Normally 50/50 residency - but what happens if one parent goes away?

ChalRai

Hi,

I just wanted to get a view on what should happen if the set up is 50/50 shared residency with no maintenance either way, but then one of the parents goes away for 6 weeks. Technically, should the parent that is going away pay any maintenance for basic needs for those 6 weeks, or not?

TIA 

elsien

Shared parenting is about compromise and give-and-take. Not counting days or weeks.
There isn’t any “should “or “shouldn’t. “ Unless one party is on the breadline, an extra three weeks worth of food for a child shouldn’t be breaking the bank.
What do both parents think is fair, given that the circumstances may be the other way round at some point in the future.

mr_stripey

I share 50/50 custody (if that's the correct word) with my ex. Occasionally there is cause for one or the other of us to switch dates etc and this is just part of the arrangement.

If she (or I) were going away for six weeks then I think a payment to cover additional food etc would be reasonable - - but you have to work that out between you and agree what is "fair"

Hoenir

Sounds like my ex. Pushed for 50/50. Then continually wanted to move the boundaries to her own convenience. 

ChalRai

Thanks all. @Hoenir - it’s exactly that. For the parent concerned it’s not really about the money but more about the other assuming or acknowledging the responsibility they petitioned for. And if they’re unable to meet it making steps to cover it in other ways, or at least demonstrating an attempt to. It’s a reoccurring theme not a one-off, but things could always be worse.
Thanks again for the views.