Public and private schools across North Carolina will soon be closing their doors for Summer Break . During summer the temperature rises but with proper planning in your Child Custody schedule, there is no need for temperatures to flare between parents due to fighting over the visitation schedule.
In most North Carolina Child Custody agreements, there are two different schedules, often referred to as: (1) Regular Parenting Time; and (2) Special Parenting Time. Regular Parenting Time is the typical weekly schedule that sets forth which parent children are with on a particular day. Special Parenting Time typically covers holidays and special occasions a Special Parenting time schedule supersedes the Regular Parenting Time. In many Child Custody agreements, there is a Special Parenting Time that deals directly with a child’s Summer Break from school.
One common Summer Break from School Special Parenting Time is for one or both parents to be given a specific number of non-consecutive weeks of visitation during the 10 weeks from when school release until school resumes the following Fall. This type of schedule is common because it allows parents to take their children on at least a week-long vacation during the summer. If a parent has two or three-day visitation periods under the Regular Parenting Time Schedule, it would be difficult to be able to travel with the child. The Summer Break Special Parenting Time makes vacationing, or just extended periods with the child possible.
Other Child Custody schedules do not include Special Parenting Time, but instead, modify the Regular Parenting Time schedule during the Summer Break from school. For example, an every-other-weekend visitation schedule could transition into a “week on, week off” schedule during the Summer Break.
There are some important considerations to implementing a Summer Break schedule. If each parent is entitled to a week or more of vacation time, how and when will those weeks be selected? If both parents select the same week, such as the always popular week of July 4th, who’s choice prevails? Can a parent select multiple weeks back-to-back or are the weeks to be non-consecutive? Having a clearly stated selection and tie-breaking process can eliminate countless arguments.
If you havequestions about your Child Custody schedule, or need help negotiating and preparing one tailored to your family’s situation, please contact us today at F:P:Site:Phone} to schedule a consultation.