In most cases, the Court Order explains what is required to be provided when traveling with the minor child either during your timeshare or on vacation. Non-vacation travel means, to us, that you are taking the child outside of Nevada during your timeshare and it does interfere with the other parents’ time. In the absence of a specific Order, follow these steps for non-vacation travel, meaning you are not taking the other parent’s timeshare:
- Notify the other parent. This is not dialog, but a quick note that the child is being removed from Nevada. Why is this important? In an emergency situation, both parents have a right to know where the child is located and how to reach the child.
- Make sure you give the co-parent contact information: a telephone number and address.
- A itinerary from the carrier should be provided if you’re not driving.
A vacation is different than travel. Vacation is usually longer in length and often requires use of the other parent’s timeshare. If the Order does have a vacation provision, follow these steps:
- Ensure you know the proper timeframe in the Order for noticing a vacation.
- Notify your co-parent within the timeframe Ordered that you are taking the minor child. This is notification, most Orders do not require permission. However, check your Order before booking the travel.
- Ensure your co-parent has a telephone number where the child can be reached.
- Flying, cruise, train or bus? Give your co-parent a complete itinerary from the carrier showing the child’s name.
- Staying at a hotel? Give your co-parent the name and address of the hotel, and upon arriving the room number.
- Staying at a house, as soon as the address becomes available, it should be given to your co-parent.
- Ensure the child can communicate with the co-parent during the vacation. This isn’t about taking away time from you, it is about fostering the relationship between the child and co-parent.
If you have an Order, but it doesn’t have a vacation provision, you need to cooperate with your co-parent to take their timeshare for vacation. If an agreement cannot be reached, it may become necessary to file a Motion to address the issue with the Court. In this situation, planning ahead is important because the Court may not be able to get you in to Court on a quick turnaround.