How a Child’s Educational Decisions Are Made After Divorce
When you are going through a divorce and children are involved, you may worry about elements of your child’s future and how you will handle things from here on out. When parents divorce, a very serious discussion needs to take place regarding where the child will go to school and who gets to make these final decisions. In many cases, the court will award joint custody, which means that you will both have to agree on a decision. There are many questions you may have regarding your child’s education after divorce, and we will answer many of them.
School-Related FAQs
If I’m the custodial parent, do I get to decide on the school? If you have joint legal custody with your ex-spouse, this is what determines who gets to make this decision. You will need to reach a decision mutually on where your child attends school. If you can’t agree, mediation may be a final resort.
Can I choose to send my child to online school? If it is accredited and fulfills your state’s requirements, then it will probably be acceptable. If you have exclusive rights to choose, then this is a possibility.
What if we can’t agree on where our child attends school? If you both make decisions, the court will have to decide for you if you can’t come to an agreement. Talking it out together is always best, and possibly taking your child’s thoughts into consideration.
If we both moved, how do we change school districts? If you have a joint custody agreement and agree over the school, you can just move forth and enroll your child. There are no extra steps that you have to take.
Can my ex pick the children up from school if I have sole custody? If you have sole custody and your ex doesn’t have visitation with your child, they would not be able to pick your child up from school – especially if your order specifically states that they are not permitted to do so.
We have joint custody and my ex won’t share my child’s school information with me – what do I do? With joint custody, you have a right to access all information about your child, from medical to schoolwork and attendance.
It is important to speak to your family law attorney about issues concerning your child’s school if you can’t come to an agreement. It may be time to talk matters out in court, depending on the circumstances. Call us for more information on how we can assist you.