Divorce can happen to any married couple. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, both men and women are most likely to get divorced in the 30 to 44 age group. Many couples in this age range have children, and determining child custody is another wrinkle in a complicated legal matter.
After the divorce is settled, the two parents will have a schedule for who gets to see the kids at what times. It is inevitable that eventually, one parent will want to change the schedule temporarily for a vacation with the children. Judges and lawyers usually do not need to become involved with this, but there are some tips for having a more productive time getting the other parent to agree to the change.
Plan it out well in advance
No one likes surprises when it comes to child custody. When one parent wants to take the kids for longer than the allotted time given, communication is vital. The vacation requires discussion several months before the actual trip. The parent should provide as much information as possible, including:
- Dates of vacation
- Places they will visit
- Name of hotel they will stay at
- Flight itinerary information
Arrange contact times
It is natural for parents to want to know what their kids are up to when away on a long vacation. Ensure the other parent there will be times to call or Skype with the children. This is sure to make the other parent much more willing to be adaptable.
Pick up the other parent a nice souvenir
To get on the co-parent’s good side, it can be a nice gesture to pick up a souvenir while on the trip. It does not even necessarily have to be expensive; a postcard can be extremely thoughtful. It will be nice to simply take a picture of the kids and digitally send it to the co-parent.
