Holiday Parenting Schedules in Jacksonville

Board-Certified Family Law Representation for Holiday Time-Sharing Disputes

Holiday time-sharing provisions are where Florida parenting plans most often break down. Vague language, competing family traditions, and shifting circumstances turn what should be a clear schedule into a source of annual conflict. At Charles E. Willmott, P.A., I draft, negotiate, and litigate holiday-specific provisions built to hold up when it matters most.

I’m Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by the Florida Board of Legal Specialization and Education, a certification I’ve held since 2008 that a small percentage of Florida attorneys carry. As a solo practitioner, every client works directly with me, not a paralegal or associate.

If your holiday parenting schedule needs to be drafted, modified, or enforced, call me directly at (904) 849-5183 for a free initial consultation with no obligation.

How Florida Law Defines a Holiday Time-Sharing Schedule

Under Florida Statute 61.046(23), a time-sharing schedule is the part of a parenting plan that specifies which overnights and holidays each parent receives. That schedule either gets developed by both parents and approved by the court, or the court establishes it when the parents can’t agree. A parenting plan that doesn’t address holidays specifically isn’t incomplete by accident. It’s a liability waiting to surface in December.

As of July 1, 2023, Florida Statute 61.13(2)(c)1 was amended to create a rebuttable presumption that equal time-sharing is in a child’s best interests. Either parent can rebut that presumption by a preponderance of the evidence. When parents can’t agree, the court must evaluate the best-interest factors listed in Florida Statute 61.13(3) and make specific written findings supporting its decision.

What Makes a Holiday Provision Enforceable

Florida courts enforce what’s written, and only what’s written. Language stating that parents will “cooperate to work out holidays” carries no enforceable weight. A workable holiday provision names specific dates, times, pickup and return logistics, and any exceptions. Holiday and special-occasion provisions typically override the regular weekly schedule once triggered.

Common structural approaches include:

Alternating Holidays by Year
Each parent receives a given holiday in odd years and the other in even years. This is simple to administer and eliminates the need to negotiate each year.

Splitting a Single Holiday
Some families divide a holiday such as Thanksgiving between a morning and afternoon block, with a defined exchange time. This works when both parents live nearby.

Dividing Winter Break
Parenting plans typically address winter break, spring break, and other school breaks separately from the regular school-year schedule. Winter break is often split at a fixed date and time rather than alternated, so each parent receives a portion every year.

When the Schedule Needs to Change or Isn’t Being Followed

Life changes. A parent relocates, a child’s school schedule shifts, or a family situation evolves in ways the original plan didn’t anticipate. Since July 1, 2023, a parent seeking to modify a parenting plan or time-sharing schedule no longer needs to show the change was unanticipated. The standard is now a substantial and material change in circumstances.

When a parent doesn’t follow the schedule, remedies are available. Florida courts can order make-up time, hold the non-compliant parent in contempt, or award attorney’s fees. The key is having a parenting plan precise enough that a violation is demonstrable.

Why My Background Matters for Holiday Time-Sharing Cases

I’ve served as a Florida Supreme Court Family Law Mediator since 1999. From 1998 to 2011, I worked as a Fourth Judicial Circuit Social Investigator, preparing written recommendations for family law courts on time-sharing matters. That background gives me a direct view of how judges and evaluators weigh competing schedule proposals, and I apply it when drafting provisions for my clients.

I also handle the situations that complicate holiday scheduling: military families, high-net-worth estates with travel demands, and families where children from multiple marriages are involved. These cases require provisions that account for deployment cycles, cross-country travel, and coordinating across more than two households.

Schedule a Free Consultation About Your Holiday Parenting Schedule

I offer free initial consultations so you can speak with me directly, ask your questions, and understand your options before committing to anything. Whether you need a holiday parenting schedule drafted into a new parenting plan or you’re dealing with a dispute over an existing one, I can help Jacksonville families work through it.

Call Charles E. Willmott, P.A. at (904) 849-5183 to schedule your free consultation today.