We get it! It’s July and you are thinking about the sun, sea, sand and the long summer holidays, not about Christmas.
But for some parents, they will not be spending time with, or at least quality time with their children this December. This can be miserable for the parent and the child.
The Family Court’s position
The law is that children should be allowed to have a relationship with both of their parents at Christmas, unless there are extreme circumstances. Even then, the court would look at other ways to maintain that relationship.
The importance of Give and Take
At Lason West we will always attempt to resolve matters surrounding children by discussion. This allows the parents to have their say and have some control over the arrangements. It allows give and take.
What if parents can’t agree?
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, resolution through discussion or negotiation proves impossible and an application to court must be made.
July – a good time for Planning Ahead
Although it is only July, many families are already beginning to plan ahead for Christmas and New Year child arrangements.
Early conversations about Christmas are a good thing, as no one wants a heated debate or surprise deadlock during the seasonal festivities.
Applications to the Court can take weeks
An application can be made to court, for the court to consider what time a child spends with each parent, including weekends, weeknights, school holidays and special occasions such as Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter.
Be warned, if it needs escalating to the courts, delay could affect arrangements: the average time for Children Act private law cases to reach the final order was 39 weeks during April to June 2025.
These are cases where the parents are in dispute about the arrangements for their children.
What to do about Christmas child arrangements?
If you are not able to spend time with your child, or are not spending quality time with your child, then we would urge you to make contact with our experienced Family Law team.
The longer matters go unresolved, the harder they become to resolve. Our sensitive and knowledgeable family solicitors can help you to bring issues to an agreed conclusion.
