Bonnie Conaway | Oct 13 2026 13:00

A little planning now can prevent big headaches later. If you share parenting time between two households, October is a good time to look ahead. Thanksgiving and winter break will be here before you know it, and a quick review of your parenting plan today can make the season calmer for everyone.

 

As a St. Clairsville family law firm, we often see co-parents discover right before a holiday that they read the schedule differently.

 

How Holiday Schedules Typically Work in Ohio Parenting Plans

 

Every family's parenting plan is a little different, but most Ohio plans address holidays in some way. Many Ohio counties have a standard parenting time schedule that courts may use as a starting point when parents cannot agree on their own terms.

 

Common approaches include alternating holidays in even and odd years, splitting a holiday so the child spends part of the day in each home, or dividing winter break in half. Many plans also state that holiday time takes priority over the regular weekly schedule.

 

Your plan should clearly define parenting time, holidays, school breaks, and transportation to reduce conflict later. Check these details:

• Which holidays are listed, and who has them this year?
• What are the exact start and end times?
• Who handles pickup and drop-off, and where do exchanges happen?
• How does the holiday schedule fit with regular weekends?

If your plan is vague on any of these points, it's better to sort that out now, not on Thanksgiving morning.

 

When to Request a Formal Adjustment

 

Many co-parents make occasional scheduling changes by agreement, and flexibility can be helpful. But unless you incorporate a change into a court order, the existing order generally remains the enforceable schedule. Confirming any agreed holiday change in writing can help prevent misunderstandings, but it is not the same as a court-approved modification.

 

If your existing parenting time schedule no longer works for your family, you may want to discuss whether a formal modification is appropriate. Changes in work schedules, relocation, transportation needs, or a child's school and activity commitments can all be relevant, but the right legal process depends on the type of change requested and the terms of the current order.

 

Ohio courts look at what's best for the child. Courts usually treat requests to adjust a visitation schedule differently from requests to change which parent the child primarily lives with, and the latter generally has to clear a higher bar, including showing that circumstances have changed. Starting early in the fall may give families more time to negotiate, mediate, or ask the court for guidance before holiday schedules become urgent.

 

Keep a Record of Communication and Changes

 

Documentation helps, whether you and your co-parent get along or not. Keep holiday arrangements in writing, even if it is just a text or email confirming who has the children and when. If an exchange is missed or changed, note the date, time, and what happened.

 

A simple record reduces misunderstandings, and if you ever need to ask the court to modify or enforce your order, organized records help us present your situation clearly.

 

You Work Directly With Your Attorney

 

At Conaway and Shaw Attorneys at Law, you work directly with the attorney handling your matter, not layers of staff. We explain your options in plain language, so you understand what your current order says and what steps, if any, make sense.

 

Wondering whether your parenting plan is ready for the holidays? Call 740-695-0533 to schedule a parenting plan review with our Belmont County family law team.

 

This article is general information, not legal advice. Parenting time orders and local court practices vary.