A parenting plan is the cornerstone of the decisions you and your ex have to make regarding your shared children. Does your parenting plan address summer vacation plans?
Before you plan for a much-needed vacation this summer, make sure you check your parenting plan to ensure you’re in compliance with all terms. If you’re just now setting up your parenting plan, these are some critical issues you should consider addressing. And if you need to modify an existing plan to address these concerns, you can certainly do that too.
Set the priority for summer vacations
Most parenting plans have a parenting time schedule that’s followed when the children are in school, one for holidays and one for when the children are out of school for the summer. It’s possible that some parenting plans may prioritize family vacations over the regular parenting time schedule that applies during that time. This means that adjustments will be made to the schedule so the non-vacationing parent can still have their parenting time.
Outline all applicable terms related to vacations
Parenting plans may have specific terms related to vacations. Oftentimes, this is a geographical restriction that limits where the children can be taken without either the court or the other parent agreeing to the destination. In some cases, it may only forbid international travel while allowing travel throughout the United States.
Establish communication guidelines for vacations
There are two aspects of communication about vacations that should be set in a parenting plan. One of these is the notification requirements for the parent who’s taking the kids on vacation to let the other parent know about the plans. The other is setting the plan for the children to contact their other parent while they’re on vacation. This may involve setting specific times, but that might not be necessary as the children get older and can handle communication on their own.
Parents must ensure they set up their parenting plan based on what’s best for their children. Working with a legal representative who can assist with getting it set up properly is beneficial since it reduces the concern of an issue being managed ineffectively or in ways that could inspire conflict down the road.