Child Custody FAQs

The parenting time arrangement is one factor considered in the worksheet.

Is this a question you are seriously asking? If you contemplated not allowing your son to attend his band banquet then take a step back and think about your son’s best interest, not yours. If you do not allow your child to go, you are forcing your son to spend time with you because it is “your” time. You should seriously consider whose needs you are thinking about. We have heard on more than one occasion that it is “not in the child’s best interest” to be involved in school activities during one parent’s time, but that is simply not the case. It is important as a parent that you stay involved in your children’s lives. Your life should revolve around their activities, not the other way around.

The court will not mandate where each parent takes the children to worship on their respective weekends. If you have a written agreement in your decree as part of your joint parenting agreement, the court will enforce it.

This can get sticky, since there are hundreds of international abductions every year. If you truly believe it is for a cruise, you might consider it. You can ask for the written itinerary and documentation showing that they are really going on the cruise. Generally the abduction of children comes as no surprise to the abandoned parent. You could agree to have the passports kept in a safety deposit box that requires two signatures to retrieve. If your ex has citizenship in another country, you might want to do research to find out about whether that country is a member of the Hague Convention and whether you could retrieve the children if they were kidnapped. You should seek legal advice if kidnapping is a real concern.

You should very seriously consider it. Do your kids want to go? Remember, while this is “your” time, it is also their childhood. Try to negotiate and get make up time or be gracious and let it go, knowing that your former ex will return the favor when your parents come to town. Keep your kids first.

Do you know why she does not like to visit him? If he is safe and his house is safe, you should do everything you can to encourage the relationship. She may be taking on your negativity or he may just not be a very attentive parent. Help him be a better parent by role modeling for him and discussing this with him. Maybe they could go to counseling together. Teenagers often do not want to be with either parent. It is important, however, to provide ample time with each parent.

Significant domestic violence is contrary to joint legal decision-making. Please consult with an experienced family law attorney.

Not unless it is supervised. Drug use will preclude him from having unsupervised parenting time. You should ask the court to have him drug tested at TASC (Treatment Assessment Screening Center). Their website is: www.tascaz.org. You might want to consult with an attorney as this issue can become complicated.

My wife has the kids every Monday and Tuesday, but she is starting school and leaves the kids with her boyfriend. Can I have parenting time with my children instead of her boyfriend?