Photo by Alex Simpson on Unsplash

Child custody and parenting time (sometimes called visitation) is typically the first concern most parents have when they are considering filing for a divorce or they are concerned that their spouse is going to file for divorce.  This blog is written to generally address how summer vacations and summer parenting time are structured when you get divorced in Michigan.  If you are considering a divorce or a separation seems eminent, please contact us to schedule a consultation by clicking on this link or calling (248) 608-4123.

How Summer Vacation Parenting Time Is Typically Structured In Michigan Divorce Cases.

In most cases these days parents are generally granted roughly equal parenting time with the children and this schedule continues through the summer.  Then each parent is typically granted one week or two nonconsecutive weeks of parenting time each summer with the children for "summer vacation".  It should be noted that typically there is no requirement that the parents actually go anywhere with the kids for this time even though it is called vacation parenting time. 

Every year the parents alternate getting the first choice for their one or two weeks of summer vacation time.  So for instance, one parent will get first choice to schedule their summer vacation parenting time in even years and must notify the other parent of the week or weeks they are taking by April 1.  Then the other parent must provide notification of their selected vacation week or weeks by April 15.  The following year they switch who gets to choose first.  If either party fails to make their choice and notify the other parent before the deadline, they do not necessarily lose that parenting time, but they do lose the priority to schedule those dates and the other parent may deny the same if it creates a scheduling conflict with planned activities.

In some cases, typically where one parent lives too far away to exercise regular parenting time (for instance if one parent has to relocate to another state for work) one parent has parenting time with the child during the school year and the other parent will have parenting time during school breaks and the majority of the summer vacation with the child.  There are also some cases where the parents agree to exercise one parenting time schedule during the school year, (they may agree the child will be with one parent during the week for school) then switch to an equal parenting time schedule during the summer.  Finally, in reality, the summer parenting time schedule can be structured in whatever way works best for the child(ren) and the parents because there are not the same concerns about getting the child to school, getting homework done and handling other school related activities or sports.

This blog was written to broadly address the very specific issue of summer parenting time or summer vacations with children after a divorce in Michigan, if you have questions regarding your own situation, please do not hesitate to contact us to schedule a consultation by clicking on this link or calling (248) 608-4123.