Page 31 - Federation magazine: December 2016 / January 2017

Top tips for separated
couples on arranging
time with children over
Christmas

By Chris Fairhurst, principal December is one of the most congested. Depending on how
lawyer in family law at Slater and busy your local court is applications generally take anything
Gordon from one to four months to be heard.
l Some separating parents choose to split Christmas Day. This
Christmas is a time for tends to work best when parents live close together. If you do
families to come together not live nearby then splitting Christmas Day may not be in your
but for those families that children’s best interests and it is often considered unfair to
have separated it can be a expect children to have to travel on Christmas Day.
challenging time. l If just one parent is going to spend Christmas Day with the
It is always difficult to decide children, then this should be alternated next year with the other
who should spend time with parent. If you are the parent who does not have the children this
children and when. The festive Christmas then try to re-create Christmas Day on another day
season may still be some way off such as Boxing Day so the children have the benefit of two
but at Slater and Gordon we have Christmases.
already seen an increase in the l Importantly, try to relax and enjoy the time you have with the
number of enquiries from clients about how to divide time over children on whatever day is it.
Christmas. l After the Christmas period is over, it is important to reflect on
Here are some of my top tips to help separated couples manage what has and has not worked for the children. Parents should
the festive period: then discuss this and work together to ensure any of the same
l Compromise is crucial. Christmas is a magical time where your issues are not encountered again.

children should be at the heart of any plans. Think about how If you would like specialist advice from a family lawyer then please
they would like to spend their Christmas Day. contact Slater and Gordon on 0808 175 7710 and we’ll be happy to
l Plan your arrangements as early as possible. This should give help.
you plenty of time to identify and amicably resolve any
potential disagreements. And if clashes can’t be resolved, then
look at other options – including attending mediation, seeking
advice from a family lawyer or ultimately, if an agreement really
cannot be reached, an application to the court can be made.
l Before making an application to the court specialist advice from
a family lawyer should be sought.
l If you do feel you have exhausted all other options and need to
make an application to the court, then this application should
be made as soon as possible. The courts are very busy and

www.westmidspolfed.com federation December 2016/January 2017 31