Are you celebrating Christmas with your children this year, or have you chosen to honor Hanukkah or Kwanzaa instead? Are you going to celebrate Chinese New Year or the American New Year? If you are a parent that is torn due to multiple religions that are a part of your children's' backgrounds, it is important to know that if you have legal custody of the children, you are in charge of this decision. Even if your ex-spouse has a strong opinion about what holidays your children celebrate, they are not required to celebrate these holidays unless you decide that they should.Hanukkah
If you and your ex-spouse have shared legal custody of the children, this is when you will have to collaborate to come to a workable solution concerning holidays. Legal custody involves the right to make decisions regarding a child's education, religion, upbringing, medical care, and more until the child is of age to make these decisions himself or herself.
If you would not like to celebrate Hanukah despite the fact that your children's' father is Jewish, had you have sole legal custody, then you don't need to honor the holiday. If you and your spouse both have legal custody, then you may need to arrive at a compromise. This may mean choosing holiday celebrations based on when you have custody of the children.
If your spouse has the children the week before Christmas and wants to celebrate Hanukah with them, then you may need to allow that. Then, when you have the children, you can celebrate Christmas. You will want to talk with your attorney if you are lost in a dispute about holiday celebrations and want clarity. A Los Angeles divorce lawyer at Claery & Hammond can help you to determine who has legal custody and the right to make these decisions. Call the firm today to get a free consultation and get started on your case!