Back-to-School Season: A Comprehensive Guide to Your Custody Plan

Oct 15

Back-to-school time = co-parenting mayhem? Let's change that

The beginning of the school year is a time of excitement for children—new grades, new classmates, and new schedules. For many co-parents, however, it is a cause of stress and disagreement. If you're already anticipating the "who's picking up today?" messages, it may be time to review your custody agreement. Early dismissals, holidays, drop-offs, if it's not explicitly stated, it's an argument just waiting to erupt.

This guide will take you through the main areas where school transitions tend to cause issues and provide you with practical tips to guarantee a seamless, stress-free year for all parties.

The "School Transition" Pitfalls Your Custody Plan Must Address

School's back, that means new routines, and for co-parents? That can get messy.

A proper parenting plan, or a detailed co-parenting agreement, can foresee and avoid typical scheduling conflicts. Do not leave anything to chance; ensure that all details are explicitly stated. The following are the most important areas where a revised Orem, Utah parenting plan can make an enormous difference.

Daily Drop-Off and Pick-Ups: "Who's picking up? Who's dropping off?" This tends to be the most common source of conflict. Your schedule should identify which parent will be responsible for transportation on which days of the week, and may include a contingency in case one parent is late.

School Breaks and Holidays: The Utah Code provides a sample schedule for alternating holiday parent time each year. Your agreement needs to include how these holiday breaks will be divided between parents - most parenting plans simply reference the statute and include the schedule provided in the Utah Code. (See Utah Code Ann. 81-9-302 and 81-9-303 for examples).

Early-Out Days and Teacher Professional Days: Most schools have these days written into their calendar. If not planned for, these unscheduled days off can result in eleventh-hour conflicts. Specify who will take the kids on these non-standard school days.

Extracurricular Activities: Who will be paying for and taking the children to soccer practice, piano lessons, or tutoring? Your parenting plan needs to specify financial obligation and transportation responsibilities for all extracurricular activities, even during the other parent's allotted time.

Parent-Teacher Conferences and School Events: Both parents are entitled to attend parent-teacher conferences, school plays, and sports events, etc. Your agreement can specify how parents will communicate regarding these events and both will be kept informed.
Access to School Records and Communication: Your order for custody should clearly indicate that both parents are to have complete access to school records, online portals, and communication with administrators and teachers. This keeps a parent from blocking information from the other.

If your parenting plan doesn't address it, it may be time to modify.

Don't Wait Until It Becomes a Fight: A Proactive Solution

Get out in front of it. Some planning today can save months of aggravation. The objective is to provide a predictable and stable environment for your kids. If parents have a well-defined, written plan, it minimizes the necessity for ongoing, stress-filled communication and enables all parties to concentrate on the most important thing: the children's success in school.

If your existing agreement is starting to feel outdated or is creating issues, it's time to do something about it. You might begin by having a rational, open talk with your co-parent to determine if you can mutually agree on a solution. If not, a Utah family law lawyer can assist you in going through the process of modifying your current custody order to more accurately suit your family's present needs.

Legal Tips for a Smoother School Year

It takes some planning to make a modification to a legally enforceable document such as a parenting plan. An experienced lawyer can make sure your new plan is enforceable, equitable, and, above all, in the best interests of your children. Regardless of whether you are in Orem or elsewhere in Utah, a competent attorney can assist you in creating an understandable, thorough agreement that addresses all issues.

Make this school year smoother for everyone. Do not allow the school year to become a cause of chronic stress. Take charge and resolve these important problems immediately, and you will be well on your way to a productive and harmonious year for your family.

Contact Blakelock Law for Your Utah Family Law Needs

If you are facing a family law issue, be it a divorce, custody dispute, or other, you do not have to face it alone. Contact Blakelock Law today to discuss how we can help you achieve an effective and agreeable outcome.

Megan Blakelock