It’s that time of year when households in New Jersey share a sense of excitement for the start of a new school year and sadness for the end of summer vacation. For parents who share custody, however, the start of a new school year can also bring questions about parenting time, school-related expenses, extracurricular activities, and communication with schools and educational professionals. Here is a back-to-school checklist for some issues to keep in mind for the upcoming school year.
What Information Should Each Parent Receive?
Parents frequently have questions about what information they can obtain directly from their child’s school, coaches, tutors, and other educational professionals, or who should attend Back to School Night, parent-teacher conferences, and, if necessary, IEP meetings.
When both parents have access to these records as joint legal custodians, communication between the parents may be more productive and focused on the child’s best interests. Parents should review their custody orders or agreements, if in effect, to determine whether either parent has additional obligations concerning the sharing of educational information. An experienced attorney can assist with resolving these issues or answering questions about what obligations a parent may have if no custody orders are agreements have been entered.
How Does the School Calendar Affect Parenting Time?
Sometimes, parents encounter issues or conflicts between their own parenting time and the child’s school and/or activity schedules. Common conflicts arise from:
- Pick-up and drop-off arrangements;
- Transitioning from a summer/vacation parenting time to the regular school year schedule;
- School holidays and unexpected school closures; and
- Extracurricular activities conflicting with regular parenting time.
Parents should review the school calendar and extracurricular activity schedules before the school year begins and, when possible, address potential conflicts in advance. If an activity or school obligation conflicts with the existing parenting time schedule, an experienced attorney can assist with regard to the resolution of these issues.
Who Pays for Back-to-School, Extracurricular, and Other Expenses for the Child?
Whether a particular back-to-school, extracurricular, or other expense is included in a particular parent’s child support obligation depends on specific circumstances, including any written agreement, court order, the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines, and the nature of the expense. Common expenses where this question may arise include:
- School supplies;
- Clothing and shoes;
- Technology, such as laptops or tablets;
- Sports and extracurricular activity fees;
- Tutoring;
- Before- and after-school care; and
- Private school tuition payments.
When incurring any expense for the child, it is important to retain all receipts, invoices, and proof of payment, and, to the extent reimbursement is appropriate, provide these documents to the other parent to facilitate reimbursement. An experienced attorney can provide assistance in navigating these common expense-related issues.
What Should Parents Do When They Disagree?
The start of a new school year can be an opportunity for parents to confirm their parenting time schedules, review their financial responsibilities, and establish clear lines of communication with their child’s educational team. When parents cannot agree on these issues, however, disputes can quickly interfere with an otherwise smooth transition into the school year.
When disputes arise, the family law team at Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf is here to help you navigate these common back-to-school issues. Contact us today.