Charlotte Divorce Lawyer Blog
Managing Summer Vacation After Divorce
When going through a separation and divorce, you develop new family norms and establish routines. Now, summer is coming and it can bring some challenges. The typical daily life will be different now that school is not in session. Your needs and the needs of your children are likely to change during the summer months when kids are not attending school. It will take some effort to ensure that you and your children experience a happy season.
Plan Ahead
Activities and daycare facilities often have long wait lists, and they fill up quickly. It is best to plan as far ahead as possible to ensure that you save space for your children. For instance, you may need to secure care for your child during the day in the summer while you are at work. Keep in mind that you might need to adjust your work hours to accommodate the particular care and needs of your children. Work with your employer to allow you the time necessary for your children while they are not in school.
Communicate
Communication is key to making sure your children will have a good summer. Both parents may have expectations, and both want to spend time with their kids, sometimes taking a trip or vacation. Although it may not always be easy, it is in the best interests of your children to develop good communication with your former spouse. Together, discuss plans for the summer and how and when each of you wants to spend time with the children.
Find Out Your Children’s Wishes
Talk to your children about what they want to do during the summer. As children get older, they may have activities that they want to participate in with their friends. Summer camps, sports, and other things may be among their interests. Find out what they would like to do over the summer break and take that into consideration when planning their time.
Consult Your Parenting Plan
Your parenting plan is part of your divorce, and you have a legal obligation to follow it. It should be specific in regards to vacation or holiday time. You will need to follow the rules set forth in the document. If the plan is not specific, you will need to coordinate with your former spouse to come to a summer arrangement that you will both agree on. The failure to comply with a court order could result in legal action.
Make Changes Properly
It is best to put the new agreement in writing so there is no confusion. Typically, major permanent modifications must be made through the court. In many instances, it is possible for both parents to agree in writing regarding the details of a specific instance about the children’s care and visitation. If you wish to take the children on a trip, make sure to obtain approval from the other parent, especially if it requires some changes to the regular visitation schedule.
If you are going through a separation or divorce, call us at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to schedule a consultation.
The family law practice group at Arnold & Smith, PLLC includes four Board-Certified Family Law specialists and one Child Welfare Law specialist, as well as several attorneys with many years of family law experience that are committed to providing a powerful voice to individuals facing the often-tumultuous issues in this area of law. The range of issues our family law clients may be facing include pre-and post-nuptial agreements; separation agreements; post-separation support; child support (both temporary and permanent); absolute divorce; divorce from bed and board; military divorce; equitable distribution of assets; child custody (both temporary and permanent); retirement benefits and divorce; alimony and spousal support; and adoption. Because this area of the law is usually emotionally charged and complicated, the family law attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, act with the utmost dedication to ensure that each client understands his or her options and then work to achieve the best result possible for that client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/parenting_plan
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/parenting_plan
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/beach-1568734
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