Planning a Summer Vacation After Divorce

Vacations are an important way for families to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and focus instead on bonding with each other. This continues to be true even after divorce, although planning a vacation may become more difficult, especially if there are scheduling conflicts, which are perhaps the greatest hurdle when it comes to taking family vacations after divorce. However, these types of issues can be prevented if a couple’s parenting plan outlines how time will be shared over holidays and vacations and if the couple retains an open line of communication. If you need help coming to an out-of-court agreement with your own spouse about time sharing responsibilities this summer, it is important to retain an experienced child custody attorney who can assist you.

Standard Parenting Plans 

Most Florida parenting plans allocate at least two weeks of summer vacation to each parent every year. During that time, the designated parent has uninterrupted time-sharing privileges and responsibilities regardless of the schedule that is in place during the rest of the year. However, parents are not restricted to this plan and can amend it to reflect a different schedule. For instance, parents could agree to a one week or one month vacation period rather than the standard two weeks. Couples can also agree to change the parenting plan at a later date or to require advance notice of vacation plans.

Reducing Conflict  

Going through a divorce is one of the most difficult and stressful ordeals that a family can go through. This is especially true if a couple has a contentious relationship or refuse to negotiate. This can have a negative effect on the couple’s children and cost the parties more time and money in the long run. For this reason, parties to a divorce are strongly encouraged to remain open minded and honest in their interactions with each other and to make sure that lines of communication remain open. These goals should remain in place even after the divorce is finalized, especially in regards to extended summer vacations, as it is critical for parents to remain in contact about:

• Travel plans;
• Any changes to the itinerary; and
• How to reach the child in the event of an emergency.

If possible, these communications should be recorded in writing, whether in the parenting plan itself or in later agreements. This can help give the parties a firm idea of their responsibilities, while also acting as strong evidence if the court is later asked to intervene and settle a dispute.

Contact an Experienced Child Custody Attorney Today  

If you are going through a divorce and want to ensure that your parenting plan reflects specific vacation times or are already divorced and are having difficulties communicating with your ex-spouse about summer vacation plans, you need the advice of a dedicated family law attorney. For help creating or enforcing a parenting plan, please call 954-945-7591 or send us an online message and we’ll help you schedule a free one-on-one consultation with experienced and compassionate Fort Lauderdale child custody lawyer Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A.

Resource:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0400-0499/0409/Sections/0409.25633.html