4 Travel Tips for Divorced Spouse During Covid-19

The fact of the matter is, people are still on the road - whether that is due to travelling to a property you own, safely visiting your closest family members, or even going for a long drive to get out of the house. 

If you are in this situation, your first move should be to review your parenting plan and see what it says about “vacations”. You and your ex might have been able to come to terms about vacation protocol without involving a judge. Regardless of what your agreement mandates, there are a few tips that will be particularly helpful while planning: 

1. Notify your ex of any travel plans as soon as possible. Early planning is so important when it comes to taking vacations with your children after your divorce – the sooner, the better. There is a possibility that one parent must be notified a certain amount of time before the start of a vacation. Don’t wait until the last minute, though. Your ex might take issue with our plans or claim that it infringes upon the existing parenting plan. Giving him or her plenty of advance notice allows you to make necessary adjustments and shows courtesy on your part. 

2. Get permission from your ex in writing. This might be a requirement laid out in the parenting plan; out-of-state or out-of-country travel often makes written permission from the other parent imperative when it comes to vacations. However, it is a good idea to get written approval from your ex regardless of anything the parenting plan obliges you to do. That way, you have your bases covered if your ex wants to create drama by claiming your vacation was not approved. 

3. Be mindful of important events that conflict with dates. If your parenting plan does address vacation time, then you are in a relatively good place when it comes to planning vacations with your children. It is always good to be flexible, though. For example, if your ex’s family is having their 10-year reunion during your scheduled vacation time, be willing to compromise. This goes for other important events that cannot be rescheduled. 

4. Pack important documents. Packing everything the night before a post-divorce vacation with your children is not advisable. In addition to every other necessity (passports, medications, identifications, and contact information), you need to have pertinent divorce-related documents on hand. This includes copies of any written agreements, like the parenting plan and approval for the vacation itself. 

Conclusion

Taking a vacation after your divorce will feel strange, but your children need to feel as if their favorite traditions and pastimes have not ended with your marriage. With a copious amount of planning and help from a caring family law firm, you can pull off an enjoyable vacation with your children while keeping the peace with your ex.