FA M I LY L AW A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E
HOLIDAY SEASON REBECCA OAKLEY FAMILY LAW SOLICITORS can help with your vacation-related disputes
W
e’re all going on a summer holiday….or perhaps not, if parents can’t agree. There are many occasions when parents fail to agree about arrangements for their children but one situation which seems to lead to many an urgent application to the court is when specific holiday arrangements are in dispute. Dad, for example, wishes to take the children to Spain for a week with his new partner. Mum won’t agree. What can Dad do? Trying to resolve the matter through discussion and negotiation is always a first step, mediation is often the second but, when it becomes urgent or previous consent is withdrawn, then the court may have to be involved. Some countries require proof that both parents
have agreed to travel arrangements of one parent with the children as well. It is rare that the court would refuse reasonable requests for holiday provisions to safe countries (not so much for war zones or countries where there are no reciprocal arrangements for return of children in place) but it costs money and takes time to get to that point. Sometimes there are genuine reasons for one parent to say no to the other but we urge all parents making these decisions to look closely at their own reasons for refusing – as the children will usually enjoy the holiday whatever is going on with the adults in their lives. Both Rebecca and Belinda, our solicitors, are long standing members of Resolution: First for Family Law which promotes a constructive approach to conflict resolution and. We also
support the use of mediation or alternative dispute resolution in all suitable cases. CL
If you are interested in exploring one of these options, please contact Rebecca Oakley Family Law solicitors for advice on 02920 532888 or info@oakleyfamilylaw.com