By Anita Petrovic.
What was once a magical time of year may feel like a headache when trying to make arrangements with the other parent for time with your children at Christmas. Whether you divide Christmas in half each year or have the complete Christmas period in alternate years, every family is different in what works for them for Christmas.
It is always better when parents can agree on arrangements for the children’s time with them rather than a Court imposing orders dictating the time. It is important to start early if no Court orders are in place – negotiating with the other parent can take some time before an agreement is reached, if one is reached at all. This also allows each of you and the other parent to plan ahead and maybe even agree on what presents to get the children so there is no double-up!
If an agreement cannot be reached, then recourse to the Court may be available, but only if you plan ahead and do not miss the cut off for filing.
The most important thing to remember when making these arrangements is to keep the children’s best interests at the front of your mind and remember that children have the right to a meaningful relationship with both parents including spending time together at Christmas if such time is safe.
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