Parents often want to create valuable memories with their children. Travel is one of the ways that parents bond with their children and enrich their lives. Many parents have the luxury of cooperating with one another to surprise their children and plan exciting excursions to any destination that they can afford. Those who are subject to a time-sharing arrangement in Florida may not have quite as much freedom.
Instead, they are subject to certain limitations regarding how they spend their time with their children. Summer vacation, midwinter break and spring break are all opportunities for parents to travel with their children and create new memories together. Especially if one parent sees less of their children during the school year, they may want to take advantage of those opportunities.
Can parents who have time-sharing arrangements in place travel with their children out of the state?
Parenting plans may include clear travel rules
When parents negotiate time-sharing arrangements or when a judge settles disputes about parental rights and responsibilities, rules regarding travel are common. In some cases, the rules may limit the amount of time that one parent can travel with the children. Other times, the custody arrangement for the family may require the consent of the other parent before lengthy or long-distance travel.
In many cases, however, either parent can potentially travel within Florida and to other states during their scheduled time-sharing. So long as the travel plans do not affect the other adult’s time with the children, they may not be able to prevent an out-of-state trip. Even in cases where parents share legal decision-making authority, they both have the right to make choices about what happens during their own time-sharing days.
Short-term travel may be subject to restrictions based on the terms of the parenting plan. State law and the parenting plan may impose restrictions in cases where a parent intends to spend 60 days or more at a location 50 miles or more from the current residence. Any significant travel plans may make a review of the current parenting plan necessary.
Parents who codify their rights and the restrictions that they agreed upon with their co-parents can take the necessary steps to travel or even relocate with their children. Regularly reviewing the rules that apply and appropriately communicating with the other parent can help prevent unnecessary conflict in situations where parents share parental rights and responsibilities.
