Divorced parents in Texas know how difficult it can be to get through the summer without haggling about parenting time. This is especially true if vacation time and holidays were not part of a court ordered parenting schedule agreed upon at the time of the divorce. This can be a stressful time for children and parents, regardless of who has child custody.
The summer has a whole bunch of holidays to consider, and it is the ideal time to take long vacations. Conversations with an ex about vacations are always better done in writing, and also months in advance. Remember, it is not only the permission of the other parent that is important, but also passports and flight tickets if traveling is part of the plans. Nobody wants to sit with non-refundable airline tickets if the other parent is uncooperative.
Any arrangements left for the last moment can become a nightmare. If the other parent objects and the issues cannot be resolved, ample time will be required to take legal action. A motion will have to be filed with the family court in an attempt to obtain a court order to authorize a trip with the children.
Divorced parents in Texas can avoid the annual trauma of having to cope with holiday and vacation plans by sitting down and drafting a parenting schedule for future holidays. An attorney who is experienced in handling child custody and parenting plans can help negotiate such a schedule, even if the assistance of a mediator is sought. Once a basic plan is in place, parents can make any necessary modifications as their children grow older.
Source: The Huffington Post, “How To Get Through The Summer If You’re Going Through A Divorce“, Jason Levoy, May 25, 2016
