Going through a divorce can be a difficult situation. It can be even harder if you have kids. After all of the challenges of going through a separation, you might be thinking that you really need a vacation. Your kids are probably hoping for a vacation too as they finish school and have the whole summer free.
Family vacations may be a little different when parents are separated and some questions may arise. Are you planning to travel alone with your kids, or will your ex be joining? Is your ex planning on traveling with the kids during the same week? Who will pay for the trip? Is it okay to bring a new significant other? Can you bring the kids out of state? Do you have your kids'passports? Here are some tips to help you tackle any challenges and questions that may arise as you start to plan your family trip.
Read over your separation/ custody agreement
You probably spent plenty of time reading over those papers and it's probably the last thing you want to see, but if you have a custody agreement, it's a good idea to take another look before planning a vacation. It could provide the answers to a lot of questions that you may have about traveling with your children, so it is good to be familiar with the rules.
Decide on who is going
The answer might be simple depending on your relationship with your ex, but it is best to decide whether or not your Ex will be joining you and your children on the trip. If you still have an amicable relationship, a vacation with your ex might work. If your ex won't be joining, will you be bringing a new significant other? If you're considering this, make sure this is something that is permissible according to your custody agreement.
Pick your vacation dates at soon as possible
Choose the dates for your vacation and let your ex know of your plans so that they don't book a trip during the same time. You don't want to wind up in a situation where you paid for a non-refundable trip, only to find out that your ex had plans for the same week. Notifying an ex of your summer plans may be a requirement in your court order, so respect this agreement to save yourself trouble.
Give a copy of your itinerary to your ex
When all your plans are settled, give a copy of your itinerary to your ex. He or she shouldn't interrupt your vacation, but it is important for them to know where you'll be in case they need to contact you if there is an emergency.
Make sure you have your children's travel documents
If you're planning on traveling outside of the country, make sure your children have travel documents. To apply for a passport, the consent of both parents is needed. If you're not on good terms with your ex, they could refuse to give their consent and ruin your travel plans. If this problem arises, court intervention may be necessary to ensure the other parent's cooperation. Make sure to apply for these documents far in advance.
Establish a call schedule
Be respectful of your ex and allow them to have contact with your children so they can be sure that they're okay. Your ex should be able to contact your children by phone or video chat. Before leaving on your trip, let your ex know when the best time to make these calls will be during the vacation.
Put everything in writing
Once you get your plans together, put everything in writing for your ex. This includes your itinerary of when you'll be traveling and where, as well as a call schedule. You don't want to be in a situation where your ex tries to accuse you of not keeping them informed.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
