Which parent is responsible for making educational decisions on behalf of their kids should always be included as part of a divorce agreement. In Minnesota this falls under the umbrella of legal custody, so who has the power to make these decisions depends on the legal custody arrangement you have in place. Parents with joint legal custody both have a say in educational decisions.
If there are disagreements related to a child’s education after divorce, there are several ways to resolve them:
- Talk through it yourselves: The best-case scenario is to come to a decision just between you and the other parent. Have as cordial of a conversation as you can, outlining all the issues you need to resolve and some potential solutions. You should always keep the child’s best interests in mind when engaged in these conversations.
- Mediation: If you are not able to work through the issue on your own, consider working with a third-party mediator to assist in reaching a resolution. You and your former spouse will usually split the cost to pay the mediator. If you are willing to keep an open mind, mediation can work well for you and help avoid the expense of additional legal and court fees.
- Court: If all else fails, you must return to court and let a judge decide the matter for you. The downside to this is the additional time and expense it will for the decision to be made. Judges will take a variety of factors into account when making educational decisions for the child by determining what is in the child’s best interests.
For more information on how to make educational decisions on behalf of children, including school choice and otherwise, speak with a trusted Minnesota child custody lawyer at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.