I’m a family lawyer – who pays for the kids’ summer holiday activities after divorce?

For parents who have divorced, there will already be arrangements in place for school holidays – who has the children on which days, who will be taking them on holiday and when, and so on.

But six weeks of summer holidays can be very expensive, with children attending clubs and camps and taking part in activities. Days out and staycations can also incur a lot of cost. So while custody may already be arranged between mum and dad, who pays for the activities the kids take part in, particularly if they come at significant expense?

For couples who are separated, maintenance arrangements are probably already in place to support the child and contribute to the costs of their lives – so accommodation, food, clothing and so on. But when more money is required to finance activities, over and above what has already been agreed, it can be more of a grey area.

Whether a parent wants to contribute more than they would do in a usual month to cover the cost of specific activities during the holiday period is more of a moral question. Most parents probably wouldn’t want their child to miss out on an activity they really want to take part in – but there is nothing to compel them to pay for it.

Dilemmas can often arise when, for example, a child wants to attend an expensive residential trip. If that activity falls in the time they are meant to spend with their mum, then should mum pay for it herself? Dad may be expected to contribute, but legally he doesn’t have to.

Negotiation and making arrangements amicably are really key here, and planning in advance is very important. If parents can communicate about plans for the summer in advance, and agree what is possible and affordable for them both, then that can ensure the child has certainty around what their holidays will entail.

Of course things can be difficult if one parent really wants their child to take part in something, and the other parent either can’t or won’t share the cost. Specialist family lawyers can help find a way forward if things become strained – the last thing anyone wants is for relations to deteriorate and impact on the child’s eagerly-awaited summer holidays, so seek expert assistance if that is needed. Slater and Gordon offer a fixed fee consultation for family law matters, which could assist in finding a way forward.

Rebecca Cliff is an associate at law firm Slater and Gordon. Contact her on Rebecca.cliff@slatergordon.uk or 0330 995 6257.