St. Patrick's Day Child Custody

St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland. It's officially on the 17th of March, but when that falls on a weekend, many schools and businesses close the following Monday.

The day commemorates St. Patrick, known for bringing Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century.

It's important that separated parents make a custody and access schedule that addresses Paddy's Day and other holidays.

Scheduling options for St. Patrick's Day

Alternate the holiday

Your custody schedule could state that one parent gets St. Patrick's Day in even-numbered years and the other gets it in odd-numbered years. This is the default in Custody X Change calendars because it's such a common approach.

Make it a fixed holiday

You could agree to give one parent the holiday every year. Often, the holiday goes to the noncustodial parent since they have less parenting time in the regular schedule.

Split the holiday

Each parent could have part of the day (or part of the long weekend).

You can plan around work schedules if necessary, or you could plan around festivities that each parent wants to partake in.

Use multiple schedules

A good way to account for year-to-year changes is to agree to multiple arrangements.

For example, your parenting plan could state: "When school closes for St. Patrick's Day on a Friday or Monday, the parent who does not have the weekend in the regular schedule will get the holiday. When St. Patrick's day falls on another weekday, Mum and Dad will split the holiday."

Be sure to include times for handing the child over.

Celebrate together

Another option for parents who get on well is celebrating together. Seeing you together can be fulfilling for your child as long as you can treat each other courteously and have no history of domestic violence.

The easiest way to make a custody schedule for special occasions

There's a lot to think about when you build a holiday schedule. You'll want it to address weekend and midweek holidays, reflect occasions unique to your family (like birthdays) and work for years to come.

The Custody X Change app makes it easy. Just open your Custody X Change calendar and follow our steps to make a holiday schedule.

To make a custody and access schedule quickly and affordably, turn to Custody X Change. In no time, you'll have written and visual versions that include the holidays and occasions you care about.