Summer in Richmond is all about sunshine, laid-back days, road trips, and family time. However, for co-parents, summer can also be stressful, especially when juggling custody schedules.
At Melone Hatley, P.C., our Richmond family law attorneys are here to help guide you through the challenges of co-parenting. If you’re navigating shared custody this summer, here are some common missteps that can turn your season of fun into a season of frustration.
1. Not Reviewing and Understanding Your Custody Order
Before making summer plans, reviewing and understanding your existing custody order is essential.
Many Virginia custody agreements have built-in provisions for holidays and school interruptions, including summer break. These could reflect summer-specific schedules, such as alternating weeks, extended time with one parent, or deadlines for sharing vacation schedules. Understanding exactly what you order says will help you make summer plans appropriately and avoid violating its terms.
Schedule your free meeting with our team today to see if our Lawyers can help you.
2. Ignoring the Court-Order Schedule
Sometimes summer offers unscheduled opportunities. It could be a last-minute trip or a visit from out-of-town relatives. But before you change anything about your custody schedule, remember you are expected to follow your existing custody order.
Violating a court order can have serious consequences. Especially if tensions are high or your co-parent hasn’t fulfilled their own responsibilities (like support), these are separate issues. The best approach is to document your concerns and speak with your attorney about the appropriate legal steps.
3. Getting Things in Writing
If your custody agreement has no summer break provisions or you want to make some changes to it, things can get complicated quickly. There are a lot of moving parts between vacations, summer camps, and weekend plans. One of the biggest mistakes co-parents make is relying on casual conversations or texts to sort out who has the kids and when.
Putting everything in writing gives you both a clear plan to follow and helps avoid confusion and conflict. This should include any travel dates, times and locations for pick-ups and drop-offs, details about special events, and even who is responsible for transportation. In Virginia, even if it’s not in the formal court order, a written agreement can be used to show what was agreed to if conflict arises. But if you need to make significant changes, filing a motion with the court is always the safest route.
Click to contact our family lawyers today
4. Forgetting to Share Travel Details
If you’re taking your child out of town, whether it’s for a weekend or extended vacation, you will need to let the other parent know. In Virginia, parents typically share joint legal custody, meaning they both have a say in decisions affecting their child’s welfare. Travel qualifies as one of these decisions.
That doesn’t mean you need permission for every activity, but you’ll need to be transparent about dates, locations, and how to reach your child. Some custody agreements require written notice before any out-of-state travel, so double-check what your order says. Not communicating these plans can lead to unnecessary disputes and even legal pushback if your co-parent wants to pursue it. Good communication now can prevent conflict and court issues later.
Schedule a call with one of our client services coordinators today
5. Letting Emotions Take Over
Custody issues can come with lots of emotional baggage. The break in structure and routine that summer brings can bring this all to the surface. It’s easy to fall into old patterns and arguments, especially if there’s still tension from your divorce or separation. But letting these drive your co-parenting relationship only hurts your child.
Furthermore, withholding time from the other parent or refusing to coordinate schedules can backfire if you end up back in court. Virginia courts look closely at how well each parent supports your child’s relationship with the other parent. Showing you can cooperate and put your child’s needs first reflects well on you. It also helps your child feel secure, loved, and free from all the adult conflict.
Avoid These Mistakes and Enjoy Your Summer!
Summer should be a time to have fun and create memories, not fuel disputes. Whether you’re planning your first vacation post-divorce or you’re adjusting an existing parenting plan, navigating summer custody will take careful planning and communication.
If things aren’t going as planned, it’s important to act early. Waiting until conflict escalates can only make matters more difficult, both emotionally and legally.
At Melone Hatley, P.C., we know how summer custody issues can quickly get complicated. Our Richmond family law attorneys are here to help you understand your rights, plan ahead, or take legal action, if necessary. Whether you’re negotiating a temporary change or you want to modify a court order, we will guide you every step of the way. Call us at (804) 893 – 5067 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Client Services Coordinators.
Schedule a call with one of our client services coordinators today.
