Child Custody and Holiday Arrangements: Planning Ahead to Avoid Disputes

School holidays, birthdays and big occasions are meant to be predictable and happy for children. After separation, they can become flashpoints if plans are vague or last-minute. The Family Court of Western Australia looks for arrangements that put the child’s needs first, preserve important relationships and protect routines like sleep and schooling.

Most families can reach this without filing at court when the expectations are clear and written down. We help you translate good intentions into a plan that works in real life, with times, places and back-up steps so no one is guessing the week before Christmas. Our focus at Reliant Legal is practical, child-centred solutions that reduce conflict and make handovers low-stress.

What to agree upfront so holidays run smoothly

• Clear start and finish times for each block of school holidays, including who collects and who returns
• Whether major days are split or alternated this year and next, for example Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, birthdays, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
• A holiday calendar for the year that covers Easter, mid-year break and summer, plus how you’ll confirm dates at the start of each school term
• Travel rules including notice periods, destination details, flight numbers, contact information and how long a child can be away from home base
• Passports and documents, who holds them, consent letters for international trips and time frames for giving copies of bookings and insurance
• Communication while away, set windows for phone or video calls so children know when they will speak to the other parent
• Handover locations that are safe and convenient, such as school, a café or a public place with parking, and who pays for travel
• Expectations for gifts, parties and friends, including whether both parents attend or split celebrations and how you’ll handle clashes with existing plans
• Time with extended family, grandparents and cousins, and how to balance both sides fairly across the year
• Make-up time if illness, weather or travel issues derail a plan, with a simple method to reschedule without argument

How the Court views fair holiday arrangements and how we help

The Court asks whether the proposal is safe, child-focused and workable. It looks for stability in sleep and travel, enough time for the child to enjoy both families, and realistic logistics that do not leave a child exhausted or shuttled across town during peak traffic.

It pays attention to patterns of cooperation and whether parents share information promptly. It expects parents to shield children from adult conflict and to follow orders once made. With that lens in mind, our job is to help you design and document a plan that the Court would consider sensible even if you never need to file it.

• We listen first, then map work rosters, distances and children’s activities so your plan fits everyday life
• We turn verbal agreements into a clear parenting plan or consent orders when you want something binding
• We organise a shared calendar and simple check-ins so dates are confirmed well before each break
• We prepare travel consent letters and set out document-sharing steps so international trips are not derailed at the airport
• We frame proposals in the language the Court uses, focused on best interests, safety and meaningful relationships

If you want holiday arrangements that are fair, predictable and child-focused, contact Reliant Legal for plain-English guidance and a practical plan that prevents disputes before they start.