When co-parenting after a divorce, you and your ex could run into some conflicts over how certain decisions should be made. For example, maybe your child graduated from elementary school and needs to enroll in middle school. You think that a certain school would be best, but your ex doesn’t like it and wants to enroll the child in a completely different school. Another example could be if your child needs certain types of healthcare, but your ex believes it isn’t necessary.
The crux of these issues revolves around legal custody. Parents who have legal custody of their children—which can be distinctly different from physical custody—are the ones who make decisions on the child’s behalf. If you have sole legal custody, even if you share physical custody so that your child sometimes lives with your ex, you can make these decisions on your own. But if you share legal custody, then the two of you have to agree.
The court can make a ruling
In most cases, courts encourage parents to work together and find joint solutions. They need to be able to compromise and must realize that they won’t always get 100% of what they want in every case.
However, when couples are at an impasse, the court can make a ruling. For example, maybe you think your child needs life-saving medical care that your ex is denying. The court can hear your story and make a ruling, prioritizing the child’s best interests. They take health and safety issues very seriously, so they can instruct you and your ex on how to proceed—even if you don’t agree.
Of course, turning to litigation to make these types of parenting decisions can be complicated and time-consuming. As you put your child first and consider your parental rights, take the time to carefully look into the legal options at your disposal.
