Nothing compares to traveling with your loved ones. These are the memories that you’re likely to recall for many years to come because they’re so special. Of course, traveling with children is just as exciting. The anticipation, the preparation, and discovering new places – all these are worthwhile moments cherished by all members of the family. However, the key to a successful outing with children is planning ahead.

And this is even more important for separated parents. That is to say, you cannot attempt to travel the world with your child without notifying the other parent, or other third parties. As a matter of fact, every custody order entails a wide range of strict specifications that you must adhere to. We’re going to talk about this in today’s article.

The Importance of Planning Ahead

First and foremost, you should take the time to thoroughly analyze the information presented in the custody order. Otherwise, you’re likely to miss some significant details. There’s also a slight chance that you might stumble across a clause that you don’t understand. In this case, you’ll have to discuss with a reliable attorney.

Some attorneys such as Oberheiden & McMurrey LLP specialize in assisting separated parents who travel with their children. It’s important to clarify these problems with a specialist beforehand, to avoid unwanted scenarios and complications.

To be more specific, you should be mindful of the allotted time you are permitted to travel with your children. For instance, granted that you want to take your children for an increased timeframe – such as during the holidays or spring break – you should respect some rules. Specifically, you’ll be required to follow the prior arrangement established by you and the co-parent.

As a rule of thumb, separated parents have to follow a specific schedule, enabling them to rotate custody duty depending on the time of year. In other words, if you want to travel with your children at a time when you’re not responsible for looking after them, you should discuss with the co-parent before making any plans.

Prepare the Required Documentation

Once you’ve established the traveling dates with the co-parent, the next thing you should do is prepare the required documentation for the journey. In the case of divorced parents, it is cautious to document the travel plans as well as the agreements made with the co-parent. Essentially, it’s recommended to save the travel dates and maintain important documents in a place that is easy to access.

This way, you’ll avoid potential disputes caused by misunderstandings. On the other hand, if you’re traveling with the kids overseas, note that the US Department of State requires every kid traveling to a foreign country to own a valid passport. There are also some specific rules and procedures that should be respected by divorced parents – especially during the submission of the passport application form.

Even though family vacations need a lot of planning and preparation, this is all worth it. You’ll look back to those special memories and remember unique moments spent together. However, make sure you take into account our tips for a hassle-free journey. Failing to consider them might ruin your trip, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.