Planning ahead

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Planning ahead

Contact factsheet. December 2007

It will help to plan ahead so that everybody knows where they stand. It is also easier and less emotional to plan in advance what will happen on important dates such as birthdays, religious festivals and other significant days and whether you will alternate the arrangements each year.

Depending on their age, your children may want to be involved in the process of deciding, for example, which part of the holidays they spend with each parent, whether they should be picked up after school on a Friday or on a Saturday morning or what should happen on birthdays and other significant days.

Can a non-resident parent have contact whenever they choose?

Even if a non-resident parent (or someone else) has Parental Responsibility, this does not mean that they have an automatic right to say exactly when contact should take place: this is something that should be worked out between parents and should take into consideration the child's needs and wishes. If contact cannot be decided on through negotiations or mediation, it may need to be decided by the courts. See Going to court if you cannot reach an agreement about contact on page 3.

What happens if one of us wants to change the arrangements for contact?

Unless there is a court order preventing you from doing so, you should be able to change your arrangements by discussion and agreement between you. If you cannot agree through negotiations or mediation you may need to apply to the court to decide - see Going to court if you cannot reach an agreement about contact.

Next page: What decisions can the non resident parent make during contact visits?

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