How to plan a summer vacation as a divorced parent

April 17, 2019

It doesn’t matter if you have physical custody of your children or visitation rights, there’s a good chance you’ll want to plan a summer vacation. This is a great opportunity to spend time with your children.

Unfortunately, issues regarding child custody can move to the forefront, thus killing your good time before it starts.

Here are five helpful tips for planning a summer vacation as a divorced parent in Texas:

• Set a vacation schedule as soon as possible:Once you have the basic details in place, such as when you’re leaving and coming home, you can share it with your ex-spouse. Upon agreeing on the details, be sure to stick with the schedule you have in place. Too many changes will complicate things.
• Don’t violate your custody agreement:Your custody agreement may have provisions regarding where you can travel with your children. For example, you may not be permitted to travel outside of Texas or the country. Take this into consideration when choosing a destination, as violating your agreement can result in losing your custody rights in the future.
• Forget about last minute vacations:A last minute trip is very difficult to plan in regard to child custody. If you have to go down this path, consult with the other parent on the schedule that works best for everyone.
• Put yourself in the other parent’s shoes:Even though the vacation is meant to give you and your children time together, think about how the other parent will feel. This will lead you to make better decisions for the both of you.
• Don’t cut off communication:You don’t have to communicate with your ex while you’re on your trip, but don’t prohibit your children from doing so. They may want to call or text their other parent, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Planning a summer vacation as a divorced parent can bring forth a variety of questions and concerns. Fortunately, with the right approach, you can address all of these in a timely manner.

If your ex-spouse continues to violate the custody agreement, don’t hesitate to talk to them about what’s happening. If this doesn’t work, learn more about your legal rights and how you can get everyone back on the same page.

Visit our website and read our blog for more information on all things related to child custody and visitation.