As the Christmas period approaches, it would be beneficial for separated parents to start thinking about the arrangements for their children during the Christmas holidays. Many parents will have already agreed these arrangements during previous years, or have a court order which addresses the same, although many separated parents will not, and so it is important not to leave dealing with this too late.
The usual approach taken by the courts is that children should spend time with both of their parents during the Christmas holidays, although this cannot always be agreed, and is not appropriate in all cases. Each case is fact specific and there is no one size fits all arrangement.
It is best for separated parents to try agreeing the arrangements for Christmas between themselves, or if that is not possible, mediation may be the next best option. Not all separated parents are able to agree the arrangements between themselves or via mediation, and it may therefore be necessary for some separated parents to seek the assistance of the courts.
Although the courts try to avoid any delay in Children Act proceedings, there is a process that must be followed, and the courts are sometimes dealing with a high volume of cases. Whilst the Christmas holidays may therefore seem quite far away to many, they are not far away at all in the world of family lawyers. It would therefore be best for separated parents to start considering the arrangements for Christmas now, to avoid any issues arising.
Many separated parents may be unaware that where there is no ‘lives with order’ in place, they need the consent of the other to take their children abroad. If a parent is unwilling to provide their consent, the parent wishing to take the children aboard will need to file an application seeking the Court’s permission. It is therefore important to bear this in mind at this time of year, as many separated parents may be thinking of taking their children abroad over the Christmas holidays. Leaving it too late to think about these matters could cause a lot of disappointment for parents and their children.
If you need any help dealing with the arrangements for the Christmas holidays, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
T: 029 2034 2233
E: Enquiries@wendyhopkins.co.uk
Author: Sam John
Published: 07.10.25