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Do you and your ex need to agree on custody decisions?

On Behalf of | Jan 14, 2025 | Family Law

When it comes to physical custody after a divorce, things may be as simple as following the custody arrangement set by the court. For instance, you and your ex might share physical custody, exchanging your children every other week. As long as both of you stick to the schedule, you shouldn’t run into significant issues.

However, legal custody can also be shared between parents, and it is distinctly different from physical custody. Legal custody involves making decisions on your child’s behalf. This includes determining which school they will attend, what type of medical care they will receive, what religion they’ll be a part of and whether they’ll open bank accounts.

Compromise and cooperation are necessary

If you have sole legal custody, you don’t need to consider your ex’s preferences. You can make these decisions for your child independently.

However, in cases of shared legal custody, it’s important to take your ex’s wishes and desires into account. You cannot make these decisions without their input, as that would violate their custody rights. Just like you, they have a legal right to make decisions on the child’s behalf.

This means that compromise and cooperation are often necessary. If the two of you cannot agree on an important decision, it may be necessary to seek a court order and have a judge decide. Regardless, it’s essential to remember that you cannot make unilateral decisions without involving the other parent.

Solving custody battles

Legal custody often leads to contentious disagreements between co-parents. If you find yourself in this situation, make sure you understand all of your options.

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