Summer Custody Schedules: What High-Income Parents Need to Know
July signals more than sunny weather and vacation planning. For co-parents, it marks one of the most sensitive and potentially high-conflict seasons of the year. When you're managing a summer custody schedule, especially in high-income families where lifestyles are complex and expectations are high, the stakes can escalate quickly without proactive planning and legal clarity.
At Thacker Sleight, we understand the nuanced dynamics at play in high-asset family law matters. From international travel logistics to luxury camp schedules and multi-home coordination, our goal is to help you protect your time, your child’s well-being, and your long-term co-parenting relationship.
Why Summer Custody Is Different for High-Income Families
During the academic year, custody arrangements are generally structured and predictable. Summer, however, introduces a new layer of complexity and opportunity. High-income families often include extensive travel plans, second homes, private experiences, and the flexibility to create memorable adventures. But this same flexibility can also lead to miscommunication, resentment, or last-minute conflict if plans are not clearly defined and mutually agreed upon.
In these cases, having a well-documented summer schedule becomes critical not only for smooth planning but for minimizing legal and emotional disputes.
Best Practices for Planning Your Summer Custody Schedule
Start Early and Be Specific
High-stakes custody arrangements benefit from early and detailed planning. Courts favor proactive parents who set clear expectations well in advance. This includes communicating travel dates, destinations, contact details, and transportation plans, with written agreements whenever possible.
Include Exact Dates, Handoffs, and Locations
Avoid vague language like “a week in July.” Use precise calendar dates, pick-up and drop-off times, and detailed location info. Inconsistencies in timing or geography can lead to conflict, especially when one parent feels they’ve been left out or misled.
Align Plans with Your Parenting Time Order
Unless both parties agree in writing, all summer custody arrangements must adhere to the court-approved parenting time order. If you need to adjust those terms, say, to accommodate international travel or back-to-back trips, it’s best to have legal documentation to back up those changes.
Documenting Vacation Time Legally and Effectively
Modify Agreements with Care
If you’re changing any part of your summer schedule, be sure to reflect those changes in writing. For some families, that means a signed addendum to the parenting plan. In more informal arrangements, it may mean clear, consistent communication via email or a co-parenting app. Either way, ambiguity is the enemy of a peaceful summer.
Use Co-Parenting Tools
Digital tools like OurFamilyWizard and AppClose allow parents to manage custody calendars, travel approvals, and communication in one secure location. These platforms also create a time-stamped record that courts may consider if a dispute arises.
Keep a Paper Trail
Regardless of the method, always keep a digital record of agreements, changes, or concerns. Courts favor transparency, and showing that you attempted to communicate clearly and reasonably goes a long way if issues ever escalate.
Special Considerations for International Travel
Consent and Passport Management
International travel with children typically requires written consent from both parents, especially if joint legal custody is in place. If you anticipate resistance, it’s critical to discuss this early and involve your attorney. Additionally, ensure passports are current and accessible, as disputes over possession can delay travel plans.
Know the Legal Boundaries
In high-conflict cases, it may be necessary to file a motion permitting international travel and detailing your itinerary. This protects both you and your child from accusations of interference or abduction.
Prepare for the Unexpected
Travel insurance, medical documentation, and emergency contact planning are all especially important for global travel. The more details you have, the easier it is to diffuse concerns before they arise.
Managing Lifestyle Expectations in Luxury Custody Planning
Parents with significant financial resources often wish to provide exceptional summer experiences — chartered trips, cultural excursions, and extended educational programs. While these can be enriching, they can also inadvertently breed tension if one parent perceives imbalance or exclusion.
It’s important to ground summer planning in what’s best for the child, not in competition or comparison. Open communication, and sometimes third-party mediation, can help create fair and mutually beneficial schedules.
How Courts Handle Missed Time and Custody Disputes
Understanding Make-Up Time
If one parent misses their scheduled time due to travel, illness, or conflict, Michigan courts may consider granting “make-up time” to ensure parity in parenting time. This is not automatic, however, and will depend on the nature of the conflict and each parent’s effort to remedy the situation.
Dispute Resolution Options
When disputes can’t be resolved amicably, legal counsel may file a motion to enforce or modify the parenting schedule. At Thacker Sleight, we work proactively to help clients avoid escalation by resolving issues through negotiation, but we’re always ready to advocate in court when needed.
When to Call Your Attorney
Your co-parent refuses to approve reasonable travel.
There’s disagreement over summer custody allocation or timing.
You’re concerned about safety or jurisdiction for travel abroad.
You need to update your custody order to reflect new agreements.
Navigating high-stakes summer custody plans requires foresight and a legal team that understands how to balance legal obligations with family goals. At Thacker Sleight, we specialize in guiding high-income families through these complexities with discretion and care.
Final Thoughts: Put Your Family First This Summer
Your summer should be filled with connection, not conflict. A comprehensive, legally sound custody plan ensures your child enjoys meaningful time with both parents — and that you enjoy peace of mind knowing you’ve covered every detail.
Let us help you create a strategy that honors your values, protects your time, and supports your family’s future.
Ready to create a summer custody schedule that works?
Reach out to Thacker Sleight Law for a customized consultation. We’ll help you protect your parenting time — and your peace of mind.