Do you have a “regular” schedule and a “holiday” schedule in your custody arrangement?
Are you in the middle of a separation and child custody dispute? With summer quickly approaching, now is the time to consider what kind of summer vacation you would like to take with your children and what summer custody schedule you need in place so you can take it.
When determining a custody arrangement that works for you, you should always consider what the “regular” schedule will be, as well as what a “holiday” schedule will look like. One of the holidays that is commonly carved out in court or through settlement is summer vacation. Even when children are too young to be in traditional school, a judge will typically order a summer holiday schedule.
When trying to determine what schedule works for you, you should ask yourself these questions:
- How many weeks does your employer allow you to take?
- Would you rather have more time off all at once or spread your vacations out over the summer?
- What, if any, traditional vacations would you like to continue?
- Do you typically take an extended family vacation each year during the same week?
- How can you ensure that you do not miss out on family reunions and traditions with your children?
Commonly, judges will carve out two weeks for each parent to spend with their children in the summer. These weeks can be consecutive or non-consecutive. But what if you live several hours away from the other parent? What if you live on different sides of the country? A judge may order even longer chunks of time with each parent over the summer.
What type of planner are you?
Another thing to consider is what type of planner you are. Some people are natural planners—you are the type of person that plans your vacation at least several weeks (if not months) in advance. Other people love to look for last-minute deals and plan their vacations just a few days before departure.
To prepare for your summer vacation, it is best to speak with an attorney early on in your custody case so you can ask the judge (or try to settle) for an arrangement with planning deadlines that works for you. Your attorney can help guide you through all the legal and scheduling considerations to make your summer vacation with your children as stress-free as possible.
Benefits of having an attorney help guide you through legal and scheduling considerations
Here at Collins Family & Elder Law Group, our attorneys are experienced in child custody matters and can help walk you through all the considerations you should make when determining what to ask for in your summer vacation schedule.
Our attorneys can help advise you on what to do if your chosen vacation dates conflict with the other parent’s chosen dates, how far in advance to plan, and what, if any, other custody-related provisions you may need to include regarding out-of-state travel or how you and the other parent will work together to obtain passports for your children if needed.
Create an enjoyable summer vacation for yourself and your children
Going through a custody dispute is difficult enough. Reach out to your local attorney like Ali Miller at Collins Family & Elder Law Group now so you can give yourself the best opportunity to create an enjoyable summer vacation for yourself and your children. You deserve to make new, happy memories with your children, and we can help you get there.
Collins Family & Elder Law Group was created to help people navigate child custody legal disputes and support families through these emotionally draining cases. Our child custody attorneys in North Carolina and South Carolina are committed to helping you and your child find peace of mind. Contact our team to schedule a consultation today.
