IMPORTANT: This article was written in accordance with the legal framework and judicial criteria in effect at the time of its publication. With regard to school vacations, visitation schedules, and the drop-off and pick-up of children, one must always take into account the applicable parenting agreement or court order, the best interests of the child, and the regulations in effect at any given time, particularly the Civil Code and applicable procedural law.
Many disagreements arise between divorced parents at the beginning of the summer vacation period regarding the distribution of vacation time for minor children, as well as the pick-up point for them.
It should be understood that, in most Agreements and Judgments, specific days and times for drop-offs and pick-ups are explicitly established in order to avoid this type of conflict. However, on occasions, the resolutions or agreement do not set this out in such detail, and this is where the conflict begins.
It must be specified that the summer vacation period comprises the entire school vacation period, and not only the months of July and August, as is erroneously believed. It should be understood that these are the minors’ vacations, not the parents’, and therefore this entire period must be divided, since the main objective of these divisions is the best interest of the minors, ensuring that their needs and care are covered during this period and that this function and distribution is equitable between both parents.
In short, if the agreement does not specify concrete vacation distribution days, this will begin on the last school day and end on the last day before returning to school, with a completely equitable and equal distribution being made between both parents in accordance with what is established in the judgment, unless there is an agreement to the contrary between both parties.
In these cases of lack of specification of days, the parties must communicate their choice of vacation period with sufficient advance notice (at least one month), in those years in which they have preference, with the other party not being able to present any opposition, since we would be facing a breach of the agreement or judgment itself, with the appropriate legal consequences that this would entail.
Another issue to be taken into consideration during these periods is the pick-up and drop-off points. We encounter situations in which one of the parents establishes their vacation residence in a different locality/province from the common one for the rest of the year, expecting the other parent to travel to this new summer residence for the pick-up or drop-off of the minors. It should be understood that if nothing is established in the agreement or judgment, and without prior agreement between the parties, the drop-off and pick-up point will be the one stipulated as the habitual residence address of the parents, and this cannot be modified at the whim and needs of one of the parents.
In short, in the absence of agreement between the parties or specification in the Agreement or Judgment, the parent who has the minors in their care must return to their habitual place of residence in order to proceed with the exchange of the common children.
It is very common for disputes or doubts to arise between parents during school vacation periods for minors regarding vacation distribution and pick-up points, which is why it is important to have the assistance of a lawyer who carefully reviews the Regulatory Agreements to ensure compliance and maintain and respect the stability of the minors at all times.
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Author: Pilar Peña Martín
Preguntas frecuentes sobre vacaciones de hijos menores y puntos de recogida
¿Qué periodo se considera vacaciones de verano de los hijos menores?
Como regla general, debe atenderse al periodo vacacional escolar de los menores, y no únicamente a los meses de julio y agosto. Lo relevante es el calendario escolar y lo que establezca el convenio regulador o la sentencia aplicable.
¿Cómo se reparten las vacaciones si el convenio o la sentencia no fija días concretos?
Si no existe una previsión detallada, lo habitual es procurar un reparto equitativo entre ambos progenitores, respetando siempre el interés superior del menor y lo establecido en la resolución judicial o convenio regulador.
¿Pueden los progenitores pactar una distribución distinta de las vacaciones?
Sí. Los progenitores pueden alcanzar acuerdos sobre la distribución de las vacaciones, siempre que no contradigan lo dispuesto en la resolución judicial y que respeten el interés y la estabilidad de los menores.
¿Con cuánta antelación debe comunicarse la elección del periodo vacacional?
Cuando el convenio o la sentencia prevén turnos de elección, es recomendable comunicar el periodo elegido con suficiente antelación. En muchos casos se toma como referencia un plazo mínimo de un mes, aunque debe revisarse siempre lo previsto en cada convenio o resolución.
¿Qué ocurre si uno de los progenitores se opone al periodo elegido por el otro?
Si la elección se ha realizado conforme a lo establecido en el convenio o sentencia, la oposición injustificada puede generar un conflicto de cumplimiento. En estos casos conviene revisar la documentación y valorar las vías legales adecuadas.
¿Dónde deben realizarse las entregas y recogidas de los menores durante las vacaciones?
Debe respetarse el punto de entrega y recogida previsto en el convenio regulador o en la sentencia. Si no se establece nada distinto y no hay acuerdo entre las partes, lo habitual es mantener como referencia el domicilio de residencia habitual fijado durante el resto del año.
¿Puede un progenitor imponer un nuevo punto de recogida en su residencia vacacional?
En principio, un progenitor no debería modificar unilateralmente el punto de entrega o recogida por razones de conveniencia personal. Si desea establecer otro lugar de intercambio, lo recomendable es alcanzar un acuerdo previo o solicitar la modificación correspondiente si procede.
¿Qué debe hacerse si no hay acuerdo sobre vacaciones o entregas de los menores?
Ante la falta de acuerdo, debe revisarse el convenio regulador o la sentencia y actuar conforme a lo previsto en ellos. Si persiste el conflicto, es aconsejable contar con asesoramiento jurídico para valorar la mejor forma de proteger el interés del menor y evitar incumplimientos.
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