When school lets out for the summer, a family’s normal routine can change dramatically. Children have more free time, and parents may have vacation plans or changing work schedules. Summer camps, sports, childcare, and family trips can also impact the parenting schedule.
For divorced or separated parents, these changes can create questions about how to handle child custody over the summer. In Colorado, these issues are generally addressed through an agreed-upon parenting plan or court order concerning the allocation of parental responsibilities. The terms of the agreement or order may answer many questions, like how to handle vacation time and whether the regular parenting schedule continues over the summer break.
At Solutions Based Family Law, we work with parents to craft comprehensive, forward-thinking parenting plans. We believe that a proactive approach to child custody can often prevent many problems before they arise. Contact our law offices today to schedule a consultation with a Denver child custody attorney.
Does Your Parenting Schedule Change During the Summer?
The first step in planning for summer is determining what your current parenting plan says. Some families continue following their regular parenting schedule throughout the summer. Others have a separate summer schedule that provides for longer blocks of parenting time, alternating weeks, extended vacation periods, or other arrangements.
Your parenting plan may address:
- Regular weekly parenting time
- Summer vacation periods
- How vacation dates are selected
- Advance notice requirements
- Holiday parenting time
- Transportation responsibilities
- Travel outside Colorado and/or the country
- Communication while a child is traveling
- Summer childcare and activities
- Procedures for resolving disagreements
You shouldn’t assume that the school calendar automatically changes your parenting schedule. If your court order establishes a more specific schedule, that order generally remains in effect unless the parents reach an agreement or the court modifies it. Reviewing your parenting plan early can identify potential conflicts before summer arrives.
Why Summer Can Make Co-Parenting More Complicated
During the school year, children’s schedules often provide a built-in structure. School starts at a certain time, extracurricular activities follow established calendars, and weekday parenting time may revolve around school transportation and homework. Summer removes much of that structure.
A parent who normally has the children every other weekend may want to take them on a longer vacation. A child may want to go to a weeklong sleepaway camp that overlaps with parenting time. A parent may have a different work schedule or want to spend several weeks traveling with the children.
These changes do not necessarily require a new custody order. In many families, parents can work together to make reasonable temporary adjustments while continuing to follow the overall parenting plan. The key is to address these issues before they become last-minute disputes.
A carefully drafted parenting plan can also address many of these issues in advance. Our Denver child custody lawyers are skilled at negotiating agreements that include provisions for summer, camp, childcare, travel, and more. We can help you work out a parenting plan with your ex that may allow you to avoid problems and potential litigation in the future.
Common Summer Parenting Schedules
There is no single summer parenting schedule that works for every Colorado family. The best arrangement depends on the children’s ages and needs, the parents’ schedules, the distance between homes, and the terms of the existing parenting plan. Some arrangements commonly used by families include the following:
- Alternating Weeks: With an alternating-week schedule, children spend one week with one parent and the following week with the other. This arrangement can be relatively easy to follow and reduces the number of exchanges. It also gives each parent meaningful blocks of uninterrupted time with the children. Alternating weeks may work particularly well when parents live relatively close to one another, and the kids are comfortable spending extended periods in each home. However, it may not be appropriate for every child. For example, younger children may benefit from more frequent contact with each parent.
- Two Weeks with Each Parent: Some families use longer blocks, such as two weeks with one parent followed by two weeks with the other. Fewer exchanges can make longer vacations easier to plan, particularly when parents live farther apart. At the same time, two weeks can feel like a long separation from the other parent for some children.
- 2-2-3 Schedule: With this plan, your kids spend 2 days with you, 2 days with their other parent, and then a 3-day weekend with you. The plan alternates the following week, allowing the other parent to have a 3-day weekend with the kids. This cycle repeats throughout the summer. This schedule is appealing for parents of younger kids who live relatively close together, as the kids can see both parents frequently. However, it requires frequent transitions between houses, which can be harder as the kids get older.
- Whole Summer: In some cases, one parent has primary parenting responsibility during the school year, and the other parent lives far away. In these situations, it might make more sense for the kids to stay with one parent during the school year and then spend the summer with the parent who lives far away. This gives them the chance to build strong relationships with both parents.
- A Customized Summer Schedule: Parents don’t necessarily have to choose a standard schedule. A family might use the regular schedule during most of the summer while allowing each parent one or two extended vacation periods. Another arrangement might involve longer blocks during part of the summer and a more frequent schedule during the rest. The important consideration is whether the arrangement works for the kids and either complies with the parenting plan or is agreed upon by both parents.
Planning Summer Vacations Around Parenting Time
Vacation planning is one of the most common sources of summer custody disagreements. For example, a parent might want to take their children on a two-week family vacation, but one week overlaps with the other parent’s scheduled time. The parent should not simply assume that the vacation takes priority.
Instead, the parent who wants to take the longer trip should review the parenting plan to check for provisions related to vacation parenting time and how vacation days are selected. If the order allows parents to agree to vacation arrangements, they may be able to trade dates or make another temporary adjustment. For example, one parent might receive additional parenting time before or after the vacation.
Having a written parenting plan is always a good idea. Ideally, the parenting plan will be formalized by the court, even if you think that it isn’t necessary because you get along. A formalized written agreement can prevent later conflicts and also provides a mechanism for enforcement should a dispute arise.
Traveling with Children During the Summer
Summer vacations often involve travel, whether that means taking a road trip or flying to another state or country. Parents should carefully review their parenting plan and any applicable court orders before making travel arrangements (particularly for nonrefundable travel). A parenting plan often contains requirements about notice, consent, travel information, or restrictions on taking a child outside of Colorado or the United States.
International travel can involve additional considerations, including passports and documentation. If the other parent has concerns about international travel, that issue may require legal attention well before the planned departure date. Both parents typically have to consent to a child obtaining a passport.
When travel will affect the other parent’s parenting time, communication should happen as early as possible. A parent planning a trip should communicate about relevant details such as:
- Departure and return dates
- Destination
- Transportation arrangements
- Where the children will stay
- Contact information during the trip
- Any changes to scheduled exchanges
Following the parenting plan and any court orders about required notice can help to prevent a family vacation from turning into a custody dispute.
Summer Camps, Sports, and Other Activities
Summer camps and activities can provide children with valuable experiences, but they can also create scheduling conflicts. Before registering a child for a camp, sports program, lessons, or another recurring activity, parents should consider how it affects both households.
Questions to ask include:
- Who will transport the child?
- Does the activity occur during both parents’ parenting time?
- Who pays for the activity?
- Is the activity consistent with the parenting plan?
- Does the child actually want to participate?
- Will the activity interfere with planned vacation time?
If parents share decision-making responsibilities for a particular issue, one parent may not be able to make every decision independently. Discussing significant activities ahead of time can help parents avoid disputes and ensure that the child’s summer is enjoyable instead of stressful.
Balancing Summer Childcare and Work Schedules
Summer can also create childcare challenges for working parents. Children who normally spend their weekdays in school may need supervision throughout the day once school ends. Depending on their age, parents may consider summer camps, daycare, babysitters, relatives, or other arrangements.
Childcare decisions should be considered along with the parenting plan. In some families, parents may be able to adjust parenting time so that a parent can care for the children rather than relying on outside childcare. Some parenting plans may also contain a “right of first refusal” provision that gives the other parent an opportunity to care for the children under certain circumstances.
The exact requirements for childcare depend on the language of the parenting plan. Parents should review this plan and any court orders instead of assuming that a particular rule applies to their situation.
What Happens When Parents Disagree About Summer Parenting Time?
Not every disagreement requires a trip to court. If parents disagree about a vacation, schedule change, or summer activity, they may be able to resolve the issue through direct communication, negotiation, mediation, or assistance from their Denver family law attorneys.
The first step is usually to determine exactly what the existing parenting plan requires. If the order gives a parent specific vacation rights, those provisions should be followed. If the proposed arrangement would change court-ordered parenting time, parents should make sure any agreement is legally valid instead of relying on an informal understanding.
When parents are able to reach a reasonable agreement, it is a good idea to document the terms. This can help to avoid confusion or problems in the future.
What If the Other Parent Violates the Parenting Plan?
A parent should not withhold court-ordered parenting time simply because they disagree with the other parent’s summer plans. Likewise, a parent should not unilaterally decide that the other parent’s scheduled parenting time no longer applies.
If the other parent repeatedly refuses to follow a court order, keep records of relevant incidents. Save texts, emails, scheduling information, and other documentation that may help to establish what occurred. This can be important evidence if you need to pursue an enforcement action.
You should avoid responding with threats or taking matters into your own hands. If the dispute cannot be resolved, an attorney can explain what your options are and whether court intervention may be appropriate based on the facts of your case.
How Solutions Based Family Law Can Help
Summer parenting issues can range from simple scheduling questions to significant disputes involving vacation time, travel, enforcement, or modifications to a parenting plan. At Solutions Based Family Law, we understand that there may be more than one way to address a family law dispute. Our approach focuses on identifying practical solutions while protecting our clients’ legal rights and the best interests of their children.
Whether you need help interpreting an existing parenting plan, negotiating summer parenting arrangements, addressing a parenting time dispute, or exploring a potential modification, our experienced legal guidance can help you understand your options. If you are facing a summer custody issue in Colorado, don’t wait until a missed exchange or cancelled vacation makes the situation that much more difficult. Give us a call at (866) 522-7959 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation with a Denver child custody attorney.