In March and April, many coparents start thinking about their child custody and visitation schedule. During the school year, things may have been very consistent. But as the spring and summer approach, some changes may be necessary.
For example, coparents may want to address holidays. Who should have custody of the children on the Fourth of July? How should visitation be addressed, or how should custody exchanges be made when holidays mean that your weekly schedule significantly deviates from the norm?
Many holidays also involve travel. If a parent wants to take their child on a trip to another state or even another country for spring break, for example, they may need to inform the coparent or even get their permission to take that trip. For an extended trip, such as a multi-week road trip, they may even need to alter the custody schedule to ensure they do not interfere with their coparent’s custody rights.
The summer vacation schedule
Even just the summer break from school can change things significantly. Many employed parents share custody, but things go smoothly because the children are at school when the parents are at work.
During the summer, this may mean that modifications are needed. Children have three months off. If they are very young, who is authorized to watch them? Do both coparents get a say in choosing babysitters or deciding whether or not the children can be left with their grandparents?
With proper communication, coparents can address these hurdles, but it is very important to be aware that shifting schedules in children’s lives can affect parents and their custody schedule. Those who are going through this process need to be well aware of all their parental rights and the legal steps they can take to address any necessary custody modifications.
