Do the Summer holidays spell conflict for you and your family?

As the long summer holidays loom many separated and divorced parents are likely to be facing a difficult time as they try to juggle and agree arrangements for their children once the schools break up. It is a difficult enough task for parents who are living apart to agree with their ex‑partner how they will both spend a fair and workable amount of time with their children. During the extended summer break, challenges can escalate, as different plans are likely to be needed. These may need to encompass parents’ working lives, allow for the children’s own commitments, and address any possible additional childcare. If at all possible it is vitally important for separated couples to find a way to co parent. The idea of ‘co-parenting’ sits well with current legislation in England and Wales where the child’s welfare is paramount in family law matters. Section 11 of the Children and Families Act 2014 introduced a presumption of ‘continued parental involvement’. This essentially means that the court must now consider as a starting point, that both parents should be involved in their child/children’s lives, unless this is contrary to the child(ren)’s welfare. This does not necessarily mean that both parents spend equal time with their children, but have ‘involvement of some kind’. Successful co-parenting requires both parents to look beyond the breakdown in their relationship and accept each other’s entitlement to an involvement in their children’s lives. The wishes and feelings of any child past the age of 11 or 12, will hold significant weight in court. Therefore, it is preferable for parents to focus upon the arrangements which are best for the child and to ask older children what they want.

If you are dreading navigating through the summer holidays and feel that you would benefit from some advice then please do not hesitate to contact Lindsay Jones for advice.

Lindsay Jones Divorce lawyer is a Divorce Solicitor, specialist family law and divorce solicitor in Altrincham, Middlewich, solicitors in Holmes Chapel, solicitors in Sandbach, solicitors in Northwich, solicitors in Winsford Cheshire, Cheshire Divorce Solicitor, divorce solicitors Middlewich, solicitors Holmes Chapel, solicitors Sandbach, solicitors Northwich, solicitors Winsford, solicitor Cheshire, Cheshire Divorce solicitors, Knutsford Divorce Solicitors, Divorce solicitors, Family Solicitors, Middlewich solicitors