Joint custody may never feel like a walk in the park, but sometimes it can feel like an uphill hike in 90% humidity once summer rolls around. Summer is a wonderful time to spend more time with your children since they’re out of school. But with your busy work schedule and other obligations, it can be difficult. Throw co-parenting with your ex-partner into the mix and it can feel downright impossible. 

Here at The Fairell Firm, we aim to be your resource when it comes to child support, child custody, and more. As family law attorneys in Atlanta with extensive experience in these areas, we can help. In today’s blog, we’re going to discuss four tips for handling joint custody well while in the summer months. If you’re in need of a family law attorney so you can adjust your parenting plan or you’re just getting started with the process and need a child custody lawyer, then we can help. Contact our family law firm today to get started. We’re conveniently located in Tucker and serve clients throughout the Atlanta area.

First and foremost, it’s vital for you to communicate. Even if communication isn’t a strong point for you and your ex, it’s imperative if you want joint custody to go smoothly this summer. Ask any family law attorney: the key to a good summer for you and your kids when you’re co-parenting is healthy, open communication.

Be willing to communicate your wishes and then be confident in your decisions! And remember — a large part of communication is listening.

There may be times when you need to cooperate and do something a little differently with your parenting plan because it benefits your children. Sometimes this can be easier to do when you think of who it’s really benefiting — sure, you may be dropping off or picking up your kids at a different time because of your ex’s schedule, but this really for the benefit of your kids. 

If, for example, your ex wants your children for a certain weekend because of a summer event, then see if you can cooperate! Perhaps you could get an extra weekend with them in return.

Sometimes, your parenting plan simply isn’t working — summer or not. Parenting plans are a vital and important aspect of family law, and it’s essential that they meet the diverse needs of your family. If you’re confident that the parenting plan set in place simply isn’t working, then perhaps a custody attorney can help you modify visitation rights . Here at The Fairell Firm, our team of female lawyers will be happy to help you evaluate your current parenting plan and try to make changes if deemed necessary.

Just because you’re communicating and being cooperative doesn’t mean you should be walked all over. Once summer plans have been established, make sure the expectations are clear to both your ex and your children. This can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and poor behavior on everyone’s part. For children especially, visual calendars can help them understand what’s happening and who they’ll be with when.

If you have children and divorce, then family law will continue to be a big part of your life. Here at The Fairell Firm, our family law attorneys are divorce lawyers, child support lawyers, and child custody lawyers all wrapped up into one. Let us help you begin the child custody process or modify your parenting plan. Contact us today to work with a family law attorney in the Atlanta area.