Child custody order sets guidelines for school pickups

Posted in Child Custody on April 26, 2018

Parents who are ending their marriage will need to settle the issue of how to care for children. During the divorce, the parents work together to create a child custody order that is in the child’s best interests. California parents can choose shared or sole legal and/or physical custody, depending on the needs of the family. Whatever situation is called for, the order is binding and will set the guidelines for how the child is transported to and from school and what type of contact the child will have with the parents while he or she is in school.

Schools can then take the information provided in the order and implement policies that ensure the order is not violated while the child is in their care. For example, if a child custody or a restraining order prevents one parent from transporting the child, the school office can maintain a record of this order and disallow an unapproved individual from removing the child. Parents can aid school officials in this effort by sharing relevant court order early on. 

Another common issue among divorced parents is access to school records. Typically, both parents will be allowed to access the child’s school records, even if one parent is not a custodial parent. These policies can vary, however, and if a parent anticipates a problem he or she may want to verify the laws about school records and/or request safeguards against an abusive parent accessing sensitive information. 

California families can create a variety of child custody agreements to suit the needs of the family. Once the order is in place, both parents are bound by the parameters set in the order. This is why it can be important to draft an agreement that is truly beneficial for the children. An experienced family law attorney can provide useful guidance through the custody process. 

Source: campussafetymagazine.com, “How Schools Should Protect Students from Child Custody Disputes“, Amy Rock, April 23, 2018