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3 Tips If Child Handovers Become Difficult
Handover days can be some of the most difficult dates on the calendar for children and parents alike. The children may be sad about leaving one parent but pleased to see the other.
A parent may be sad about letting their child go and not too keen about coming face to face with their ex. They will also have to ensure their child has everything they need. The following tips may serve you if you are struggling with handovers:
1. Two sets of things
The less your child has to transport between houses the less needs packing and the lower the chances of forgetting something. Duplicating certain items with one set in each household can go some way to easing this issue.
2. Careful scheduling
Where is the best place and what is the best time to schedule a handover? Some opt for a neutral public venue. These prevent you from encroaching on each other’s spaces and can be especially useful if one parent is prone to mistreat the other. However, they might not be such a good idea if one parent is always late as the waiting parent and children will be unable to do anything until the other parent shows up. If they had waited in the house, they could have got on with other stuff and waited more comfortably.
Avoid scheduling around tight deadlines. Even if a parent is usually on time, traffic could delay things making one or all of the parties late for things such as work and school. An evening pick-up, when no one has anywhere to go afterward can remove the stress if delays occur.
3. Use stand-ins and support people
Maybe you could ask your dad to pick the kids up to avoid having to see a difficult ex face to face. Or perhaps you could schedule handovers around coffee with a friend, so you have moral support and something to do while you wait.
Considering how you will manage handovers is just one of the things to consider when making your parenting plan. Seeking guidance to learn more is a sensible move.
CONTACT: Aislynn Thomas McDonald
PHONE: (305) 503-0850
EMAIL: athomasmcdonald@kelleykronenberg.com
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Aislynn Thomas-McDonald serves as Partner and Business Unit Leader at Kelley Kronenberg, where she focuses on family law and probate matters. Her comprehensive practice encompasses divorce, paternity, timesharing, child support matters, adoption, collaborative divorce, wills and trusts, guardianship, and elder law. Prior to joining Kelley Kronenberg, Aislynn established herself as a respected family law practitioner, earning an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®.
Aislynn strives to provide concierge support to her clients through understanding their objectives and goals, advising them honestly about the best course of action. She works to resolve issues without proceeding to litigation and then will advocate zealously when a case does move in that direction. Her commitment extends beyond legal practice through extensive community involvement and advocacy for domestic violence awareness, children's legal advocacy, and women's rights.
- Divorce and legal separation
- Child custody and timesharing
- Child support and alimony
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
- Adoption
- Collaborative divorce
- Domestic violence protection
- Paternity matters
By joining Kelley Kronenberg, Attorneys at Law, in 2025, Aislynn is able to continue offering concierge legal service with the resources of a full-service large law firm. This combination provides clients with personalized attention backed by comprehensive legal resources and support.
Aislynn is dedicated to providing top-quality legal services to residents throughout South Florida and the Florida Keys. Her practice is based in Miami and serves clients throughout the region with both local expertise and broader legal resources.
To schedule a consultation with Aislynn Thomas-McDonald at Kelley Kronenberg, contact their Miami office. During your initial consultation, she will evaluate your specific situation, explain your legal options, and develop a strategy tailored to your unique circumstances and goals.
Throughout every case, Aislynn demonstrates sensitivity to both the emotional and legal challenges her clients are facing and works to reach terms that are agreeable to all parties. Your first meeting will focus on understanding your situation, discussing your objectives, and outlining potential paths forward with honest, practical advice.
Yes, Aislynn Thomas-McDonald is experienced in collaborative divorce, which offers couples a way to resolve their differences outside of traditional litigation. This approach focuses on cooperation, open communication, and finding mutually beneficial solutions while minimizing emotional and financial costs.
As a full-service law firm, Kelley Kronenberg provides access to specialists across multiple practice areas when family law cases involve complex financial matters, business valuations, tax implications, or other specialized legal issues that may arise during divorce or estate planning proceedings.
