Should the children be with me on Christmas Day?

The Christmas period can create problems between separated parents in respect of the arrangements for children.

The arrangements should be considered in sufficient time ahead of the Christmas holidays to try and avoid problems. Some families find that they prefer to share Christmas Day, whereby one parent has the children in the morning and the other parent has the children in the afternoon. Other families prefer to alternate whereby the children spend Christmas day with one parent one year and with the other parent the next year.

It is important to recognise that Christmas contact can be enjoyed on a day other than the 25th December and every effort should be made to reach a solution which is with the children's best interests in mind.

Whilst the courts can intervene, applications to the courts should be made as a last resort and the courts priority is the children and not what each parent wants. Legal advice should be obtained prior to making any such application.