During the school year, it may be relatively easy for you and your ex to stick to a child custody schedule. The children are in school five days a week, at roughly the same time that you’re at work. Your custody arrangement may follow a simple routine..
But things can change significantly over the summer months. For one thing, the kids don’t have to go to school, so who watches them while you’re at work? Do you need a different custody schedule? Do you need to coordinate on daycare or babysitting options? Things can feel a lot more complex and chaotic, and it’s important to address any necessary changes early.
Communication and planning are key
Communication is key, and it’s often best to begin planning well in advance. The more that the two of you talk about what the summer schedule is going to look like, the fewer conflicts you’ll likely have to deal with later.
For example, maybe you have custody every other week, but you want to take the children on a two-week vacation across the country. If you talk to your ex ahead of time, they may be completely fine with adjusting the schedule to allow for the trip. But if you simply take the children and go without communicating about it, your ex may feel blindsided. They may even accuse you of violating their custody rights.
Navigating a dispute
While advance planning is helpful, it doesn’t guarantee that disputes won’t arise as schedules shift and change during the summer. If this happens, take the time to carefully explore all of your legal options to reach a fair resolution.