Thinking far ahead is crucial for parents going through a divorce. You cannot afford to just settle matters based on how things are right now.
One of the things you need to plan for is the chance that one of you wants to take the children away on vacation sometime. With summer break just over three months away the time to start thinking is now, while you are devising your custody and parenting plans.
Giving permission
Typically, neither of you will be able to take the children out of the country without the permission of the other parent until the children are over 18. Discussing this now allows you to think about when you will agree to provide a letter of consent to travel and what should be put in place in return.
Things to consider include:
- How the stay-at-home parent can keep in touch with the children while they are away
- Whether vacations can cross into the other parent’s allotted parenting time
- Whether the stay-at-home parent needs to get extra time with the kids to compensate
- Any limits on where they can travel and for how long
You could also face problems traveling out of state if you encounter a particularly zealous police officer. Parental kidnapping is a valid concern for some parents, which is why the border authorities will demand to see signed permission from the other parent.
If they refuse to give it, the traveling parent can go to court to seek permission. Discussing these issues now can help pave the way for smoother vacations in the future.