ANNOUNCER: I’m with Laura Smith from Cohen Highley. Laura, if I didn’t like the holiday parenting time schedule we had last year, am I locked into it for this year?
LAURA: It depends if you have a court order or a signed separation agreement that outlines the holiday parenting schedule. If you do, you must comply with the order or agreement unless the other parent consents to a change in schedule.
ANNOUNCER: If my ex and I agree on a new schedule on our own, do we have to submit it to our lawyers or can we just move ahead with it?
LAURA: Most orders or agreements have a clause that includes a parent can consent to varying a schedule, so if you agree, you may not need to consult a lawyer. However, you should provide consent to the change in writing. If the change will become permanent, you should amend your agreement to reflect the new schedule. You may want a lawyer to assist with drafting it.
