There are a hundred and eighty days of the school year, and summer break accompanies children’s excitement. The annual problem for parents is finding a way to manage it before school starts in the fall. For co-parents, summer planning is more complicated because they must navigate the custody of children between two households, two parents’ schedules, and pending vacations. Communication is key for co-parenting, and starting discussions early will help with smooth sailing for summer.
Summertime Custody Schedule
In every custody case, the Court looks at the “best interest of the child.” California Family Code Section 3020(B) states that “it is the public policy of this state to ensure that children have frequent and continuing contact with both parents.” Summer allows parents and the courts to be more creative and generous with custody time, as school attendance does not restrict or complicate the time logistics with the children. For parents who do not get as much time during the school year, summer may permit more extended time.
Some custody examples for summer are:
- 2-2-3 Schedule: The Children spend two days with one parent, two days with the other parent, and alternate the weekends. The benefit is that the children see both parents every week, but there are more frequent exchanges
- Alternating Week Schedule: Parents exchange children once a week. This schedule allows fewer exchanges, but the children spend time with only one parent per week. It may help families consider vacation time during summer.
- Extended Summers with Non-Primary Parent: This schedule works for parents who live outside of the children’s school district. For out-of-state parents, the children can stay anywhere from 4-10 weeks of summer with the other parent. It allows the children to see the parent who lives too far away for every week’s visit due to distance.
However, Parents should feel free to deviate from these molds. The best schedules are customized to fit the children’s and families’ needs. However, when parents cannot reach an agreement, the Court’s orders guide the children’s summer.
Childcare during summer/ Summer Camps
When school is out, many school-aged children need childcare while their parents’ work. For children who are not mature or emotionally developed enough to stay home alone, parents need to communicate regarding where the children will be when the parents work.
One option for childcare is summer camps. Parents need to communicate enrollment with the other parent to ensure they are not scheduling camp during other parent’s vacation time and discuss payment of the cost. Many court orders require parents to equally pay for agreed-upon extracurriculars. If a parent enrolls a child for camp without speaking to the other parent, the parent may have to bear all the costs for that camp.
Discussions for the Future
As children graduate from their respective schools and move up to the next grade level, the summer break becomes a crucial period for discussing new school enrollment. It’s important to plan early to prevent missed enrollment deadlines and resolve disputes before the next school year starts. This proactive approach ensures that parents are fully prepared for the changes and can adapt their custody arrangements accordingly.
If you need assistance with planning summer break, our firm of experienced attorneys is
here to help, whether it is obtaining initial custody orders or modifying prior orders. Contact us to set up your consultation today.