Vacations and parenting plans after divorce

When Wisconsin schools let out for the summer, people will be thinking about trips to the lake and other excursions. For divorced parents, vacation planning means informing the other parent. A parenting plan developed during the divorce process should provide clear terms intended to limit conflicts.

A vacation presents an excellent opportunity for parents to maintain a relationship with their children. Many parenting plans have a provision requiring that at least 60 days’ notice be given for a proposed trip. This allows the other parent to make vacation plans that do not overlap and create a dispute about who gets the children. By providing sufficient notice and adopting a reasonable attitude, both parents can demonstrate for their children a willingness to cooperate. This accommodating approach could aid children in accepting the divorce and in forming positive relationships with both parents.

If a parent is initiating a divorce when children are still very young, the need to think about the school years and summer vacation remains necessary. The parenting plan should include language about how to share custody during school breaks. As the children get older, their wants and needs will change, and thus it is important that the plan allows flexibility in this regard

Parents who are facing the end of their marriage are often concerned about how their relationship with their children will be affected. Through the negotiation of a comprehensive plan, a family law attorney can help a divorcing parent to ensure that such relationship will remain sound and intact.