Have you spoken to your ex about childcare costs over the summer?

The summer holidays are an expensive time for parents. Between the days out, paying for extra food and footing bigger bills with the kids being home, it can soon add up.

In fact, research from Lloyds has found the majority of parents (77%) spend more during the school holiday period – we’re talking an extra £500 over the six weeks.

For those who are co-parenting, Rebecca Cliff, a family solicitor at Slater and Gordon, stresses that now is the time to discuss with your ex who is paying for what over the summer holidays.

“For couples who are separated, maintenance arrangements are probably already in place to support the child and contribute to the costs of their lives – so accommodation, food, clothing and so on,” said Cliff.

“But when more money is required to finance activities, over and above what has already been agreed, it can be more of a grey area.”

Who’s paying for clubs and camps? What about days out to theme parks or trips to the cinema? All of these things can soon add up – and if one parent has the child in their care for more days each week, they will likely end up footing most of the bill.

So, what should co-parents know?

The solicitor said that whether a........

© HuffPost