It may only be September and even the autumn chill has yet to arrive.  Christmas might feel a long way off, but for separated or divorced parents, the festive season has a habit of arriving much faster than expected.  Family Law Solicitor Tegan Pownall recommends getting organised now if you need child arrangements in place in time for Christmas.

Planning early to avoid Christmas stress
One of the most common causes of stress at Christmas is uncertainty about where children will spend their time and how arrangements will work. While many parents are able to agree plans between themselves, others find that discussions become more difficult as Christmas approaches and emotions run higher.

Getting a Child Arrangements Order in place
If there are already disagreements about school holiday arrangements or travel plans, now is the ideal time to start those conversations about Christmas. Early planning gives parents the best chance of reaching an agreement, exploring mediation if needed, and, where necessary, taking the next steps to obtain a Child Arrangements Order to provide both parents with clarity moving forward.

Create a happy, stable and enjoyable Christmas
Leaving matters until November or December can significantly reduce the options available and increase pressure on everyone involved, particularly the children. By thinking ahead now, parents can focus on creating a happy, stable and enjoyable Christmas rather than facing last-minute disputes.

The courts get busy if you leave it late
If you and your former partner are struggling to come to an agreement yourselves, mediation would be worth considering. If mediation doesn’t work for you, you may want to look at getting an order for arrangements from a court.  As all this takes time and courts tend to get especially busy at this time of year, particularly with applications of this nature, it is wise to get this arranged sooner rather than later. Our Family Law team can assist you with this if you would like them to.

Changing plans
If you have a Child Arrangements Order in place, the details of what will happen at Christmas will probably already have been settled but sometimes problems do still occur if you or your ex parent want different things.

Extra emotional support if you need it
If you feel you need some emotional support through this difficult period, organisations such as Relate and the Samaritans can help you.

Get in touch
If you’d like to discuss Child Arrangement Orders with our Family Law Team, you can contact them by calling 01872 241408 or by emailing info@penderlaw.co.uk