As your children grow up, they’ll graduate from elementary school to middle school and middle school to high school. With these educational changes, you may be concerned about how they may affect your current child custody arrangements. Our child custody attorneys share how your family can prepare for this transitional time.
Review The Changes As a Family
One of the first things you can do is review the changes as a family.
When looking at the new school, make sure to acknowledge:
- The new location and the distance from both parents’ homes,
- The new school start time,
- If there is a new bus stop or if transportation must be provided by the family, and
- The ability for new extracurricular activities, such as clubs, team sports, and more.
While your child may change schools, there may not be a substantial change in your family’s day-to-day lives. If you find little to no difference, you should continue following your custody order as currently outlined and will not need to file for a modification.
If You Are Changing School Districts
You may wish to change school districts with your child for educational reasons with the agreement of both of the child’s legal custodians. This can mean moving schools for your child’s educational benefit to a school that your child may not be zoned for. Your family should still review the changes this school switch may cause as it can help the decision-making process and inform your children about the changes ahead.
If your child is moving schools to one further away from home or one with a unique schedule, you may need to file for a modification, especially if this change causes a hardship for one or both parents when following the child custody agreement. A child custody attorney can help you review this change and determine if you would qualify for a modification.
Consult Your Child Custody Attorney
While this big change may be exciting, it may also affect your current child custody agreement. If you believe this change in your child’s schedule or education is something that you do not have the resources to support, our child custody attorneys can review your current custody agreement and determine if this change can prompt a modification.
Partnering With You For a Successful Future
Your child growing up and changing schools can be an exciting event! Your child may be excited to begin middle or high school, while you may be excited to see your child grow. At Knies, Helland & McPherson, we know that these changes may affect your child custody schedule or your family’s overall circumstances and can help you find a solution that works best for your family.
Is your child changing schools? Schedule a consultation with one of our family law attorneys by calling (719) 626-8530 or contact us online to learn more about how we can help your family through this change.