Christmas should be a time of celebrations and spending quality time with family and friends. However, for some families, planning for the Christmas period can be a stressful time and can unfortunately result in tension and disappointment.
It is always important to plan carefully in advance to ensure Christmas arrangements can be agreed in good time and the arrangements are made with the children’s best interests in mind. If arrangements are made last-minute or are not properly communicated and agreed, this can result in unwelcome surprises and additional stress for both parents and children.
There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach with Christmas arrangements and different families have different needs and traditions. When considering plans for the Christmas period, it also helpful to look at the wider context of child arrangements generally and assess whether it would be beneficial for a parenting plan to be prepared to outline the overall agreement between the parents. This may be particularly important if you find the other parent does not comply with informal agreements or makes last-minute changes which cause stress and tension.
For some families, parents divide care over the main days of Christmas period, for example Christmas Day with one parent and then Boxing Day with another or alternatively dividing up the Christmas school holidays in equal blocks. If you are unable to reach an agreement, then it might be sensible to contact a professional (such as a mediator or solicitor) so an agreement can be reached. Overall child arrangements can then be considered in the New Year.
If you are planning to travel over the Christmas period, it is imperative that you obtain permission from the other parent if they have parental responsibility for the child. If you do not obtain permission and the other parents does not consent, then they can take legal action against you. If you anticipate that there will be an issue with taking your child out of the country over the Christmas period, then it is strongly advised that you speak to a legal professional who can provide you with further advice.
If you anticipate any issues during the Christmas period, please contact us on 0345 646 0406 or fill in our online enquiry form and a member of our Family Team will be more than happy to assist.