Going through a divorce as a parent can come with many challenges. In addition to everyone learning how to cope emotionally, divorce raises many new questions about moving forward.
Until now, your children have had a certain level of consistency. Unfortunately, with divorce, some of the comforts of the old routine need to change to accommodate custody arrangements and financial changes.
Here’s what you should know about how divorce could impact where your children go to school.
Your children’s best interest
The most significant step in answering many of the questions about your children starts with what would be in their best interest. Often, courts look at their current schooling situation, social structure, and relationships with their parents to begin deciding how to determine child custody.
When your child goes to private school, there may be several factors that you and your ex will need to reconsider, like transportation and who will be responsible for tuition.
Who will pay the bill?
The first questions you will answer as you and your ex negotiate care and custody of your children are whether they will continue at the same school and how you will proceed with the logistics of sharing custody.
Ultimately, there tends to be a parent who has more custody responsibilities while the other has more financial obligations. Typically, courts determine this balance of custody versus financial support based on what will provide the best system for the child. For example, a parent who will remain in or near the original family home may have more custody responsibilities because they are close to the children’s school and other social supports, leaving the other parent with more financial obligations.
Keep in mind, however, that there are many factors for both parents and courts to look at when deciding who will have which parental responsibilities after the divorce. You should talk to an experienced professional about your unique circumstances and the impact that will have on child custody and support.