difficult decisions, confrontations, or even open conflict. Sometimes there simply isn't a way to make the holidays easy when mom and dad are living apart and aren't seeing eye-to-eye, but the proper planning can make things manageable and, in the best circumstances, salvage the holiday for the most important participants: the children. Here is a sample of Jewish Holiday Schedule which may be employed by the Court when two parties cannot agree as to a schedule on their own: 

JEWISH HOLIDAY

ODD         EVEN YEARS    YEARS Mother      Father             Rosh Hashanah Father        Mother            Yom Kippur Father        Mother           Chanukah – First Night (remaining 7 nights to alternate between Parents) Mother      Father              Passover – First Night (with other parent having the second night). Father        Mother             Succoth – the first two days thereof and the last two days thereof Mother      Father              Purim Father        Mother             Shavuot – odd year Father has 1st day, even year Mother has 1stday Are you concerned about your family this holiday season? Here are some resources, previously posted here at our legal blog, for your consideration:

(1) Sesame Street explains Divorce to Preschool Children (VIDEO)

(2) Dealing with Divorce at the Holiday Season

(3) An Overview of Holiday Parenting Time in New Jersey

(4) Heading Off Holiday Parenting Time Trouble in the Future

(5) Ladder Safety in the Holiday Season

(6) Sample N.J. Court Holiday Parenting Schedule

(7) Domestic Violence Blog Archives

What happens when such a schedule doesn't exist in your last court order or, if divorced, final judgment or settlement agreement? And even if it does exist, what to do when the parents cannot agree? Or circumstances simply change for a good faith reason?

At that point, you may want to consider consulting an experienced New Jersey family law attorney. The best route may be to file an application with whichever county family court has jurisdiction over your matter and assert your parenting rights in Court. Your attorney may also help negotiate a settlement with the other side through his or her attorney (if your child's parent is represented).  First and foremost, an attorney can help you take a deep breath, step back, and figure out (1) what is actually in the child's best interest, and (2) which holidays/traditions are really important to each respective party. Clarifying your ultimate goals in any custody dispute is always the most important initial step on the road to achieving the best possible resolution of your case. Compassionate, experienced and zealous representation is only an email or phone call away. If you or someone you know is grappling with a custody, parenting time or holiday schedule dispute in New Jersey, contact the family law attorneys at DeMichele & DeMichele online today.  Your confidential initial consultation can also be scheduled by calling our family law attorneys: (856) 546-1350.