Can you help me list down what I can include in the visitation agreement for my 4-year-old daughter?

Thank you for contacting us via Legal Advice Middle East.

We have successfully prepared visitation agreements for fathers in situations just like yours, ensuring that the agreement not only defines time with the child but also reinforces the father’s role as legal guardian.

Courts in the UAE encourage parents to agree on clear visitation schedules to reduce conflict and protect the child’s best interests.

There are several points you can include in your visitation agreement.

First, specify clear visitation days, times, and locations - whether weekends, weekdays, or alternating holidays. You can also request extended time during school breaks and religious holidays.

Second, emphasize your legal capacity as a guardian by including clauses that you will be consulted on major decisions such as education, travel, medical treatment, and change of residence.

Third, include communication rights, such as regular phone or video calls with your daughter when she is with her mother.

Fourth, outline procedures for travel abroad: the mother must obtain your written approval before taking your daughter outside the UAE.

Finally, ensure dispute resolution is included - agreeing that if disagreements arise, either parent may seek assistance from the Family Court.

Our firm has drafted agreements where fathers successfully secured more time by showing their stable circumstances and strong bond with their children.

We can prepare a tailored agreement for you that protects your rights and is enforceable before the Family Court if needed.

Our multilingual consultants in Arabic, English, Russian, Hindi, and Chinese are ready to support you.

Dear Inquirer,

Visitation agreements in the UAE can cover various aspects such as visitation schedules, holiday arrangements, communication methods, overnight stays, and conditions that emphasize your role as a guardian.

Each agreement must be tailored to the child’s best interests and approved by the court to be legally enforceable.

To draft a strong agreement that protects your rights and ensures more time with your daughter, we recommend booking a consultation or appointing our office to represent you. You can arrange this easily through our website.

Best regards,

Dear questioner

1. Outline a clear and respectful communication protocol- which shall mentions about primary method of communication (e.g., email, a specific messaging app).

A response time frame for non-urgent matters.

A clause on avoiding negative or disrespectful language about the other parent in front of the child.

2. For a 4-year-old, a consistent routine is vital. The schedule should be as specific as possible to avoid misunderstandings.Specify the exact days and times for visitation. For example, "Every Friday from 3 PM to Saturday at 6 PM."

You can also request a shorter mid-week visit, such as "Every Tuesday from 5 PM to 7 PM" to have more frequent contact. Since your daughter is still young, you can agree on overnight stays. The agreement should specify how many overnights you get per week or month.

3. Make a schedule for Holiday and Special Occasion Schedule

4. Guardian's Rights and Decision-Making - As the guardian, you have the right to be involved in all educational decisions, Similarly, for your daughter's health

5. Include a clause about both domestic and international travel. As the legal guardian, your consent is required for your daughter to travel outside the UAE. The agreement should formalize this, stating that a notice period and written consent are required.

If you need more details kindly share your whatsapp number.

Dear Inquirer,

Thank you for reaching out regarding the visitation agreement for your daughter. This is an important matter, and the terms you include should be carefully drafted to reflect your rights and responsibilities as a legal guardian while ensuring the child’s best interests.

We would be glad to guide you on the key points to include in such an agreement.

To provide you with clear and tailored advice, we invite you to book a 15-minute free consultation with our legal team:

https://outlook.office.com/book/Freeconsultation@nja.ae/?ismsaljsauthenabled

You can either contact us directly via email at Connect@nja.ae or call our offices in Dubai at 0502750194 / 042779119, Sharjah at 065252229, RAK at 072212659.

Please enter the code "NT" when requesting an appointment.

We look forward to assisting you in protecting your rights and your daughter’s wellbeing.

Warm regards,

Jasim Al Haddad Advocates & Legal Consultants

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