Holiday parent time can be confusing. The confusion stems from the fact that holidays alternate from parent to parent depending on odd and even years. Thornier still is that holidays take precedence over regular parent time.
Despite the potential for confusion and mistakes, the state parent time guidelines bring consistency and allow for planning with your children — enabling each parent to take advantage of various holidays throughout the year. (Please note that your holiday parent time may deviate from the parent time listed below and, if you already have a parent time plan or order, your individual plan trumps the state guidelines.)
To make things even murkier, there are additional guidelines that extend certain holidays. So you may want to consult an attorney for additional guidance. The following is a break-down of the general holiday parent time listed in Utah Code sections 81-9-302 and 81-9-303:
If the holiday schedule below no longer fits your family, know that parents can petition the court to modify child custody and parent-time terms.
Holiday Parent Time for the Noncustodial Parent (Usually the parent with fewer overnights)
Summer Parent Time: Two weeks uninterrupted and two weeks interrupted (custodial parent chooses one weekday each of those two weeks, same day as noncustodial’s weekday day parent-time).
Even Numbered Years (e.g. 2024, 2026, etc.)
- Child’s birthday on actual birthdate, 3:00–9:00 p.m.
- President’s Day weekend, Friday 5:30 p.m. until Monday 8:30 p.m.
- Memorial Day weekend, Friday 5:30 p.m. until Monday 8:30 p.m.
- Juneteenth National Freedom Day: 5:30 p.m. the day before (if not Father’s Day) or 8:00 a.m. on the day (if the day before is Father’s Day), until 8:30 p.m. the day after
- July 24th, 5:30 p.m. July 23 until 8:30 p.m. July 25
- Halloween, after school until 9:00 p.m. (school day) or 3:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. (no school)
- Thanksgiving, Wednesday 5:30 p.m. until Sunday 8:30 p.m.
- Second half of Christmas/Winter Break, beginning December 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Odd Numbered Years (e.g. 2025, 2027, etc.)
- Child’s birthday on the day before or after the actual birthdate, 3–9 p.m.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, Friday 5:30 p.m. until Monday 8:30 p.m.
- Spring Break, 5:30 p.m. the day school ends until 8:30 p.m. the day before it resumes
- July 4th, 5:30 p.m. July 3 until 8:30 p.m. July 5
- Labor Day weekend, Friday 5:30 p.m. until Monday 8:30 p.m.
- Fall Break, 5:30 p.m. the day school releases until 8:30 p.m. the day before it resumes
- First half of Christmas/Winter Break, until December 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Holiday Parent Time for the Custodial Parent (Usually the parent with more overnights)
Summer Parent Time: Two weeks uninterrupted
Odd Numbered Years: The custodial parent receives the same holidays the noncustodial parent receives in even years (listed above), and vice versa.
Even Numbered Years: The custodial parent receives the same holidays the noncustodial parent receives in odd years (listed above).
Additional Holidays for Each Parent
- Mother’s Day each year: Mother from the day before at 5:30 p.m. to the holiday at 8:30 p.m.
- Father’s Day each year: Father from the day before at 5:30 p.m. to the holiday at 8:30 p.m.
Contact an Experienced Utah Family Law Attorney
If you have questions about Utah holiday parent time or your parenting plan, Ashley Wood Law, P.C. can help. Contact us online at contact@ashleywoodlaw.com or call (801) 459-3499 to schedule a consultation with an experienced Utah family law attorney.