Summer vacation from school is often a time for adventure and enrichment for children. They can learn new skills, socialize with friends or even secure part-time jobs. In some cases, they may want to spend a significant amount of time away from their families.
Children interested in scouting, horseback riding or the outdoors may ask to attend a sleepaway camp during the summer. Camp can be an adventure and an opportunity to make new friends. It can also be a source of risk. Camp activities can be dangerous. Camp workers or other campers could behave in abusive and inappropriate ways.
There are many concerns to consider when a minor child asks to take advantage of certain opportunities. Can one parent who shares parental rights and responsibilities unilaterally send the children to summer camp?
Parents may share decision-making authority
Divorced or separated parents typically share parental rights and responsibilities. They usually receive an allocation of parenting time. They also frequently share decision-making authority. Either parent potentially has the right to make decisions during their own parenting time.
If the camp session is only for three days and two nights, it might fall entirely during one parent’s time with the children. Provided that they can afford the camp on their own, one parent may be able to make the decision to send the children without seeking input from the other parent.
That being said, amicable co-parenting generally requires consistent communication and cooperation. The parent supporting the request to attend summer camp may need to discuss that choice with the other parent. In scenarios where they may require assistance paying for the camp or when the duration of the camp session infringes on the other parent’s time with the children, the consent of the other parent in the family is likely mandatory.
In cases where there is a significant disagreement about the children attending camp, parents might need to take the matter to family court. Judges can make decisions about specific disputes. They can also modify the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities based on the conduct of the parents.
Learning more about the rules that govern shared parental rights and responsibilities can help parents dealing with a decision-making dispute. Both parents usually have a degree of legal authority, which means that cooperation is often necessary for big decisions related to their children.