We know how much your children mean to you and no doubt, with the festive season just around the corner, you will want them to have the most magical Christmas.
They will likely be at the forefront of your mind, especially as you try to make the day special.
Making co-parenting arrangements over Christmas can be a very difficult and emotionally driven conversation, but legal support is available if this proves to be a challenge.
What approach do I need to take?
Given how much this will mean to you, your children and your former partner, starting those conversations early allows you to work out a plan and find a compromise that suits everyone.
It is important that the conversations you have put your children’s wellbeing at the forefront. Discuss their needs, such as their happiness and where they are most likely to be comfortable.
You should also take their preferences into account if you feel they are old enough to say what they want. This adds value to your discussions and any decisions should reflect their views.
As well as taking the needs of your children into consideration, it is wise to outline a schedule which will help clarify when each parent will see their children over the holiday period.
You may decide to alternate the years between you and your former partner, or split Christmas Day in half, where one parent has them in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
There is also the option of celebrating on different days, where they celebrate with one parent on Christmas Day and the other on Boxing Day, which may suit parents who live further away.
What happens if a compromise cannot be found?
While there aren’t any fixed legal regulations in place, you have options available to help resolve any disputes if you are struggling to reach an agreement.
You can access support through mediation, which will see an impartial third party sit down with you and your former partner in a bid to find a solution that suits everyone.
In addition to this, if legal advice is needed, you can speak with a solicitor who will represent you by negotiating an agreement on your behalf.
The last resort, if an agreement still cannot be reached, is through a court order, which will outline when each parent has their children over the festive period, but you must know this is time-consuming and expensive.
The court order will account for your children’s age, their needs and wishes before announcing its decision.
Support available when you need it
Christmas is special and you want to create treasured memories with your children.
However, we know it’s a stressful period, but the Palmers Law team can ease your worries when it comes to reaching an amicable co-parenting agreement with your partner.
We support you by giving you the advice and tools you need to speak with your partner or act on your behalf so that everyone enjoys the most wonderful time of the year. If you need support reaching an agreement with your former partner, contact us for expert advice and support.
