Back to School

For families across the country, September means the end of summer. The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are changing, and the kids are heading back to school. This time of year can be full of exciting new opportunities for both parents and children.

However, for many separated and divorced families, this can also be a time of conflict and stress. Contentious situations between parents can be greatly exacerbated as a result of heading back to school. New schools, financial difficulties incidental to the divorce, or adjusting to new parenting time schedules are just some of the many reasons that parents may struggle with this time of year.

In Colorado, every divorce or legal separation involving minor children must contain a “parenting plan” that allocates various rights and responsibilities between parents. It is important that you understand exactly how your parenting plan will affect you, the other parent, and your children. Failure to properly plan for future situations can have enormous consequences, both financially and psychologically, on you as a parent and on your children. Some examples of the kinds of issues that regularly come up during this time of year include:

• What school or school district will the children attend?
• How will parents apportion the costs related to school or extracurricular activities?
• Where and when will parenting time exchanges occur? Will this be impacted by new school schedules?
• What will happen to parenting time if/when your child stays with a friend for a night?
• And many more

Any time these types of issues arise, the advice of an experienced family law attorney is crucial. Regardless of whether you wish to modify an already established parenting plan or you are just starting to think about the divorce process, legal counsel may be able provide a clearer path to normalcy for you and your children. In addition to advising you throughout all the steps of a legal problem, a family law attorney will be able to help with other issues by offering referrals for professional services such as therapists or counselors.

If you are interested in learning more about how Woody Law Firm can help you with a “back to school” problem, call 303-968-1711 today to schedule a free, 30-minute initial consultation with our attorneys.