Travelling with Kids After Seperation

One of, if not the most, frequent calls that family lawyers get from a panicked parent comes when a vacation is days away and the other parent won’t sign the required consents or travel documents.  That can mean that some pretty exciting trips to Disney World, or the Caribbean, or elsewhere are in jeopardy for the kids and travel insurance probably won’t cover the trip.   Sometimes the other parent has legitimate concerns.  But, more often that parent is bitter or jealous of the trip, or worried that it will give the travelling parent and “advantage” with the children.  That often means that at least one of the parents is not making decisions based on what is best for the children, and, as a result, the children are losing out.  That, “the children’s needs are secondary” approach in conflicts between parents is how children get harmed after separation or in divorce.

To avoid these difficult situations, in this episode of the Ontario Family Law Podcast, Certified Specialist in Family Law, John Schuman, explains the law around kids travelling after separation, how to avoid problems around travel, what consents, permissions or court orders are required, what to do when planning a trip for children after separation and, what steps a parent has to take when the other parent is being unreasonable about a proposed trip.