Summer is here, and with great weather comes highly-anticipated summer events. With your children out of school, they likely have a long list of things to look forward to. As a co-parent, are you aware of your rights and responsibilities?
From the Indiana State Fair to fun outdoor concerts, kids have busy summer schedules no matter the age. With that comes great responsibility for any co-parent. High-demand local activities impact your parenting time agreement and raise very important questions. Co-parents should outline their duties and responsibilities in preparation for major events.
Who is responsible for finances?
In Indiana, the state intends child support to cover basic living expenses and other necessities. Courts do not generally account for extracurriculars or seasonal events such as overnight stays and summer outings. There are two possible ways for co-parents to designate responsibility:
- Agreement: When both parents agree on the decision for the child to participate, they may negotiate on who bears financial responsibility. Typically, parents share a proportion based on income (pro rata).
- Court-ordered division: If you and your ex-spouse cannot agree, a judge may evaluate if the activity is in the child’s best interest. It is up to a court to decide how to approach cost-sharing.
Seasonal events fall under extraordinary expenses that are not part of basic child support obligations. Ensure that you have ample time to discuss financial matters with your co-parent before your child participates in events.
Can you take a child to a summer event?
Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines establish default directions for summer breaks. Legally, summer starts the day after the last day of school and ends the day before school resumes again. If you have kids aged 5 or older, the guidelines typically grant you the right to split the summer evenly with your co-parent, unless a specific court order dictates otherwise.
Under these guidelines, a noncustodial parent has until April 1 to submit a parenting schedule and plans to the other parent. Otherwise, the custodial parent has the priority in choosing schedules. If you plan to take a child to a summer event, outline it clearly in the schedule.
Can you request extra time?
Since the April 1st deadline has long passed, requesting extra time may be tricky. You must negotiate with your co-parent and communicate any requests in writing for record-keeping. Even then, the other parent may refuse the extra time.
Should this fail, you may try filing a formal request to modify parenting plans. Again, a judge will determine whether you can spend extra time without violating custody orders. Before taking formal steps, seek legal advice from a professional to determine your best actions.