The kids are heading back to school, and it’s never been so clear how your children have grown up and changed over the years. For some, it’s a transition between elementary and middle school, or between middle school and high school. For others, it’s just a new year with new opportunities and experiences.
As these changes manifest themselves, you may find that your parenting plan no longer fits. Since the plan is supposed to have the child’s best interests in mind, it may be worth addressing.
For example, a child who has never cared about sports may decide to play football this year. Suddenly, all of the pick-up times change for after-school practices. Money is needed for equipment and other fees. Someone needs to bring the child to games and scrimmages on the weekends, and going to one parent’s house every other weekend may no longer work in the fall.
With all of these changes, you may want to update your parenting plan, especially if the new schedule negatively impacts one parent far more than the other. You both have to balance the child’s schedule with your work schedules, your desire to be involved in the child’s life and more.
It’s important to remember that changes to the plan should be made officially, and this means asking the court to legally alter the agreement. Don’t just start doing things differently because it works for you. Look into what is legally required and follow all of the necessary steps. This can help to limit problems with your ex, and it means you won’t get in legal trouble for neglecting your responsibilities.
Source: Huffington Post, “Back to School: 3 Ways To Tell If Your Child Custody Agreement Is The Right Fit,” Bari Zell Weinberger, accessed Sep. 04, 2016