Sunny Days, Smooth Transitions: Helping Clients Navigate Summer Custody

By Laurie M. Wasserman, Esq., and Elizabeth Pentikis, Esq., Wasserman White Family Law LLC

Summer should be filled with light-hearted questions like “What should we grill tonight?,” “Should we go to the beach or the pool?,” and “What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?” and not stressful questions like “What does my parenting plan say about vacation time?,” “Can my child attend camp this week?,” and “How are we splitting summer childcare costs?”

Parenting agreements can quickly become confusing, especially during summer. The structure of the school year gives way to a more flexible (and often chaotic) routine, which can lead to misunderstandings and disagreements between co-parents. Now is the perfect time to check in with your clients and help them feel confident navigating the summer schedule.

Here are some key areas to review with clients:

Transition dates, times, and locations

Summer often changes the usual rhythm. Transition logistics — drop-off and pick-up times, dates, and locations — may shift from the school-year norm. Make sure clients know exactly when and where transitions are happening to avoid disputes and confusion.

Childcare and summer camp arrangements

Finding camps and summer childcare is tough — and expensive. Help your clients understand who is responsible for scheduling and paying for camps or other childcare arrangements. Encourage them to double-check custody schedules before making commitments to avoid conflicts or last-minute scrambling.

Vacation and travel plans

Scheduling can be a nightmare, especially when things are left to the last minute. Encourage your clients to decide on summer vacation and travel plans as early as possible and emphasize the importance of communicating these plans to their co-parent. Remember that summer schedules are less rigid than school-year schedules. Vacation time often takes precedence over standard visitation time, and a little flexibility could go a long way in their co-parent relationship.

Communication is key

Clear, frequent communication is essential for a smooth summer. Urge your clients to share travel itineraries, childcare contacts, and activity schedules well in advance. Help them set the tone for cooperative co-parenting by modeling proactive, respectful communication. If they cannot agree, suggest they utilize the services of a parent coordinator or mediator.

Helping your clients get organized now means fewer issues later — and a summer they can truly enjoy.