School is now in full swing and, as a parent recently divorced or considering divorce, you have begun to understand the impact that school has on child custody. This is especially true if you and the other parent live in different cities, states or even countries.
In Connecticut and states around the country, a child custody agreement must take into consideration the best interests of the child. In fact, a child’s best interests are the guiding force of any Connecticut child custody order. As the state Supreme Court wrote in In re Appeal of Kindis (1972), “We have consistently held in matters involving child custody that while the rights, wishes and desires of the parents must be considered, it is nevertheless the ultimate welfare of the child which must control the decision of the court.”
A child’s education can play a role in determining his or her best interests. Under Connecticut’s child custody laws, courts may consider certain factors that affect education, including the developmental needs of the child, the child’s adjustment to his or her school environment, and the length of time the child has lived in a stable environment (including schooling).
Considering Various Child Custody Options
Many parents must plan child custody around the school year. Shared custody and visitation arrangements may include the following scenarios, among others:
- The child stays with one parent during summer vacation and school breaks while staying with the other parent during the school year.
- One parent acts as the residential parent while the other parent takes care of the child on alternate weekends and perhaps an evening or two a week.
- The child stays with each parent every other week (if both parents live in the same area).
Some questions to ask when deciding on child custody or creating a parenting plan include: Who has usually taken the child to school? Who has primarily helped the child with homework? How will both parents contribute to the child’s schooling? What social activities does the child have that should be accommodated?
Determining child custody means making many important decisions and can seem overwhelming. Whether you are going through a divorce or need to modify child custody to fit your child’s school schedule, an experienced Connecticut child custody attorney can help you determine appropriate child custody and visitation arrangements; arrangements that take your interests into account – and your child’s.
Source: Massachusetts AFCC, “Planning for Shared Parenting: A Guide for Parents Living Apart.”