Fall is upon us. Leaves are turning, and neighbors are putting pumpkins out on their porches. As adults prep for all that fall has to offer, children start planning costumes and trick-or-treat routes.
Halloween is a holiday enjoyed by many families throughout Minnesota. Parents may enjoy trick or treating with their children, but what happens after the parent’s divorce? As Halloween is only weeks away, parents are wise to take a moment to answer this question before the holiday arrives to avoid a less-than-fun scare.
Although every divorce agreement is unique, parents can ask themselves the following questions to better understand how things may work out.
#1. Check the plan
Parents often put together a parenting plan as part of the divorce process. The plan addresses education and medical decisions as well as custody. The plan often breaks down how parents split time during major holidays.
As such, it is a good idea to start by checking the parenting plan or custody arrangement to see if it addresses Halloween.
#2. Check the day
Check the parent time calendar if the plan does not specifically address Halloween. Parenting plans often break down which parent has time with the child on specific days. Parents may split time by having the children every other week; the children may be with one parent during the week and alternate time with each parent during weekends, or families may have developed another arrangement. If the plan does not specifically address Halloween, the parent who is scheduled to have time with the child on the day Halloween falls may have the child for the holiday.
Of course, there are often nuances to these arrangements. If parents cannot agree, legal counsel can provide further guidance.