You and your spouse got divorced when your child was just one year old. You split physical custody, so you both have the child for a week, on an alternating schedule. That worked very well while your child was young.
However, your child is now approaching the age when you need to enroll them in their first school. You found a local school that you’ve fallen in love with, and you know they can get a great education. It’s close to your house, so it will be convenient, and you like the programs and amenities that it offers.
The problem is that your ex lives a half hour away, and they have found a different school that’s closer to their house. They claim that it will offer an even better educational opportunity. Who gets to decide which school you actually enroll your child in?
Who has legal custody of your child?
As noted above, you have a physical custody schedule where you both share custody rights. But is the same true for legal custody? This refers to the right to make important decisions for the child, including medical care, dental care, religion and educational decisions.
It may be that legal custody was split between both of you, just like physical custody. This means that the two of you are going to have to compromise and find a solution that you both agree on. But if only one of you has legal custody rights—even if physical custody has been divided—then that person can make the school decision on their own.
Custody issues often lead to conflict, so be sure you know what legal options you have.