Families take vacations together on a regular basis, so many parents know the challenges that come with trying to make those plans. They may not realize that the difficulty increases if they’ve gone through a divorce and have to consider the terms in the parenting plan and the parenting time schedule as they’re making the vacation plans.
One of the first things that you should do if you’re planning your summer vacation is look at the dates. Some parenting plans have terms that allow a vacation to trump the parenting time schedule, but it’s usually best if you can avoid infringing on your ex’s time as much as possible.
Consider geographic restrictions
Parenting plans sometimes include geographic restrictions, which means that you have to consider the limitations when you plan a vacation. It’s often possible to get permission from the court or the other parents to take trips outside of that area. If you do this, ensure that the permission is granted in writing so there’s not any dispute about it. Also, if you’re planning on traveling internationally, you’ll need your ex to sign off on a passport application, and you may need a notarized document that establishes your ability to take the children out of the country.
Plan for communication with your ex
Throughout the vacation, your child may want to share their experiences with their other parent. Facilitating this is often in the child’s best interests. Think about offering to take pictures or maybe buy a small souvenir for the child to give to your ex. It may help you to remember that your ex is still their parent.
Vacation terms are only one thing that should be covered in the parenting plan. If you’re just going through a divorce and having to think about the parenting plan, it may be beneficial to work with someone who can assist you.