The Standard Possession Order does not include a specific provision for the Halloween holiday.  This can make trick-or-treating extra spooky for divorced parents who both want to spend time with their kids on this fun holiday. 

If Halloween doesn’t fall during your possession this year, you can still share in the holiday fun. Try Skype or doing Facetime with your child in costume, lunch at your child’s school if they dress up for Halloween, or Halloween balloon or cookie delivery.You can also celebrating before Halloween by making a trip to the pumpkin patch, carving jack-o-lanterns, or watching age-appropriate scary movies.

If Halloween does fall during your time, make sure to send pictures of your child in costume to your ex.  Hopefully they will repay the gesture on a year when they have Halloween or another important holiday or event.  These small gestures can go a long way toward fostering effective co-parenting and encouraging a healthy relationship with your child’s other parent.

For people who have not yet finalized their divorce, you can include provisions in your decree for special holidays that are not addressed by the Standard Possession Order, like Halloween, Easter and Fourth of July.

No matter what your relationship is like with your ex or what your decree says about Halloween, keep in mind that Halloween should be a fun holiday for your child and know that you, whether it is your day for possession or not, should have the ability to make that happen.  Happy trick-or-treating everyone!!