Spring break is right around the corner, and, if you’re sharing custody of a child in Florida, it’s important to know how this vacation from school could impact you.
First of all, you should know that most custody agreements allow the parents to travel with the children if they want to do so. In many cases, your ex won’t have to tell you when the trip is, where the child is going, or anything else.
The natural exception to this, of course, is if it interferes with your visitation and custody schedule. Your ex can’t take your child on a two-week trip if you are supposed to get custody back in the middle of the trip. However, if your ex has the right to be with the child, he or she can travel as desired. You don’t have to give your consent.
Again, this is for most cases, as there could be special provisions in your child custody agreement that change each person’s rights, but that’s how it works as a general rule.
One other exception to consider is danger to the child. If you ask your ex where he or she is planning to go and your ex refuses to tell you, you might feel that it’s unsafe for you to be disconnected entirely from your child. If something happens and you are completely cut out of the loop, is that really what is best for your child? If the court thinks it isn’t, the court may rule that your ex has to tell you the plan to preserve your child’s best interests and overall safety.
As spring break approaches, make sure you know all about your rights, whether your child will be with you or your ex.
Source: FIndLaw, “Spring Break and Child Custody: 2 Legal Questions and Answers,” Christopher Coble, accessed Feb. 18, 2016