For separated parents, the holiday season can bring as much stress as joy. Who has the children on Christmas Eve? Who gets New Year’s? Can one parent take the kids to see grandparents in another province — or overseas — over winter break?
The best time to answer these questions is now, not in mid-December. Holiday disputes that start late often end in rushed, expensive emergency applications. As an experienced Child Custody Lawyer in Edmonton, David Kolinsky helps parents put clear, child-focused holiday plans in place well before the season begins.
📞 Need a holiday parenting plan in place before December? Call Kolinsky Law at +1 (780)-757-6400.
How Alberta Courts Approach Holiday Parenting Time
Under both the federal Divorce Act and Alberta’s Family Law Act, every parenting decision is based on the best interests of the child. For holidays, that usually means:
- Children should have meaningful time with both parents over important occasions
- Family traditions and extended family relationships matter
- Stability is important — the holiday plan should not throw a child’s routine into chaos
- A child’s age and wishes may be considered, depending on maturity
Holiday terms in a parenting order usually override the regular weekly schedule for the dates they cover, so the wording matters.
🌐 Learn more about parenting arrangements: Visit our Child Custody page
Common Holiday Parenting Schedules
There is no single “right” schedule. The most common options include:
- Alternating years: One parent has Christmas in even years, the other in odd years. Simple and predictable.
- Splitting the day: Christmas Eve to Christmas morning with one parent, Christmas afternoon onward with the other. Works best when parents live close together.
- Splitting winter break in half: Each parent gets one uninterrupted week, with the switch date alternating each year.
- Fixed holidays: Each parent always has the same holiday — useful when families celebrate different traditions or faiths.
- Long-distance plans: One parent has most of winter break in exchange for other holidays, such as spring break or extended summer time.
Whichever model you choose, spell out exact dates, times and exchange locations — vague terms like “half of Christmas” invite conflict.
📝 Want help drafting a clear holiday schedule? Fill out our contact form.
Holiday Travel With Your Children
Travel is one of the most common holiday flashpoints. Before booking anything, check your parenting order or agreement for travel terms. Good practice includes:
- Giving written notice of travel dates, destinations and accommodation well in advance
- Getting written consent from the other parent for out-of-province or international trips
- Carrying a consent letter when travelling abroad without the other parent — the Government of Canada recommends one, and border officials may ask for it
- Confirming passports — a child’s passport application generally requires both guardians’ involvement unless a court order says otherwise
- Respecting the other parent’s time — a trip should not swallow the other parent’s holiday days without agreement
A short holiday trip is different from a relocation. If a move is being considered, separate notice rules apply — speak to a lawyer early.
📧 Planning holiday travel with your children? Email [email protected] for advice.
What If Your Ex Won’t Follow the Holiday Schedule?
If the other parent refuses to return the children, withholds holiday time, or changes plans at the last minute:
- Stay calm in front of the children and avoid confrontations at exchanges.
- Document everything — dates, messages and missed exchanges.
- Communicate in writing through text, email or a co-parenting app.
- Speak to a lawyer promptly. Courts can order make-up parenting time, enforce an existing order and, in serious cases, impose further consequences.
Under Alberta’s Family-Focused Protocol, urgent parenting issues may still be brought before the court quickly — but the earlier you act, the more options you have.
📞 Holiday time being withheld? Call +1 (780)-757-6400 right away.
Tips for a Calmer Holiday Season for Your Children
- Agree early — aim to confirm holiday plans by early November
- Keep children out of negotiations — never ask them to choose or carry messages
- Coordinate gifts to avoid competition or duplication
- Allow calls or video chats with the other parent on key days
- Be flexible with travel delays and weather — an Alberta winter can disrupt exchanges
⭐ See why families trust our custody team — read our 5-star Google reviews.
How Kolinsky Law Can Help
At Kolinsky Law, our Child Custody Lawyers in Edmonton help parents create and enforce holiday arrangements that work for real families. We:
- Draft detailed holiday and travel terms for parenting plans and orders
- Negotiate holiday schedules through mediation or collaborative law
- Prepare travel consent and notice documents
- Bring urgent applications when holiday time is withheld
- Vary outdated parenting orders that no longer fit your family
📝 Get your holiday plan settled now — contact our child custody team.
About the Lawyer – David Kolinsky – Child Custody Lawyer in Edmonton
David Kolinsky is the founder and principal lawyer of Kolinsky Law, a results-driven family law practice in Edmonton, Alberta. An Edmonton native, David earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto and practised law in Ontario from 2005 to 2012 before returning to Alberta in 2013. He is a member of both the Alberta and Ontario Bars and has extensive experience representing clients at the trial and appellate levels. David helps parents through every type of parenting dispute — from building first parenting plans to enforcing orders and handling child mobility cases — always with a focus on the child’s best interests and practical, lasting solutions.
🌐 Learn more about our firm at kolinsky.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How is Christmas usually divided between separated parents in Alberta?
A1. Common options are alternating Christmas each year, splitting Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, or dividing winter break in half. The right choice depends on your children’s ages, distance between homes and family traditions.
Q2. Does the holiday schedule override the regular parenting schedule?
A2. Usually, yes. Most parenting orders state that holiday terms take priority over the regular schedule for the dates they cover. Check the exact wording of your order or agreement.
Q3. Do I need the other parent’s permission to travel with my child over the holidays?
A3. It depends on your parenting order, but for out-of-province or international travel, written consent is strongly recommended. A consent letter is advised whenever a child travels abroad without the other parent.
Q4. What can I do if my ex keeps the children over my holiday time?
A4. Document what happened and contact a lawyer promptly. Alberta courts can enforce parenting orders and order make-up time, and urgent matters can be brought forward quickly.
Q5. Can my child decide where to spend Christmas?
A5. A child’s wishes can be considered, with more weight given as children get older and more mature, but the final decision is based on the child’s best interests.
Q6. What if we don’t have a parenting order yet?
A6. You can still reach a written holiday agreement through negotiation or mediation. If you cannot agree, a court can make an order — starting early avoids last-minute stress.
Q7. Do I need a child custody lawyer in Edmonton for a holiday schedule?
A7. A lawyer helps you draft clear, enforceable terms, handle travel and consent issues, and act quickly if the other parent does not follow the plan.
📧 More questions? Email [email protected] — we’re here to help.
Give Your Children a Peaceful Holiday Season
A clear holiday parenting plan gives children something every family wants this time of year — certainty and calm. Start the conversation early and get the terms in writing.
📞 Talk to an Edmonton child custody lawyer today: +1 (780)-757-6400.
For compassionate, practical guidance on every parenting issue, let Kolinsky Law be your trusted partner this holiday season and beyond.
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