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10 Client Education Strategies for the Holidays

Here are 10 practical things family law attorneys can do during the holidays to educate their clients.

1. Visually Clarify the Holiday Schedule

Don't assume your client understands the legalese of their custody order. Proactively send a simplified, visual breakdown of the holiday parenting time. Create a simple calendar view (e.g., "You: Dec 20-23," "Spouse: Dec 24-26") that clearly outlines dates, specific exchange times, and locations. This single document can prevent dozens of confused phone calls.

2. Draft a 'Holiday Communication' Guide

Create a one-page PDF outlining "Dos and Don'ts" for holiday co-parenting communication. Advise clients to use court-ordered co-parenting apps (like OurFamilyWizard or AppClose) for all communication. Remind them to keep messages brief, polite, and focused only on the children. This guide educates them on how to create a better record for their own case.

3. Explain Financial Dos and Don'ts

The holidays inspire spending, which can be disastrous in a pending divorce. Remind clients that marital assets are still marital assets until a final order. Counsel them against extravagant spending, draining joint accounts for gifts, or incurring significant new debt. A simple email blast on "Holiday Spending and Your Divorce" can protect their financial standing.

4. Send a Targeted Social Media Reminder

Clients often forget that everything is potential evidence. Circulate a brief memo warning them about the dangers of posting on social media. Explain how a photo of an expensive gift can contradict financial declarations, or how a post from a party can be used in a custody dispute. Advise them to make profiles private and to think before they post.

5. Set Clear 'Holiday Office Hours' Expectations

Manage client expectations by clearly communicating your holiday availability. Send an email detailing your office's closed dates and your policy on non-emergency communication. Provide a clear protocol for a true emergency (e.g., a parental kidnapping) versus a non-emergency (e.g., a dispute over a gift).

6. Host a 'New Year Prep' Webinar

Host a short, 30-minute webinar on "Preparing Your Case for the New Year." This educates clients on the next steps. Cover topics like gathering W-2s and tax documents, preparing for mediation, or updating their financial disclosures. Recording it allows clients to watch on their own time.

7. Create a 'Holiday Travel' Checklist

Develop a simple checklist for clients traveling with their children. Ensure they have the correct documents, such as a copy of the custody order or a notarized travel consent letter from the other parent (if required). This proactive step prevents panic at the airport and reinforces your thoroughness.

8. Distribute an FAQ on Gifts and Third Parties

Address common holiday conflicts head-on. Draft an FAQ that answers questions like: "Can my ex stop me from giving my child a specific gift?" or "Can I introduce my new partner to my children at the family holiday dinner?" Providing answers based on the law and local judicial preferences educates them on reasonable behavior.

9. Review 'Right of First Refusal' (ROFR)

The ROFR clause is frequently misunderstood. Take a moment to explain how it applies during the holiday breaks. Does it apply if the parent uses a family babysitter for a few hours to go shopping? Clarifying this small detail educates the client and can prevent a major, unnecessary conflict.



10. Send a Brief Case Status Summary

Clients often feel their case is "stuck" during the holidays. Send a brief, year-end summary of their case. Actively outline what you have accomplished together in the past year and what the immediate next steps are in January. This manages anxiety and reinforces the progress you have made.

Transform Your Practice with Proactive Support

Feeling overwhelmed by the thought of creating all this content while managing your end-of-year caseload? You don't have to do it alone.

Educating clients is vital, but it takes time you don't have. Best Virtual Paralegal offers specialized family law support for attorneys. We can draft these client communications, create your holiday FAQs, manage case summaries, and handle the administrative load. This frees you to focus on high-level strategy and enjoy your own holiday.



Focus on your clients, not the paperwork. Contact Best Virtual Paralegal today to see how our expert family law support services can streamline your practice.