The holidays are supposed to be joyful - but in family law, they’re often a flashpoint for conflict.
In this episode of Lawyers Without Billboards, Steve, Patty, Jimmy, and Alexa break down why holiday parenting time creates so many disputes, how courts actually divide holiday schedules, and the drafting mistakes that turn manageable situations into annual blowups.
From Christmas and New Year’s to birthdays and school breaks, the team explains what judges expect, why overly complicated schedules fail, and how clear parenting plans can prevent years of unnecessary conflict.
If you’ve ever wondered why “we’ll just figure it out” almost never works - this episode explains exactly why.
⏱️ Chapter Markers
00:00 – Welcome to Lawyers Without Billboards
01:45 – Why Christmas (and holidays) cause the biggest parenting fights
04:30 – How courts usually divide holiday parenting time
07:10 – Why vague or “flexible” holiday plans backfire
09:45 – The problem with splitting Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
12:30 – Why travel and future plans matter more than you think
15:10 – Real-world examples of holiday parenting disputes
18:30 – Defining “release of school” and other drafting pitfalls
21:40 – When parents agree… until they don’t
24:15 – Birthdays, parent birthdays, and why kids don’t care
27:10 – Final thoughts on preventing holiday conflict
28:00 – Closing and New Year's wishes
🎙️ Hosts:
Steve & Patty Shewmaker, Jimmy & Alexa Lewis
Shewmaker & Lewis – Atlanta, GA
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🎧 Listen or Watch
Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/WL6KDAJ8JaU or listen on your favorite podcast platform – Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
📩 Contact: pshewmaker@shewmakerandlewis.com
🌐 Website: https://www.shewmakerandlewis.com
🎧 Podcast Library: https://shewmakerandlewis.com/lawyers-without-billboards
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🎼 Music by Ben Hernandez at Dragonsong Productions
🎥 Produced by: Bleeding Edge, Inc.
🎬 Audio & Video Production: Rob Burgner
📍 Recorded at: Shewmaker & Lewis, Atlanta, GA
