KidSide Newsletter August 2022

Back to School – A Family Court Perspective

Written by Judge Spencer Multack [email protected]

By the time you are reading this, school has just started and your kiddos are enduring the transition from summer vacation to homework and projects. However, my colleagues and I on the family court bench have been fielding “back to school” issues for a few months now. This article will address some of the issues we are addressing in family court and challenges some families face when the school year resumes.

What school?

The first, and most difficult, decision we face is actually what school the child should be attending. Many parents are at odds with the education their children are receiving. The child may be attending school near one parent, however an opportunity to attend a charter school at a greater distance away has presented itself. The Court will weigh the different concerns of the parents and decide what is best for the child. This is done at an evidentiary hearing.

Other parents wish to relocate to another city or state, which in turn affects the children’s education. Schooling is just one factor a court considers when determining whether or not to permit relocation. Guided by Florida Statute 61.13001, the Court is required to weigh specific factors to determine whether the child’s best interest would be served by a move more than 50 miles away.

Pointers For Starting the School Year

Dr. Ronda Fuchs, Psy.D, Accredited Collaborative Family Law Facilitator [email protected]

With summer coming to a close, it’s time to start thinking about the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. For many families, back to school season is a stressful time of year, and it can be especially challenging for children of divorced or separated parents. For those who are recently separated, this is the time to set up a precedent for harmonious co-parenting when it comes to your child’s education and overall school experience. For those who have been divorced for some time, it is an opportunity to make changes and let “bygones be bygones” for the sake of your child, and to help facilitate a smooth transition to the next school year and years to come.

Communication

Maintain good communication with your co-parent regarding homework, activities, projects, and scheduling. Many teachers set up class emails, apps or web sites through the school for parents to stay updated with grades, assignments, and activities. Agree to keep the other parent “in the loop.”

Real Reviews From Real People

“Co-Parenting counseling has allowed us to communicate better….it is nice to be able to talk again. Our increased communication increases our ability to communicate and collaborate to meet our child’s needs during this difficult time.”

By a couple separated for 4 months with 1 child who has been married for 11 years and was referred for co-parenting counseling paid for by KidSide.

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Thanks To Our Partners

Welcome to our new Bronze level partners, Abramowitz & Associates, Leinoff & Lemos P.A., Sandy T. Fox, P.A., and Orshan Spahn & Fernandez-Mesa. Get recognized in the KidSide newsletter and on social media by becoming a KidSide partner. Thank you to all of our existing partners for their continued support of KidSide..

For more information, please reach out to Adelmis Bohigas-Naderpour, Esq., Executive Board Chair of KidSide at [email protected]

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