Right now, parents across the country are faced with the difficult decision to either send their children back to school, to opt for virtual learning, or to follow a hybrid approach. In some areas, schools are offering several options and parents must choose which manner of schooling they prefer. In other areas, parents are deciding whether to send their children to school at all or homeschool them. These choices are difficult under the best of circumstances, and particularly challenging for separated and divorced parents.
Choosing the best option for you and for your family is not easy as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. In making this decision, parents must consider their child’s safety, their child’s ability to focus, the need for socialization, and whether they themselves can juggle the simultaneous roles of parent/employee/teacher/childcare provider.
Given the complex nature of this decision, parents are bound to disagree over which option is best for their child. In the case of single or divorced parents, this disagreement can prevent timely school enrollment or quickly turn into a hard-fought legal custody battle.
Because the school year is rapidly approaching, it is imperative to contact an attorney as soon as possible if you find yourself in this type of disagreement. If you share legal custody with the other parent, you cannot make this decision alone or you could be held in contempt. Therefore, it is best to consult with an experienced family law attorney who can negotiate an agreement on your behalf and/or represent your position to the court.
The family law attorneys at Shemtob Draganosky Taylor Stein, PC, P.C. are experienced in the area of school / custody issues and are well equipped to assist you in pursuing the school choice option that is best for you and your child.
