- December 10, 2025
- CLLB Law
- Family Law
Indiana courts handle parenting time during holidays and school breaks by referring to the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines when the parties can’t agree.
This framework may help prevent and resolve disputes, but unique family situations often require the assistance of a child custody attorney to tailor a plan that protects parental rights.
At CLLB Law, we support families seeking fair and workable parenting time arrangements that prioritize the well-being of their children.
If you’re facing challenges with your holiday or school break parenting time schedule, our legal team is here to provide guidance tailored to your unique situation.
Schedule a confidential case consultation to explore your legal options with our experienced Indiana family law firm.
Key Takeaways About How Indiana Courts Handle Parenting Time During Holidays and School Breaks
- Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines: Outlined at https://rules.incourts.gov/Content/parenting/default.htm, these guidelines provide a structured rotation for major holidays. A lawyer can help utilize this legal framework to advocate for a fair parenting plan when there are disagreements on how to split time.
- Holiday schedule priority: The holiday parenting time schedule often takes precedence over the regular schedule. If a parent’s regular weekend coincides with a holiday assigned to the other parent, the holiday schedule may override the regular arrangement.
- Alternating holidays: The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines establish an alternating system for major holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, to ensure both parents have opportunities to celebrate these special occasions with their children.
- School breaks: For school breaks the parents typically receive alternating breaks, while summer vacation is often divided equally between parents. The specifics of these arrangements can be customized in a parenting plan to reflect the family’s unique circumstances.
- Deviating from the guidelines: Courts may approve parenting plans that deviate from the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines. A family law attorney can help present a case for a modified schedule under Indiana Code § 31-17-2-21. In fact, the courts encourage you to work out your own schedule that is in your child’s best interests. The guidelines are really intended to be a fall-back, and to cover holidays and other scenarios that you may not have considered when crafting your agreement.
- Resolving disputes: An Indiana child custody attorney at CLLB Law can advocate for your interests during mediation and, if necessary, assist with enforcing or modifying your Indiana parenting time order to protect your rights and ensure compliance.
Understanding the Foundation: The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines
Dividing parenting time during holidays and school breaks can be one of the most challenging aspects of co-parenting.
To provide structure and reduce conflict, Indiana courts rely on the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines as a starting point for determining parenting time arrangements.
These guidelines serve as a default framework when parents cannot agree on their own arrangements and are designed to prioritize the child’s best interests.
Key aspects of the guidelines include:
- Focus on the child’s best interests: The guidelines emphasize predictable and consistent parenting time to support a child’s emotional and developmental needs. This consistency helps children feel secure, even when their parents live apart.
- Minimum recommended parenting time: The guidelines outline the minimum amount of time a parent should have with their child, ensuring both parents maintain meaningful relationships with their children.
- Flexibility for unique circumstances: While the guidelines provide a default structure, they are not rigid. Parents are encouraged to create customized parenting plans that reflect their family’s specific needs, such as work schedules, travel considerations, and family traditions.
- Encouragement of cooperation: The guidelines promote collaboration between parents, enabling them to craft holiday visitation agreements that suit their family’s needs. Courts typically approve any reasonable agreement that aligns with the child’s best interests.
- Identifying “Parent A” and “Parent B”: The guidelines don’t presume that there is a mom and a dad, which is good. However, they do presume that there is a “custodial” parent and a “non-custodial” parent, which is unfortunate. Those aren’t words we typically use in family court. All parents are technically “custodial.” But for the purposes of interpreting the guidelines, you will see references to “custodial” and “non-custodial.” Know that we will typically outline in the agreement or court order which parent is exercising time outlined for the “custodial” parent and which is exercising the other.
Crafting a parenting plan that truly works often requires navigating complex legal considerations, especially when disputes arise or when a deviation from the guidelines is necessary.
An Indiana family law attorney can provide the legal insight and advocacy needed to pursue a parenting plan that protects your parental rights.
How Holidays are Divided Under Indiana Parenting Time Plans
Major Holidays
The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines provide a clear framework for dividing major holidays between parents to minimize disputes and ensure fairness:
- Christmas/Winter Break: In even-numbered years, the non-custodial parent may have the first half of the break, while the custodial parent has the second half. The roles reverse in odd-numbered years. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day may be divided between the parents.
- Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving is typically alternated annually, with one parent having the child in even-numbered years and the other parent in odd-numbered years.
- Mother’s Day and Father’s Day: The child is usually with the appropriate parent on these days, regardless of the regular parenting schedule.
- Child’s birthday: The non-custodial parent is often given a few hours with the child on their birthday. In even-numbered years, the non-custodial parent may have the child for the day, while in odd-numbered years, the custodial parent may have them.
- Parent’s birthday: The parent whose birthday it is will typically have the child for that day or a portion of it.
While the guidelines provide a structured approach, disputes can still arise over how these holidays are divided, especially when unique family traditions or travel plans come into play.
A family law attorney in Indiana can help you navigate these and other unforeseen complexities so that the holiday parenting time plan reflects your family’s needs while protecting your parental rights.
Indiana School Breaks
School breaks, such as spring, fall, and summer vacations, are another area where the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines provide structure to avoid conflicts:
- Spring break: The non-custodial parent generally has parenting time during spring break in even-numbered years, while the custodial parent has the children in odd-numbered years.
- Fall break: Similar to spring, fall break is alternated between parents each year, allowing both parents to enjoy extended time with their children during the school year.
- Summer vacation: Summer break is often divided equally between parents, either in one long block or split into shorter segments. Parents are encouraged to communicate their desired schedules early to avoid conflicts.
- Other school holidays: Shorter school holidays, such as teacher workdays or long weekends, may also be addressed in the parenting plan to ensure clarity and prevent misunderstandings.
Dividing school breaks can become particularly challenging when parents live far apart or have conflicting schedules. A child custody lawyer in Indiana can help create a detailed parenting plan that accounts for these complexities.
When the Standard Schedule Doesn’t Work: Modifying a Parenting Time Order
Life is not static. What worked for your family two years ago may not work today.
A parent might get a new job with a different schedule, a child’s extracurricular activities may become more demanding, or the relationship between the parents may change.
When the current Indiana parenting time order is no longer practical or in the child’s best interest, it may be time to seek a modification of the order.
To modify a parenting time order in Indiana, a parent must show that there has been a “substantial and continuing change of circumstances” since the last order was issued. This is a legal standard, meaning a minor inconvenience is not enough to warrant a change.
Examples of substantial changes could include:
- A parent relocating a significant distance.
- A change in a parent’s work schedule that makes the current schedule impossible.
- A child’s developmental needs have changed as they have gotten older.
- One parent consistently fails to follow the current parenting time order.
The parent requesting the modification must file a petition with the court. Often, courts will require parents to attend mediation to try and resolve the issue before a hearing is scheduled.
Indiana mediation for parenting time is a process where a neutral third party helps parents negotiate and find a mutually acceptable solution.
If an agreement can’t be reached, a judge will make the final decision based on what is in the best interest of the child.
Having legal representation can be very helpful in demonstrating to the court why a modification is necessary and in the child’s best interest.
Common Sources of Holiday Parenting Time Disputes
Even with a detailed parenting plan, disputes over holiday parenting time can still arise in Indiana. These conflicts are often fueled by emotion and miscommunication. Some of the most common issues include:
- Disagreements over “First Choice”: If a plan allows one parent the “first choice” of weeks for summer vacation, disagreements can occur if the other parent feels the choice is unfair or disruptive.
- Transportation logistics: Arguments over who is responsible for drop-offs and pick-ups, especially when parents live far apart, are frequent.
- Last-minute changes: One parent attempting to change the schedule at the last minute can cause significant conflict.
- Communication breakdown: A failure to communicate about travel plans, itineraries, or contact information for the children can lead to mistrust and disputes.
- Withholding parenting time: One parent preventing the other from seeing the child during their scheduled time is a serious issue that may require court intervention.
If you are worried that one parent is violating the terms of the time-sharing arrangements, schedule a confidential case consultation with CLLB Law to explore your rights and options.
The Role of a CLLB Family Law Attorney in Indiana Holiday Parenting Time Disputes
While the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines provide a solid framework, they cannot account for the unique dynamics of every family. This is where the guidance of a family law attorney can be invaluable:
- Drafting a custom parenting plan: Instead of relying on the default guidelines, a lawyer can help you and the other parent create a detailed and customized holiday visitation agreement that reflects your family’s traditions and schedules. This proactive approach can prevent countless future arguments.
- Representing you in mediation: If a dispute arises, a lawyer can advocate for your position during Indiana mediation for parenting time, helping you negotiate a fair resolution without the need for a contentious court battle.
- Filing for modification or enforcement: If the other parent is not following the court order or if circumstances have changed, a lawyer can assist in filing the complex paperwork required to support the modification or enforcement order.
- Providing objective advice: Co-parenting is an emotional journey. A lawyer provides a level-headed perspective, focusing on the legal aspects and the child’s best interests, which can help you make decisions that are not clouded by anger or frustration.
Ultimately, working with a legal professional gives you a partner who understands the system and can champion your parental rights in Indiana while you focus on what matters most: your children.
Indiana Parenting Time FAQs
Can parenting time schedules include religious or cultural holidays?
Parenting time schedules may accommodate religious or cultural holidays that are important to your family. If parents disagree on how to include these observances, a lawyer can help advocate for a plan that respects your family’s traditions while meeting legal requirements.
What if a parent wants to travel out of state with the child during a holiday?
Traveling out of state during holiday parenting time often requires advance notice to the other parent, as outlined in many Indiana parenting plans. If disputes arise over travel, legal guidance can help protect your rights and address any concerns.
How are holiday schedules managed for families with multiple children?
For families with multiple children, holiday schedules may need adjustments to accommodate different needs or activities. A child custody attorney in Indiana can help create a plan that balances these complexities while keeping the children’s best interests at the forefront.
Maintain Fair Parenting Time During Indiana School Breaks and Holidays with the Help of CLLB Law
Dividing holidays and school breaks can be one of the most difficult parts of co-parenting, but a clear, court-ordered plan can bring predictability and peace of mind for both you and your children.
Are you facing challenges with your holiday parenting time schedule or looking to create a plan that truly works for your family? Contact the CLLB Law Indiana child custody lawyers online or at (812) 725-8226 to discuss your situation.
Attorney Steve Langdon
Licensed to practice in both Indiana and Kentucky, Steve Langdon is an experienced elder law and trial attorney. In addition to his litigation and trial work, Steve’s practice includes wills, trusts, probate, Medicaid planning, guardianship, powers of attorney, and advanced directive planning, including living wills and health care surrogate designations. [ Attorney Bio ]
Attorney Gary Banet
Gary is licensed to practice law in both Indiana and Kentucky. He concentrates his practice in estate planning, estate and trust administration, estate and trust litigation, guardianships, elder law and special-needs planning. Gary earned his J.D. from the University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, and formerly practiced law at Bingham Greenebaum Doll and Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs. [ Attorney Bio ]