It’s officially August and many families have been planning their vacation since the start of summer. A fun family trip in the heat of August can be a memorable bonding experience for many families, or it can be a child custody drama-filled horror. Summer trips can lead to fights with your ex about where and when you get the kids for a summer vacation.
Liz Mandrano offers these tips in The Huffington Post to avoid issues with a potentially great getaway:
Plan a Vacation Schedule: Work with your ex to thoroughly plan who gets the kids and where they’ll be taken. If your vacation is in August, you have less than a month to agree upon something…. so start talking now!
Use Open Communication: We all know that vacation arrangements don’t always go as planned. And while it may be fun to travel with your kids and just see where the wind takes you, that’s not a great idea if you’re in a sticky divorce/custody situation. If you’ve planned a vacation schedule with your ex and the plan changes, notify him/her as soon as possible. Using open communication will not only lead to a healthier relationship and easier future planning, but it may protect you from legal action if your ex-spouse decides to go down that road.
Consider Mediation: While it may be another expense to account for during vacation planning, a mediator can save you and your spouse a lot of stress and frustration. You and/or your spouse can hire a private mediator or a child-custody lawyer to resolve your dispute without going to court. It’s a fair and easy way to settle vacation child custody issues.
Set a Court Date: This is the last option for most families, but it might be necessary. If you’re worried about where your ex may take your kids, or you don’t want to end up in court for breaking an agreement, consider setting a court date before your trip. In separation and divorce agreements, the court often determines the amount of vacation time allowed, the amount of notice each parent must give, and travel arrangements and locations (especially for younger children).
August is a great month for a family vacation. But make sure your child custody agreements are in order so your vacation isn’t ruined! Visit the Divorce Guide for additional Divorce Advice.