If you are a parent who is divorced or getting divorced, summer is an opportunity to spend more time with your children. However, it can also bring new challenges to your co-parenting arrangement. Addressing these issues appropriately is important for the sake of your children. Regardless of how you may feel about your spouse, you want to cooperate in the best interests of your kids. Generally, going to court to fight over your schedule is stressful for your children, in addition to being a time-consuming and costly option you want to avoid if possible.
Parenting Time Rules
In New York, the preference is for parents to have joint physical custody, where they each spend equal amounts of time with their children. When that isn’t feasible, one parent is granted primary custody and the other is given liberal parenting time. Parents are encouraged to negotiate their own parenting time schedule in the best interests of their children. If they cannot agree, parents can mediate, use a parenting coordinator or the court can appoint an attorney for the children or a forensic psychologist to help resolve disputes before the judge weighs in to decide the matter.
Vacation Scheduling
Often, parents want to go on vacation with their children. Generally, courts approve of each parent having two non-consecutive weeks with their children in the summer when they are not in school or camp. However, parents can come to their own agreement.
The timing of vacations should be agreed upon in advance to avoid conflicts and give kids the stability of knowing when and where they are going.
Parents should share travel details including flights, hotels, length of stay and general information on where the children will be going and what they will be doing. A detailed hourly schedule is not required. However, enough information should be given so that the parent who is not on vacation with the children can discuss the trip with the children during FaceTime calls and after they return from their trip.
During the trip, the parent on vacation should have children speak to their other parent daily to foster their relationship.
Camp
Parents should agree in advance on whether to send children to summer camp and, if so, what camp and for how long.
Who pays for camp should also be discussed. Camp is an add-on expense, not part of basic child support. The obligation to pay such expenses depends on the agreement between the parties or the decision of a judge.
Generally, when parents are required to pay for camp, the expense is divided between them pro rata according to their respective incomes.
Addressing Disputes
If you are a parent considering divorce or dealing with custody/parenting time disputes, you should consult with an experienced attorney. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you find the best resolution for your divorce and custody issues.