How should I prepare for summer child custody?

On Behalf of | Apr 19, 2017 | Family Law |

As the warmer months approach, they signal that summer vacations are near. If you and your ex have a child custody agreement governing what happens with your children, you need to prepare now if you plan on taking any trips during the summer months.

There are some specific things you need to check and determine before you make any plans or reservations. Thinking about these now can help to ensure that your summer plans go as smoothly as possible.

What should I check for in the custody agreement?

You need to find out how child custody time is handled during the summer months. Often, there are special plans for these months since children aren’t in school. If you have a complex child custody agreement, you may need to print out a summer calendar so you can make the days when you will have your child with you. Make sure that you look into the time that you and your ex will have to hand the children off to each other since this can have an impact on summer vacation plans.

How should I handle vacation plans?

If you can, make sure that you plan your summer trips when you have your children with you if you plan to include them in the trip. You might need to plan flights and other travel the day after you pick the children up and the day before your ex should get them back. This helps to ensure that delays with the custody exchange don’t impact your travel plans.

What special considerations should I think about regarding summer months even if I’m not taking a trip?

You might need to make plans for child care during the summer months if your children still need this. The calendar you wrote your dates on can help determine when you need child care. You can either try to find a day care or someone who can come to your home to watch the children. Another idea is for your children to spend time with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members.

What should I do if there are issues with the summer month plans?

You can always turn to child custody modification and the court system if you and your ex can’t come to an agreement about the summer months. It is imperative that you put your children’s needs first throughout the process because this is what the court will consider if the court has to step into the process.

 

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