I'm interested in hearing views on a current family situation regarding changing contact days.
Child is under 10 and parents have been divorced for a number of years. Childs main home is with Parent A and spends two nights a week with Parent B.
The two nights with Parent B are during the school week so Parent B collects child from school Tuesday afternoon and Parent A collects child Thursday afternoon etc.
Parent B also has child during school holidays (not completely but a significant amount).
In the last 6 months Parent B has a new job and has asked to change contact days. The set-up would still be the same (i.e. 2 nights in a row with collection / drop-off at school). Parent A has said no. This means that Parent B is loosing income due to pattern of shifts but has continued to have child on original agreement. There is no logistical reason why Parent A can't accommodate the request - for example their working hours or other commitments.
Parent A has said the only option is to stick to current agreement or not see the child.
There is no previous court agreed access arrangements.
What are the rights of both parents in this situation? Personally I would hope they can sort it out between the both of them but does Parent A have the right to unilaterally decide contact days can't change? Could Parent A go to court and insist days remain the same or could Parent B get them changed?
And, if one parent did decide to actually go to court would it be a very lengthy / expensive process?
Any advice appreciated!