If you’ve recently split from your ex and you’re looking to gain increased visitation or custody of your child, then some legal experts suggest that you should become more involved in his or her schooling.
That’s because it’s not uncommon for a contentious custody battle to involve your child’s teacher being summoned to appear in court. If he or she is, then he or she is likely to be asked to answer questions about your involvement in your child’s academics.
When questioning happens, your child’s teacher is likely to be asked about which parent most often comes to parent-teacher conferences, chaperones field trips, picks up your child from school or volunteers in the classroom. Your child’s teacher may be asked which parent signs off on his or her assignment sheet as well.
More often than not, it is going to be the more finer details about something as important as education that may leave a judge believing that one parent has the child’s best interest in mind more than the next. This is why, if you are seeking to gain increased visitation or primary custody of your child, the best thing you can do is to take a more active role in his or her schooling.
One of the best ways to start getting more involved in your child’s schooling is by finding out when your child’s open house is and making a point of not just attending it, but introducing yourself to the teacher while there. You may try contacting your child’s teacher to set up a time to introduce yourself to learn more of his or her strengths and weaknesses in the classroom as well.
You may also decide to coach a sports team he or she participates in or to enroll your child in extracurricular activities. Taking an initiative to set up tutoring or counseling if problems arise sets a good precedent also.
If you’ve recently separated from your child’s other parent and you’re looking to have your visitation with your child increased, then a Fort Myers divorce attorney can advise you in your legal matter.
Source: Huffington Post, “Want custody of your kids? Get involved with their school!,” Joseph Cordell, accessed Dec. 08, 2017
