Whether you are currently considering child custody arrangements for the first time, or are re-evaluating a child custody plan previously ordered by the court, it is a good idea to consider summer parenting\u00a0time as a separate topic.<\/p>\n
For most families, summer months bring additional free time \u2013 and additional challenges for parents.\u00a0 Below please find some frequently asked questions about summer child custody.\u00a0 As with most things post-divorce, there is no one right way to handle summer custody arrangements.\u00a0 Summer child custody is best done in the manner that best suits you and your family.<\/p>\n
While technically, summer begins June 21, summer custody can be defined a few different ways.\u00a0 If the children are not yet in school, \u201csummer\u201d may be best defined as starting the Friday of Memorial Day, and ending on the Monday of the Labor Day weekend.\u00a0 Once the children are in school, their school schedule may be the best guide for determining the summer parenting schedule.<\/p>\n
The answer to this question is, \u201cIt depends.\u201d \u00a0was this\u00a0anticipated in the divorce decree? \u00a0If you haven\u2019t yet filed for divorce, what can the two of you agree on? \u00a0Additionally, of course, practical considerations also impact this.\u00a0 For example, if you have the bulk of the parenting responsibilities during the school year, and your ex has visitation on Tuesday nights and every other weekend, it makes sense for you to adopt a similar schedule while the kids are with your ex for those four weeks.\u00a0 Of course, if your ex is planning on taking them on a four-week road trip across the country, this sort of visitation schedule will not work.\u00a0 Similarly, if your ex lives in Alaska and you live in the DMV, unless you plan on flying to Juneau, you probably won\u2019t be seeing your children during this time.<\/p>\n
It certainly can.\u00a0 If you are on an every-other week schedule, for example, and the child is gone for one week, depending on the age of the child, it may make sense to modify the schedule.\u00a0 This can be done with an eye towards making sure the child has time to reconnect with each parent after time away.<\/p>\n
Summer activities can be a great way to fill a child\u2019s time in the summer months.\u00a0 Summer activities also provide children with new and enriching experiences.\u00a0 Before you sign your child up for summer activities, however, it is a good idea to determine ground rules. \u00a0Will you be solely responsible for getting the children to these activities? \u00a0Or will your ex take on the same role when they have custody?\u00a0 Particularly if your ex has the children for extended periods of time, it is a good idea to consult with them before signing the children up for activities.<\/p>\n
In a perfect world, if you want to take your kids on a week-long vacation during the summer, and your divorce decree currently calls for one night with your ex during the week, all you have to do is pick up the phone and ask for a trade of some kind.\u00a0 While most parents are reluctant to give up parenting time, many parents will agree to a negotiated alternate schedule.<\/p>\n
Of course, we don\u2019t live in a perfect world.\u00a0 You may need to reconsider how you define a week long vacation. \u00a0Typically, a week vacation goes Friday to Friday, or Sunday to Sunday. \u00a0However, you may consider a Wednesday evening to next Wednesday morning vacation to accommodate the middle of the week visitation.<\/p>\n
Yes!\u00a0 Any time you know in advance there is a longstanding family commitment, it can certainly be written into the child custody schedule. \u00a0Whether it is a reunion in another state, or a regularly scheduled week at the beach, when you know when it will be, let your lawyer know. \u00a0In fact, for long standing family time traditions, couples are encouraged to include this time in the divorce decree. \u00a0Ideally, couples remain able to work together for the best interests of their children. \u00a0However, whenever special parenting time can be reduced to writing in a court order due to the certainty of the event, it is best to do so.<\/p>\n
There are a number of ways to handle this situation.\u00a0 Couples may set up a \u201cvacation request schedule.\u201d\u00a0 This can be incorporated in the divorce decree.\u00a0 Basically, a vacation request schedule allows both parents to submit to the other parent a proposed vacation schedule.\u00a0 Typically, the proposal is submitted to the other parent in writing to avoid misunderstandings.\u00a0 It is also typically \u201cdue\u201d by a certain date \u2013 say, May 15, for example.<\/p>\n