It is common for parents to discuss reasonable visitation and travel with their children during a divorce, but there are always going to be situations that are outliers. Can your child go on a school trip out of the country, and if so, can either parent be a chaperone? Is it okay to take your child up to Put-In-Bay or one of the nearby Canadian islands since they’re so close together?
Being in northern Ohio, it is possible that you and your child may regularly go to Toronto or other nearby parts of Canada to visit family and friends. You might be used to boating on Lake Erie and checking in at the dock once you reach Canada, too.
How far, exactly, can you or the other parent take your child?
This is an important question to talk about before you divorce, so you and the other parent are clear on just how far is too far without permission or approval from the other parent.
If you both know that you regularly cross the border by land or sea, for example, discuss when you can do so. Maybe you’re both comfortable with that travel, but you want to have a head’s up to know that your child will be out of the country. Having information about where they’re staying and how to reach them would be helpful as well.
If your child doesn’t yet have a passport but you are thinking about going abroad, discuss that with your ex-partner. They may not feel confident about your child going with you, or they may be fine with them having a passport so long as both of you agree on how long trips can be and where they take place.
Decide on travel issues now to prevent problems in the future
There are times when parents agree not to travel outside of the United States, and that would apply to going to different islands in Lake Erie that are technically Canadian property. Be clear about little nuances like this, since you want to make sure you don’t violate your custody orders and are doing what’s best for your child.