Does your custody order say something like “alternate holidays” and leave the rest up to you? You’re not alone. Every fall, Minnesota parents find out that vague wording can turn Christmas Eve into a negotiation. A holiday parenting time addendum fixes that by spelling out who has the kids, when, and where, before the season starts.
Download the free Holiday Addendum Checklist (below) and build yours step by step.
What Is a Holiday Parenting Time Addendum?
A holiday addendum is a short written agreement that spells out how you and your co-parent will share holidays and school breaks. It doesn’t replace your parenting plan. It adds the detail your plan is missing.
You have two options:
- Informal addendum: A signed agreement between parents. It’s faster and easier, but a court can’t enforce it unless it’s filed.
- Formal addendum: The same agreement, submitted to the court as a stipulation and order. Once approved, it becomes part of your official order and is enforceable.
Many parents start informal and file later. If that’s your plan, add a line stating that the parties may later submit the agreement to the court for approval as a Stipulation and Order.
What Should a Holiday Addendum Include?
A strong addendum leaves nothing open to interpretation. Minnesota courts generally favor specific, detailed schedules because they’re easier to follow and easier on kids. Here’s what to cover:
- Every holiday and school break. List Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, New Year’s, winter and spring break, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, birthdays, and any religious or cultural holidays your family observes. Write out this year’s exact dates.
- Who has each holiday. Pick a pattern: alternate years (even and odd), split the day, or assign certain holidays to one parent every year.
- Exact start and end times. Skip phrases like “Christmas morning.” Write “December 24 at 6:00 p.m. to December 25 at 9:00 a.m.”
- Exchange details. Name the location, who drives, and how weather delays are handled. A 15-minute courtesy window keeps small delays from becoming big arguments.
- Travel rules. Set a notice period (10 to 14 days is common) and agree to share itineraries, contact info, and video call times.
- A tie-breaker. State that the holiday schedule overrides the regular parenting schedule. This one sentence prevents countless disputes.
- Make-up time. Explain how missed regular time gets made up, such as within 30 days.
- An annual review date. Agree to revisit the addendum each year by October 1.
- Signatures and dates. Both parents sign, and each keeps a copy.
If any of these are missing from your current order, that’s usually where holiday conflict starts.
When Should You File a Holiday Addendum With the Court?
If you and your co-parent work well together, an informal addendum may be all you need. If you’ve had disagreements or missed exchanges before, filing it as a stipulation gives your plan the court’s backing.
Timing matters. Court calendars fill up fast in November and December, so start early. An addendum the court approves before the holiday can generally be enforced that season. One approved afterward applies going forward. Under Minnesota’s parenting time statute, courts can order remedies like make-up parenting time when court-ordered time is denied, but only when there’s an order to enforce. The Minnesota Judicial Branch Self-Help Center has general information on forms and filing.
Johnson/Turner has helped Minnesota families with parenting time arrangements since 2003. If you and your co-parent are stuck on the details, FairWell Mediation can help you reach an agreement outside of court.
Start Your Holiday Plan Today
A few clear sentences now can save your family a stressful December.
- Download the free Holiday Addendum Checklist (below) and use it to draft your plan.
- Share your draft with your co-parent early, before the holiday rush.
- Decide whether to keep it informal or file it with the court.
- Book a guidance call with our team. We’ll review your draft, fill in legal gaps, and help with filing if you need it, all with transparent flat-fee pricing.
Let’s make this holiday season about peace, not paperwork.
Holiday Addendum FAQ
Is an informal holiday agreement legally binding? Generally, no. It shows what you both agreed to, but a court can only enforce it once it’s filed and approved as part of your order.
Do I need a lawyer to create a holiday addendum? Not always. Many parents draft their own using a checklist. An attorney can review your draft, close gaps, and handle filing if you want it enforceable.
What if the holiday schedule conflicts with regular parenting time? Include a tie-breaker stating that the holiday schedule takes priority, plus a make-up time clause for any missed days.
