The summer holidays are once again just around the corner and with it the sounds of splashes in the sea, of laughter whilst making memories and the tastes of delicious ice creams!
If, however, you have not yet agreed the split of the holidays with your ex-partner, the idea of the summer holidays may be filling you with worry instead.
The team at Solstice Legal Services in Frome are experts in Children and Family Law matters, and suggest that the earlier these agreements are reached the better.
And to help, we offer an initial appointment of up to one hour at a reduced rate of £150 plus VAT.
It is, of course, always better to come to an agreement about arrangements regarding your children through constructive communication. For example, sitting down with the school calendar at the beginning of each year and marking out what each of you would like and finding a compromise may work for some, whilst having a shared calendar or having a specific rotational pattern may work for others.
What is crucial is communication and taking a step back to work out what is right for your particular set of circumstances, and most importantly, what is best for your children. If, however, you just cannot come to an agreement, seeking advice from a solicitor early on can be crucial to ensure that those dreamy holidays go off without issue.
Seeking advice doesn’t having to mean ‘going to war’, it’s about obtaining information, getting ideas and knowing all your options. We advocate for agreements wherever possible and Court is always the last resort. That said, there will be times where sadly Court proceedings are the only way forward to ensure the best possible outcome for your children and you.
If that happens, we are with you for every step, in a child-focused and approachable way so you can move on and enjoy those precious memories .
It is always important to remember that you do require the written consent of everyone with parental responsibility to take your children abroad. It is often assumed that either parent can simply go away abroad with their own children without the consent on the other parent, particularly where the children live predominantly with one parent. This is not the case, however, and it can lead to quite significant issues.
The position can be different depending on whether either of you have any Child Arrangements Orders defining where your children should live and so it is always important to seek legal advice if you are unsure of the position.
If you would like to speak to one of our lawyers for further legal advice in relation to any issue surrounding separation please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Contact the Solstice-Legal Services team on email hidden; JavaScript is required and 01373 887330.