How can separated parents manage time with their children during special occasions and festive celebrations?

School holidays, special occasions, Christmas and festive celebrations are a great opportunity to spend quality time with your children. However, if you're separated from the other parent, it can also be a daunting and difficult period to navigate if arrangements for the children are not yet sorted.  

If you don't have an agreement or a court order in place setting out the arrangements, then it's never too early to start planning for the festive periods and special occasions. This way, if any disagreements arise, you will hopefully have enough time to resolve them. 

In this article we highlight the key points for separated parents to consider when deciding on arrangements, and outline a suitable time to seek legal advice.

Key points to consider when deciding on arrangements

When deciding on the arrangements, it's important to focus on the children. They will likely want to spend time with both their parents and their extended families during these special occasions, and it's important that they don't feel caught in the middle. To support your children, it's essential to demonstrate your ability to work together as parents to find a compromise that prioritises the children's welfare, without putting any pressure on them. 

There is a lot to consider during the festive periods of the year, so it's a good idea to have a discussions as parents, as far as possible, about the practicalities of special days including in respect of presents and gifts. 

When should separated parents seek legal advice?

In circumstances where you might not be able to agree on the arrangements, you should seek legal advice to establish how a resolution may be achieved. In some circumstances, you may wish to attend mediation with the other parent. Often, parents find mediation a helpful environment to discuss and agree the arrangements. You can also continue having the benefit of legal advice from our family solicitors in the background, as you move towards reaching an agreement with the other parent. 

If you haven't already sorted the arrangements for contact for upcoming special occasions, Christmas and other festive celebrations, and are unsure of how to approach this, then our experienced and knowledgeable family lawyers can advise you on how to navigate matters, whilst ensuring that your child's well-being remains the primary consideration in any decisions made.

For further information please contact our family team.