Extracurricular Activities After Divorce-When Schedules Become a Battlefield

extracurricular activities after divorce

Extracurricular Activities After Divorce: Ohio Parents Need to Know

Extracurricular activities after divorce can be a source of stability and personal growth for children, but they can also become a major source of conflict between parents. I have previously posted a blog discussing the many benefits extracurricular activities can provide children, including improved academic performance, stronger self-esteem, and reduced risk of behavioral issues. However, even in intact households, managing practices, games, and lessons can be exhausting. In a divorced family, the logistical and emotional strain is often amplified—and what was once a positive outlet for a child can quickly become a major source of conflict.

Divorce does not eliminate a child’s interests, talents, or need for healthy structure. If anything, extracurricular activities can provide a sense of stability during a time when many other parts of a child’s life feel uncertain. But divorced parents must recognize that extracurricular activities also create unique scheduling and financial pressures that can become flashpoints in custody and parenting time disputes.… View Full Article → “Extracurricular Activities After Divorce-When Schedules Become a Battlefield”

Christmas Parenting Time Tips

holiday parenting schedules

Tips for Managing Holiday Parenting Schedules

Since we are now into the month of November, it is not too early for divorced and divorcing parents to look ahead to the upcoming Christmas Holiday. Here are some “tips” regarding the “nuts and bolts” of handling the holiday parenting schedules effectively.

  1. Read and examine the Parenting Time Schedule for your particular County which should be attached as part of your Final Decree or Court Judgment. The Domestic Relations Court and Juvenile Court of each County have differing schedules. If your parenting time schedule has been lost or misplaced, you can obtain a replacement from your attorney’s office or the clerk where your order was filed. Remember, the one attached to your Final Court Order controls, not a more recent one which may have been subsequently adopted by the Court.

For example, Montgomery County, Ohio, currently has the following provision as to the Christmas Break:

CHRISTMAS BREAK: In all even-numbered years, the residential parent shall have the children from 9:00 a.m.… View Full Article → “Christmas Parenting Time Tips”

Should Ohio Pass a New Law Establishing 50/50 Shared Parenting in Divorce Cases?

parenting time divorce

Ohio would join only Arkansas and Kentucky as states with a law establishing automatic equal shared parenting time.

Ohio House introduces HB14 to establish automatic 50-50 Child Custody, but is this in the best interest of the child?

A separation or divorce is a highly stressful and emotional experience for everyone involved, but for children, it can often be traumatic. Children are often left feeling shocked, angry, uncertain, or even guilty. These are all totally normal reactions. In response to these natural emotions, one of the best things parents and courts can do throughout divorce proceedings is consider the best interests of their children in regard to custody and residential parenting decisions.

In most jurisdictions, including Ohio, the “best interest” of the child standard is the basis for most custody decisions. The purpose of this standard is to safeguard a child’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being by ensuring the parents can provide the best upbringing for the child.… View Full Article → “Should Ohio Pass a New Law Establishing 50/50 Shared Parenting in Divorce Cases?”