For many families in Massachusetts, summertime schedules change every year. This may not seem like a big deal, but if divorce enters the picture, it can have a significant impact on how summer schedules will work going forward. Parenting plans can be created that address summer needs, but how can parents deal with any last minute changes?
When children are small, this may not seem like a major problem. But what happens when one’s teenager takes a summer job or when children are old enough to attend sleep-away camps? How do parents handle issues that come up at work that make it impossible for them to get the time off for which they hoped? It would not be real life if everything always went according to plan.
Addressing last minute changes can be challenging, especially if parents are not on the best terms. There are two options for dealing with necessary custody changes. First, parents can try to negotiate new summer terms privately, with the assistance of legal counsel or in mediation. Second, parents can go to court to seek an official custody modification.
At the end of the day, summertime parenting plans have to work for parents and the affected children. As life is constantly changing, one summer plan may not work for the following year. This is why custody arrangements can be modified as needed. An experienced family law attorney can help parents in Massachusetts who are getting divorced or are going through the divorce process create or modify custody schedules that truly fit their current circumstances.
Source: goodmenproject.com, “Co-Parenting Through Summer: More Sunshine, Less Divorce Shade“, June 2, 2017
