Summer Holidays and Child Contact – Act Now!

As we all get back into routine following Christmas, it’s a popular time of year to be thinking ahead to your summer holiday. Simply switch on the television and you’ll be greeted by sunny beaches and happy smiling families soaking up some sun.

In reality, for those couples who have children but are divorced or separated, the issue of contact tarnishes this picture. Lawson West solicitors would like to stress the importance of making contact arrangements for summer holidays NOW, to ensure child contact issues can be sorted out well in advance, and all parties know exactly what they are doing. Not only do venues need to be booked, but passports arranged.

In cases where holiday contact can’t be agreed, you will need to take advice from a solicitor and start a process which can itself take several months to resolve. If contact isn’t agreed via solicitor correspondence, then the summer holiday contact issue will go to Court. In this case, the Court will set a date for both parents to attend, to decide how to proceed with holiday contact.

Quite often in such cases, a CAFCASS officer is brought in, who will speak to the parents and children and make a recommendation to the Court. This report can take up to three months to produce, and once received another attendance at Court is required in order to see if the holiday contact issue can now be resolved. If not, then ultimately it is for the Court to decide on how holiday contact can be divided.

It is therefore far preferable for all concerned if the parents can come to an amicable agreement over holiday contact, saving time, money and stress. When considering contact for a summer holiday, it is vital that requests are well thought out, and reasonable for the child or children concerned. For example, a two week holiday away from their main carer may be too much for a very young child, although it may be feasible when they are older.

The most important thing to consider, as always when it comes to contact, is the child. Their best interests should at all times be at the front of everyone’s minds.

If you’d like to discuss summer holiday contact, or a similar issue, please contact Family solicitors James or Vicki today.