Can I take the kids on holiday?

There are a number of issues that commonly arise when parents want to take their children on a holiday. As the COVID restrictions slowly ease and State borders are opening, parents are eager to go on new adventures.

There is no hard and fast rule about holidays. If both parents agree, then it is possible. If the other parent does not want the children to go on a holiday with you, further negotiations and arrangements may be necessary. The duration and the distances travelled are relevant matters. While it may be easy to negotiate a weekend spent at the beach, it may be difficult to agree to arrangements for overseas trips.

Normal routines may have taken a long time to negotiate, and the level of trust between parents may not allow for easy changes to these agreements. In such a case, it is likely that the other parent will object to changing plans or at least want them to stay in place for a longer time before they will consider changes. The key is the level of trust: the more trust there is between parents, the more likely they are to be flexible in their arrangements. If a holiday is very important to you, there are a number of ways to build more trust. These include giving weeks or months of notice, arranging for phone calls and contact while away, and the level of coordination you have with any special needs of the children.

If you are concerned that the other parent may abscond with the children while overseas, you may wish to seek legal advice before making any agreements about travel.

If you would like any information on how mediation can work in your situation, please contact our office for a free fifteen minute phone consultation.