Louisiana courts require parents to include detailed holiday custody schedules in their joint custody implementation orders under La. R.S. § 9:335. The most common arrangement alternates major holidays between parents each year, with Christmas typically split at 2:00 PM on December 25th and Thanksgiving custody running from 6:00 PM on the last school day through 6:00 PM on Sunday. Louisiana law presumes joint custody is in the child's best interest, and holiday schedules must ensure frequent and continuing contact with both parents as mandated by state statute.
Key Facts: Louisiana Holiday Custody
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $200-$600 depending on parish |
| Residency Requirement | 6 months domicile in Louisiana |
| Waiting Period | 180 days (with children) or 365 days (covenant marriage) |
| Custody Standard | Best interest of the child under La. C.C. Art. 134 |
| Holiday Preference | Alternating years with specific pickup/dropoff times |
| Vacation Notice | 30 days written notice required |
| Modification Standard | Material change in circumstances (Evans/Bergeron) |
How Louisiana Courts Structure Holiday Custody Schedules
Louisiana courts structure holiday custody schedules through joint custody implementation orders that allocate specific time periods to each parent, ensuring children maintain meaningful relationships with both parents during major holidays. Under La. R.S. § 9:335, the implementation order must allocate physical custody so the child has frequent and continuing contact with both parents, and to the extent feasible, physical custody should be shared equally. Courts designate one parent as the domiciliary parent who has primary residence, while the other parent receives custody during specified holiday periods that rotate annually.
The Louisiana Supreme Court provides model joint custody plans in Appendix 29.2A of the District Court Rules, which serve as templates for holiday scheduling. These model plans establish standard provisions that many parishes adopt, including specific times for holiday exchanges, alternating year patterns, and vacation notification requirements. Parents may negotiate custom arrangements, but courts require specificity to prevent future conflicts.
Standard Holiday Rotation in Louisiana
Louisiana's standard holiday rotation follows an alternating odd-year/even-year pattern where each parent receives major holidays on a predictable schedule. The domiciliary parent typically has Thanksgiving on even-numbered years, with custody beginning at 6:00 PM on the last school day and ending at 6:00 PM on Sunday. Christmas vacation splits at the midpoint, usually 2:00 PM on December 25th, with the first half of winter break going to one parent in odd years and the second half in even years.
This rotation pattern provides certainty for long-term planning. Parents know years in advance which holidays they will spend with their children, allowing them to coordinate work schedules, family gatherings, and travel arrangements. The alternating structure also ensures neither parent consistently misses the same holiday, distributing both Christmas morning and Thanksgiving dinner fairly over time.
Christmas Custody Schedule Options in Louisiana
Louisiana parents have four primary options for structuring Christmas custody, each with distinct advantages depending on family circumstances, travel distances, and children's ages. The most common approach splits Christmas vacation at the midpoint, with the exchange occurring at 2:00 PM on December 25th, giving each parent either Christmas Eve through Christmas morning or Christmas afternoon through New Year's Day.
Option 1: Split at Christmas Day
The split-Christmas approach divides the holiday at 2:00 PM on December 25th, allowing both parents to experience Christmas morning on alternating years. Parent A receives custody from 6:00 PM on the last school day through 2:00 PM on Christmas Day in odd-numbered years, while Parent B has the same period in even-numbered years. The receiving parent then keeps the children through 6:00 PM on the evening before school resumes.
This schedule works well when parents live within reasonable driving distance (under 2 hours) because children can celebrate with both families on Christmas Day itself. For 2026, which is an even-numbered year, the parent designated for even years would have Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, exchanging at 2:00 PM on December 25th.
Option 2: Alternate Christmas and Winter Break
Some Louisiana parents prefer to alternate entire holiday periods rather than splitting Christmas Day. Under this arrangement, one parent receives all of Christmas vacation in odd years (from school dismissal through December 26th or 27th), while the other parent receives New Year's vacation. The parents then swap for even years. This approach eliminates mid-holiday travel and works better for families with longer distances between residences.
Option 3: Fixed Christmas Eve/Christmas Day
Louisiana courts also approve fixed arrangements where one parent always has Christmas Eve and the other always has Christmas Day. This works well when parents have different family traditions, such as one family celebrating on Christmas Eve with extended relatives and the other celebrating on Christmas morning. The children develop consistent expectations about where they will be each year.
Option 4: Extended Winter Break Division
For parents who want longer uninterrupted time, Louisiana courts approve dividing the entire winter break period. One parent receives the first week (school dismissal through December 26th at 6:00 PM), and the other parent receives the second week (December 26th at 6:00 PM through the evening before school resumes). New Year's Eve and New Year's Day may be treated as a separate holiday that alternates independently.
Thanksgiving Custody Arrangements Under Louisiana Law
Louisiana's standard Thanksgiving custody arrangement grants one parent the entire Thanksgiving weekend, from 6:00 PM on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving through 6:00 PM on Sunday, with parents alternating annually. This four-day block allows families to travel for multi-day gatherings with extended relatives, which is particularly important in Louisiana where family traditions around Thanksgiving are deeply rooted in cultural and regional customs.
Thanksgiving Weekend vs. Thanksgiving Day Only
Some Louisiana custody arrangements split Thanksgiving differently, with one parent receiving Thanksgiving Day only (Wednesday evening through Friday morning) and the other parent receiving the remainder of the long weekend (Friday through Sunday). This works for parents who live near each other and want to ensure children participate in both family's Thanksgiving dinners.
The disadvantage of splitting Thanksgiving weekend is increased transitions during a short holiday period. Louisiana courts generally prefer arrangements that minimize disruption, so the full-weekend alternating approach is more common in court-ordered schedules.
Interaction with School Calendars
Louisiana school districts typically dismiss for Thanksgiving break on Wednesday afternoon or Tuesday evening, with classes resuming the following Monday. Holiday custody provisions should specify whether the holiday period begins when school dismisses or at a fixed time (like 6:00 PM on Wednesday). The Louisiana Supreme Court's model plan uses 6:00 PM on the last school day, which accommodates variations in dismissal times across parishes.
Summer Vacation Custody in Louisiana
Louisiana law requires parents to provide 30 days written notice before exercising summer vacation time, with the first parent to provide notice receiving priority for their selected dates under the Louisiana Supreme Court's model joint custody plan provisions. Both parents receive vacation time with children each year, and travel is not required to exercise this time. Standard arrangements provide each parent 2-4 weeks of uninterrupted summer custody, though the exact duration depends on the specific custody order.
Notice Requirements for Summer Vacation
The 30-day written notice requirement ensures both parents can coordinate work schedules, camps, and family activities. The parent providing written notice first has priority for their selected dates, creating an incentive for early planning. Notice must include the travel dates, destinations, and a telephone number for emergency contact. If vacation time conflicts with the other parent's scheduled custody period, the vacation time typically takes precedence.
Summer Camp and Activity Coordination
Louisiana courts expect parents to cooperate in scheduling summer activities like camps, sports programs, and educational enrichment. The domiciliary parent generally has authority to enroll children in summer activities, but major decisions affecting the non-domiciliary parent's custody time require consultation. If parents disagree about summer activities, the domiciliary parent's decision is presumed to be in the child's best interest under La. R.S. § 9:335(B).
Other Major Holidays in Louisiana Custody Schedules
Louisiana custody schedules typically address 10-15 holidays beyond Thanksgiving and Christmas, including Mardi Gras, which holds particular cultural significance in Louisiana. Courts expect parents to specify arrangements for each holiday to prevent disputes, with alternating years being the most common approach. Some holidays, like Mother's Day and Father's Day, are typically assigned permanently to the respective parent rather than alternated.
Mardi Gras Custody Considerations
Mardi Gras presents unique scheduling challenges in Louisiana because the holiday period spans multiple days (often Friday through Fat Tuesday) and involves parades, balls, and family traditions that vary significantly by region. New Orleans and surrounding parishes may have different school schedules than northern Louisiana parishes. Custody orders should specify whether Mardi Gras custody covers the entire break period or specific days, and which parent has priority for attending particular parades or events.
Religious Holidays
Louisiana courts respect parents' rights to share religious holidays with children. Easter typically alternates annually, often grouped with spring break. Jewish holidays like Passover, Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur should be specifically addressed for families observing these traditions. The court considers each family's religious practices when structuring holiday provisions under the best interest factors of La. C.C. Art. 134.
Standard Holiday List for Louisiana Custody Orders
Comprehensive Louisiana custody orders typically include provisions for: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Mardi Gras (school holiday period), Easter weekend, Mother's Day, Memorial Day weekend, Father's Day, July 4th, Labor Day weekend, Halloween (typically evening hours only), Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve/Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve. Each parent's birthday and the children's birthdays may also be specified.
How Louisiana Determines Best Interest for Holiday Custody
Louisiana courts evaluate holiday custody arrangements using the 14 factors listed in Louisiana Civil Code Article 134, with the potential for child abuse being the primary consideration. Courts analyze emotional ties between the child and each parent, each parent's capacity to provide nurturing care, the stability of each home environment, and the child's preference if the child is mature enough to express one. The willingness of each parent to facilitate the child's relationship with the other parent significantly influences holiday custody decisions.
The 14 Best Interest Factors Under Article 134
- Potential for abuse (primary consideration)
- Emotional ties between parent and child
- Capacity to give love, affection, and spiritual guidance
- Capacity to provide material needs (food, clothing, medical care)
- Stability of the child's current environment
- Permanence of the family unit
- Moral fitness of each parent
- History of substance abuse or violence
- Mental and physical health of each parent
- Child's home, school, and community history
- Child's reasonable preference (if sufficiently mature)
- Willingness to facilitate relationship with other parent
- Distance between parents' residences
- Previous responsibility for child's care
These factors apply equally to holiday custody determinations. A parent who has historically prioritized family holidays, maintained traditions important to the child, and demonstrated flexibility in scheduling receives favorable consideration.
Modifying Holiday Custody Schedules in Louisiana
Louisiana requires proof of material change in circumstances to modify holiday custody schedules, with the burden of proof depending on whether the original order was a consent judgment or a considered decree. Consent judgments require showing the change affects the child and occurred after the previous order, while considered decrees require the heavier Bergeron standard: proving continuation of the current arrangement is so harmful that modification is justified, or that benefits of change clearly outweigh any harm.
The Evans Standard (Consent Judgments)
When parents agreed to the original custody arrangement through a consent judgment, modification requires proving: (1) a material change in circumstances since the original order, and (2) the proposed modification is in the child's best interest. Examples of material changes include relocation, changes in work schedules, changes in the child's school schedule, or documented conflicts during holiday exchanges. The parent requesting modification bears the burden of proof.
The Bergeron Standard (Considered Decrees)
If the original custody order resulted from a contested trial where the court received evidence about parental fitness, modification requires meeting the Bergeron standard. This heavy burden requires proving either that continuing the current arrangement is so harmful to the child that modification is necessary, or proving by clear and convincing evidence that the advantages of change substantially outweigh any harm from disrupting the established schedule. Louisiana courts apply this standard sparingly, typically reserving modifications for serious situations like abuse or neglect.
Relocation and Holiday Custody in Louisiana
Louisiana's relocation statute (La. R.S. § 9:355) requires 60 days written notice before relocating a child's principal residence more than 75 miles from the current location or outside Louisiana. The relocating parent must propose a revised custody and visitation schedule that preserves the non-relocating parent's holiday time to the extent possible. If the non-relocating parent objects within 30 days, the court will hold a hearing before authorizing the move.
Impact on Holiday Schedules
Relocation significantly affects holiday custody logistics. When parents live 200+ miles apart, mid-holiday exchanges become impractical. Louisiana courts may restructure holiday provisions to provide longer blocks of uninterrupted time rather than split arrangements. For example, instead of exchanging at 2:00 PM on Christmas Day, the court might award the entire Christmas break to one parent and the entire spring break to the other, alternating annually.
Transportation Responsibilities
Louisiana custody orders should specify transportation arrangements for holiday exchanges, including who provides transportation, who pays travel costs, and where exchanges occur. For long-distance arrangements, courts may require the relocating parent to bear a greater share of transportation costs as a condition of approving the relocation.
Enforcement of Holiday Custody Orders in Louisiana
Louisiana courts enforce holiday custody orders through contempt proceedings, which may result in fines, makeup visitation time, attorney fee awards, and in serious cases, modification of custody. A parent who willfully violates a custody order by denying holiday visitation may face civil contempt (coercive measures to ensure compliance) or criminal contempt (punitive sanctions for past violations). Courts take holiday custody violations seriously because they deprive children of meaningful time with the non-custodial parent.
Filing a Rule to Show Cause
To enforce a violated holiday custody order, the aggrieved parent files a Rule to Show Cause in the court that issued the original order. The motion should specify which holiday periods were denied, the dates involved, any communications between parents, and the relief requested. Courts may order makeup time, often at a ratio of 1.5 to 2 times the missed visitation, plus attorney fees and court costs.
No Automatic Makeup Time for Regular Visitation
Importantly, Louisiana's standard provisions note that no makeup time is given for missed regular visitation due to a holiday schedule. This rule recognizes that inequities balance out over time as the holiday calendar shifts. However, if a parent intentionally interferes with court-ordered holiday visitation, the remedy is enforcement through contempt rather than automatic makeup time.
Creating a Comprehensive Holiday Custody Schedule
Effective Louisiana holiday custody schedules require specificity about dates, times, locations, and responsibilities. Rather than vague language like "reasonable holiday visitation," orders should specify that "Father shall have Thanksgiving custody in odd-numbered years beginning at 6:00 PM on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and ending at 6:00 PM on the following Sunday, with exchange at Mother's residence." This level of detail prevents disputes and provides clear expectations for children.
Essential Elements of a Holiday Schedule
Every Louisiana holiday custody schedule should address:
- List of specific holidays covered
- Start and end times for each holiday period
- Pickup and dropoff locations
- Transportation responsibilities
- Which parent has priority in odd vs. even years
- How conflicts with regular visitation are resolved
- Notice requirements for vacation travel
- Communication expectations during holidays
- Provisions for the child's birthday
- Procedures for schedule changes by mutual agreement
Using Louisiana's Model Joint Custody Plan
The Louisiana Supreme Court's Appendix 29.2A provides a model joint custody implementation order that includes standard holiday provisions. Parents and attorneys can use this template as a starting point, customizing provisions to fit their family's specific needs. Many Louisiana family courts expect submitted custody plans to follow this general format, making court approval more straightforward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard holiday custody schedule in Louisiana?
Louisiana's standard holiday custody schedule alternates major holidays between parents each year. The domiciliary parent typically has Thanksgiving in even-numbered years (Wednesday 6:00 PM through Sunday 6:00 PM) and the first half of Christmas break in odd-numbered years. Christmas exchanges usually occur at 2:00 PM on December 25th, allowing both parents to share the holiday. This structure is outlined in the Louisiana Supreme Court's model joint custody plan in Appendix 29.2A.
Can I take my child out of state for Christmas vacation in Louisiana?
Yes, Louisiana permits holiday travel out of state, but you must provide 30 days written notice to the other parent with your itinerary, destination, and emergency contact information under the standard joint custody provisions. If your custody order contains specific travel restrictions or requires court approval for out-of-state travel, those provisions control. For relocations lasting 60+ days, the stricter requirements of La. R.S. § 9:355 apply.
How do Louisiana courts handle disputes over holiday custody?
Louisiana courts resolve holiday custody disputes through contempt proceedings initiated by filing a Rule to Show Cause. The court examines whether the custody order was violated, whether the violation was willful, and what remedy is appropriate. Courts may order makeup visitation time (typically 1.5-2 times the missed period), award attorney fees to the prevailing parent, and impose fines or other sanctions. Repeated violations may justify custody modification.
What happens if we cannot agree on a holiday schedule in Louisiana?
If parents cannot agree on a holiday schedule during divorce proceedings, the Louisiana court will impose one based on the child's best interest under La. C.C. Art. 134. Courts typically follow the standard alternating pattern from the model joint custody plan unless specific circumstances warrant a different arrangement. Parents may request mediation before trial to attempt resolution.
Does holiday custody override regular visitation in Louisiana?
Yes, holiday custody provisions take precedence over regular weekly visitation schedules in Louisiana. If the non-domiciliary parent's regular weekend falls on Thanksgiving and the domiciliary parent has Thanksgiving custody that year, the holiday provision controls. Importantly, no makeup time is given for regular visitation displaced by holidays because these inequities balance out over successive years.
How much does it cost to modify a holiday custody schedule in Louisiana?
Modifying a holiday custody schedule in Louisiana costs $200-$600 in filing fees depending on the parish, plus attorney fees typically ranging from $175-$350 per hour in metropolitan areas and $125-$250 per hour in rural parishes. Simple modifications by agreement may cost $1,000-$2,500 total, while contested modifications requiring hearings may cost $5,000-$15,000 or more. As of March 2026, verify fees with your local clerk of court.
Can grandparents get holiday visitation rights in Louisiana?
Yes, Louisiana Civil Code Article 136 allows grandparents to seek visitation rights, including holiday visitation, if the parents are divorced, separated, or unmarried. The grandparent must prove visitation is in the child's best interest. Courts consider the relationship between the grandparent and child, the grandparent's ability to provide guidance, and the child's preference if mature enough to express one. Holiday visitation for grandparents typically does not override parental custody time but may be carved from the parent's allocated period.
What if my ex does not follow the holiday custody schedule?
If your ex-spouse violates the holiday custody order, document the violation with dates, times, and any communications. File a Rule to Show Cause for contempt in the court that issued the custody order. Louisiana courts may order makeup visitation, award attorney fees, impose fines, and in egregious cases, modify custody. Repeated violations demonstrate an unwillingness to co-parent, which courts weigh heavily under the best interest factors of La. C.C. Art. 134(12).
How far in advance should I plan holiday custody exchanges?
Louisiana courts recommend planning holiday exchanges at least 30 days in advance, which aligns with the vacation notice requirement in standard custody provisions. For major holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, confirming arrangements 60-90 days ahead allows both parents to coordinate extended family gatherings and travel. Written confirmation of exchange times and locations prevents misunderstandings.
Can a child choose which parent to spend holidays with in Louisiana?
Louisiana courts consider a child's preference if the child is of sufficient age and maturity to express a reasonable preference under La. C.C. Art. 134(11). However, the child's preference is only one of 14 factors and does not override a court order. Children do not get to decide their holiday schedule. Parents should not put children in the position of choosing between them, as this can constitute manipulation that courts view unfavorably.