California Holiday Schedule Templates
Copy-ready language and sample calendars to drop straight into your custody orders—plus filing tips that California judges appreciate.
Jump to Template 1
Why Clear Holiday Language Matters
California Family Code §3020 promotes “frequent and continuing contact” with both parents so long as the child’s health, safety, and welfare are protected. Holidays magnify that principle: family traditions carry emotional weight, and courts know that vague or conflicting calendars can derail the entire co-parenting relationship. Judges therefore favor orders that spell out exact dates, exchange times, and year rotations. Clarity means fewer emergency hearings, happier kids, and lower attorney fees.
Informal “we’ll figure it out later” promises may work for a short honeymoon period, but memory fades and new partners, jobs, or distance complicate negotiations. A filed holiday schedule converts good intentions into enforceable orders. This guide gives you ready-to-copy clause text, tables that visualize the rotation, and filing pointers so your plan sails through the clerk’s window on the first try.
Each template below links to more detailed resources—for example, our child-visitation guide explains baseline parenting-time concepts, and the parenting-plan blueprint shows where holiday schedules fit within a full FL-341 package.
Template 1: Alternating Holidays (Odd/Even Years)
The alternating-year approach is California’s most common holiday model. Parent A enjoys Thanksgiving and Spring Break in odd-numbered years while Parent B has Winter Break; parents switch the following year. Kids get long, uninterrupted time with each household, and parents can plan travel well in advance.
| Holiday | Odd-Numbered Year (2025) | Even-Numbered Year (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | Parent A | Parent B |
| Winter Break (entire) | Parent B | Parent A |
| Spring Break | Parent A | Parent B |
| Fourth of July | Parent B | Parent A |
Clause Text (Odd/Even Rotation)
In odd-numbered calendar years, Parent A shall have the child(ren) from 10:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day until 6:00 p.m. the following Sunday. Parent B shall have the entire Winter Break beginning at school release until the day before classes resume. Parents shall exchange the child curb-side at Parent B’s residence.
Practice Tip: Attach this table behind FL-341(C). Clerks appreciate visual aids that confirm your clause matches the calendar.
Template 2: Split-Day Holidays (Morning / Afternoon)
When both parents live close and value seeing the child on the exact holiday date, a split-day model divides the celebration into two blocks. Younger children can enjoy brunch with one household and dinner with the other, reducing feelings of “missing out.” The exchange time—often noon—should account for traffic and nap schedules.
| Holiday | First Half (10 a.m.–12 p.m.) |
Second Half (12 p.m.–8 p.m.) |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | Parent A | Parent B |
| Christmas Day | Parent B | Parent A |
| New Year’s Day | Parent A | Parent B |
Clause Text (Split Holiday)
On Thanksgiving Day, Parent A shall have the child(ren) from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.; Parent B shall have the child(ren) from 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at which time the regular parenting schedule resumes. Parents shall meet curb-side at Parent A’s residence for exchange.
Note: Use exact clock times. “Morning” or “afternoon” alone invites arguments.
Template 3: Three-Year Rotation
A three-year cycle evens out coveted holidays without constant flipping. Each parent receives prime breaks two out of every three years, ideal for families who alternate international travel. Judges like the predictability, and older children appreciate knowing whose turn comes next.
| Holiday | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | Parent A | Parent B | Parent A |
| Winter Break | Parent B | Parent A | Parent B |
| Spring Break | Parent A | Parent A | Parent B |
| Fourth of July | Parent B | Parent B | Parent A |
Find Your Allocation
Enter any year to see which column applies in the rotation.
Travel & Long-Distance Tweaks
When parents live 100+ miles apart—or when one household intends overseas trips—holiday clauses must anticipate flights, passport transfer, and virtual contact. The sample bullets below keep annual parenting-time balanced while protecting the child’s routine.
- “If either parent travels more than 250 miles with the child, that parent shall provide the itinerary and emergency contacts at least 21 days before departure.”
- “The non-traveling parent shall enjoy one 30-minute video call at 7 p.m. local time every third day of the trip.”
- “Upon return, parents shall swap one weekend within 30 days to equalize total yearly days.”
Religious & Cultural Holidays
California’s diversity means standard calendars often overlook important observances such as Diwali, Lunar New Year, or Eid al-Fitr. Rather than redrafting the entire holiday schedule, add an opt-in clause:
By March 1 of each calendar year, either parent may notify the other in writing of up to two additional cultural or religious observances that shall be treated as holidays for that year. If the requested observance conflicts with the other parent’s holiday time, the requesting parent shall offer an equal exchange day within 30 days before or after the observance.
Courts respect sincerely held traditions but require balanced time. Below is a non-exclusive list of cultural dates commonly accepted:
- Lunar New Year (January/February, variable)
- Diwali (October/November, variable)
- Eid al-Fitr (dates vary)
- Hanukkah (December)
- César Chávez Day (March 31)
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day (second Monday in October)
Drafting Tips & “No-Loophole” Checklist
A gorgeous calendar means little if the clause text leaves wiggle room. Follow these best practices:
- Use plain English dates (“November 27, 2025”) rather than “Thanksgiving” because school calendars vary.
- Specify exchange points (“curb-side at Parent B’s residence”) to avoid “meet halfway” debates.
- Avoid “reasonable notice”; instead, set a firm number (“at least 72 hours in advance by email”).
- Check for time-zone consistency if parents reside outside California.
- Make sure holiday hours don’t conflict with your base parenting-plan schedule.
Court-Filing Checklist
- Complete FL-341(C) and attach to your Request for Order (FL-300).
- Prepare three copies (court, service, personal).
- Include self-addressed stamped envelopes if filing by mail.
- Double-check holidays don’t duplicate those in Sections FL-341(B) (Custody).
- Serve the other parent at least 16 court days before hearing (plus 5 calendar days if by mail).
- File Proof of Service (FL-335 or FL-336).
- Bring two blank copies of your order to the hearing for the judge to sign.
Clerk rejections often cite “conflict in dates.” A quick cross-check before filing prevents weeks of delay.