Set Holiday Expectations with a Child Visitation Letter

Use a Child Visitation Letter to reiterate safety procedures already in place in a parenting plan for holiday parties.

What you will discover:

How can I guarantee that my partner adheres to COVID safety protocols during festive family gatherings?
If we differ on COVID measures during the holidays, can I alter the contact schedule?
How can I formalize my Christmas travel standards and agreements?

Establishing equally acceptable vacation ground rules is critical to your child’s well-being when parents split or no longer live together. A Child Visitation Letter can help establish standards for collection, drop off, where the child will remain, and problems concerning the child’s health and safety during the epidemic.

As we near the holidays and schedule family events, many people are concerned about getting or sharing the coronavirus. Moving forward, that is a fair worry for any parent. If you do not always agree with your partner, it may be in your and the child’s best interests to make a written statement about health and safety precautions during the holidays. A Child Visitation Letter is one method to address worries about the spread of COVID or to strengthen safety procedures already in place in a parenting plan.

How can I guarantee that my partner adheres to COVID safety protocols during festive family gatherings?

There is a prevalent misunderstanding that Child Visitation Letters only go one direction. Non-custodial parents frequently believe that the weight and power of the courts favor the rights of the primary parents. Even when they have shared possession, many caring parents have this misunderstanding. That could not be further from the truth. You have an equal interest in the child’s wellbeing as long as you have possession or access. Having said that, here are some reasons why you should write a Child Visitation Letter.

You have established access privileges and would like to organize a meeting.
You have access privileges and would like to vacation over the holidays.
The custody ruling or strategy is not being followed by the primary spouse.
The primary parent is interfering with your ability to spend meaningful time with the kid.

As you can see, parenting time and privileges are reciprocal. Family court justices generally concur that having a strong connection with both parents is in the best interests of the kid. And, while custody plans and judicial rulings are set in place to serve the best interests of the kid first and foremost, no one could have anticipated the worldwide epidemic. Accounting for safety steps to defend against a once-in-a-generation pathogen is, of course, a distinct task.

But that is exactly why tools like Child Visitation Letters exist. They allow parents to make adjustments and explanations as needed. These are things to include in your message if you are arranging a family gathering during the holidays.

The date and time of the festive trip.
When will the kid be brought up?
A journey plan, as well as the location of the family meeting.
The amount of individuals who are anticipated to attend the festive meeting.
The expected events are described in detail.
Information on coronavirus safety precautions such as shields, hand sanitizers, and social isolation.

If we differ on COVID measures during the holidays, can I alter the contact schedule?

There are a few approaches to resolving disagreements about the specific difficulties of coronavirus safety during the holidays. Open and frank communication that results in a meeting of the minds is usually productive if you have a jointly agreed-upon Parenting Plan in place. If you and your partner cannot come to an agreement, you must realize that you may not be able to alter the contact plan directly.

As the pandemic’s first surge expanded, regional and federal administrations enacted mandatory shelter-in-place policies. Many individuals advocated for people to only participate in necessary labor and travel. Visitation orders were typically interpreted by family courts as “essential” travel. Random travel and human interaction, by the same measure, may not pass approval in court.

Preventing access or surpassing a custody order can have severe legal ramifications. In some instances, these may include being held in contempt, restricting custody time, or altering who is the primary parent. If you are firmly opposed to the contact plan due to COVID, seek legal advice before proceeding.

How can I formalize my Christmas travel standards and agreements?

If you believe that the journey connected with a current custody order puts your kid in danger, notifying the court may be your best choice. To settle co-parenting disputes, family courts across the nation received grievances and expedited virtual proceedings.

Preparing a Child Visitation Letter may be the first move in reducing your child’s risk of getting the virus during holiday visits. Consider instances and jot down the key aspects of your specific issue. Then, compare those to any current co-parenting arrangements or judicial rulings. It may also be in your best interests to consult with a counsel before mailing the message to the other parent.

With chance, both parents will act responsibly to ensure safety and assuage each other’s concerns. If not, a law expert can assist you in notifying the judge.