At this time of year, most of us are planning our Summer holidays and how much sun tan lotion we will need to take away with us, nobody is thinking about Christmas, however, if you are a separated parent now is exactly the right time to start turning your mind as to how contact over the Christmas period will work.
You may have seen my blog from last year titled ‘Christmas and Contact for Children’ which provided some advice as to how separated parents can approach discussing contact during the festive season.
The most valuable advice I can give is to start thinking about Christmas contact as early as possible and, if possible, begin discussing the issue with your ex-partner sooner rather than later in the hope that you can reach an amicable agreement.
If you are unable to speak to your ex-partner directly, consider writing them a letter detailing your proposals for the festive season and the care of your children. Alternatively, family mediation can be very beneficial in assisting separated parents to reach an agreement in respect of the care of your children.
It is perfectly understandable not to think about Christmas until the nights start drawing in, however, this could prove to be a mistake. The earlier discussions are had with your ex-partner the better and are more likely to produce a satisfactory outcome for you and your ex-partner but also, and more importantly, for your children.
An application to Court should always be a last resort in such circumstances, however, sometimes Court proceedings are required. This is the time of year that the Courts are starting to receive applications from separated parents in order to deal specifically with Christmas contact.
If separated parents leave it until later in the year to begin discussions about Christmas contact, there is an increased possibility that they will fail to reach an agreement prior to the festive season. If a Court application is required and not made until later in the year, there is a risk that due to the high volume of cases seen by the Court, that any hearing may not take place until the New Year.
In summary, begin discussions with your ex-partner about Christmas contact as early as possible, it will leave you best paced to have a stress free holiday and also leaves you with time to consider your options should an agreement not be reached.
Consultation
If you are experiencing difficulties or concerns regarding Child Contact, John Hodge Solicitors can offer a free initial consultation to discuss your issues. The appointment can be held in person, over the phone or online.
Free initial consultations are subject to internal checks and availability. The information above does not constitute specific legal advice.
Next Steps: Get in touch
If you would like to discuss your Family matter then please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of legal experts at John Hodge Solicitors, conveniently located throughout the South West, with offices in Bridgwater, Bristol, Clevedon, Wedmore, Weston-super-Mare and Yatton.
You can contact us either:
- by email
- via our website
- by calling us on 0800 097 8611
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