With the unofficial start to summer being in full swing now that Memorial Day is behind us, it is smart to start planning how you and your child’s other parents intend to share summer parenting plans over the school summer break.
If you already have a summer parenting plan included with your parenting schedule, it is time to review it now.
Make sure you understand exactly what the summer parenting plan is and be sure that you don’t have any questions as to your time or the time that your child’s other parent will spend over the summer break.
Summer vacation custody agreement
If you have not done so already, now is the time to coordinate schedules, particularly if your child will be participating in summer sports programs, camp, or some sort of work related childcare. If you will be traveling with your child, provide the dates to your child’s other parent before plans are confirmed so that you can avoid any issues in the future. Be mindful of the fact that summer parenting time takes priority over regularly scheduled parenting time..
Summer parenting tips
If your custody plan does not include summer parenting time, you want to address it immediately. When creating a summer parenting plan, you should consider the following. What to include in a parenting plan:
- Access to the child for the parent not spending summer parenting time with the child during a planned vacation.
- A requirement that the parents notify each other a certain period of time in advance of taking their summer vacation with the child.
- Requirement that both parents shall notify the other when the travel requires the child to leave the state.
- Requirement that the parents provide each other with all pertinent information concerning the child’s whereabouts during any vacations.
With planning you can assure that you and your child as well as your child and their other parent will enjoy this summer break.
Developing a summer parenting plan is a common reason that people seek guidance from family law attorneys. Oftentimes, the summer schedule can be a source of conflict related to coparenting and the joint custodial arrangement. Summer parenting often differs from the schedule that is in place for the rest of the year. The summer schedule is related to the fact that the children are often not in school and parents often seek to plan vacations.
Schedules may remain the same each summer or they may change depending upon the family’s needs and circumstances.
Summer parenting when you have a plan
Review your summer parenting schedule routinely. Make sure that you’re prepared and able to transport your child to and from activities.
Oftentimes parenting plans established during a divorce or initial separation do not set forth summer schedules with specificity, leaving issues to be addressed when summer arrives.
To avoid litigation, drafting a comprehensive summer plan will be the best approach to meet everyone’s needs and remain out of court.
Summer parenting schedule
It is necessary to address not only each parent’s plans with the child and the child’s schedule, but also whether or not the other parent intends to travel without the child, which may interfere with the regular parenting plan already in place. Communication is a key element of an effective shared parenting plan. You want to be sure that there is not any confusion about the terms and stipulations of the parenting agreement that is in place. Even if the summer plan that has been created will be replaced by a different plan at some point in the future, you will have the guidelines that you need to enjoy a pleasant and fun summer with your child.
2-2-3 Parenting Plan
In the 2-2-3 residential schedule, your child lives with one parent for two days of the week, spends the next two days with the other parent, and then returns to the first parent for three days. The next week it switches.
3-4-4-3 Schedule
The 3-4-4-3 schedule is an equal residential schedule that has your child stay with one parent for three days of the week, then the other parent for four days. The next week it switches, so the first parent has the child for four days and the other parent has the child for the following three days.
Here at DeTorres & DeGeorge, New Jersey custody lawyers, your future is our focus. Call us today to discuss your summer custody schedule, mediation, or any other family law issue. Reach out to us today for a consultation to address your summer agreement so that you have the guidance and understanding that you need in creating the best schedule for your family. We are here to help.