Sports, music lessons, dance classes, clubs, tutoring, and other activities can become a big part of a child’s life. After a divorce, however, those activities can create scheduling problems for parents who share time with their child.
A practice may fall on one parent’s evening. Games may take place during the other parent’s weekend. A tournament may require travel. Even activities that both parents support can create disagreements about transportation, expenses, and who gets to attend.
Florida parenting plans can address responsibility for a child’s activities, and extracurricular involvement can also become relevant when a court considers the child’s best interests.
Activities Do Not Automatically Change Parenting Time
A child’s soccer practice or dance recital does not automatically change the parenting schedule.
Parents generally need to look at their parenting plan to see how activities fit into the existing schedule. The plan must address time-sharing and designate responsibility for the child’s “other activities.”
For example, if a child has practice during one parent’s scheduled time, that parent may be responsible for getting the child there unless the parents have agreed to another arrangement.
A parent should not assume that signing a child up for an activity gives that parent the right to change the other parent’s time.
What If One Parent Wants the Child to Participate?
Parents may not always agree about which activities their child should participate in. One parent may want the child involved in competitive sports while the other may be concerned about the cost or the amount of time required.
These disagreements can become more difficult when an activity affects the other parent’s scheduled time.
Florida law specifically directs courts to consider each parent’s demonstrated ability and willingness to participate in and be involved in the child’s school and extracurricular activities when evaluating the child’s best interests.
That does not mean a parent gets to make every extracurricular decision simply because they want the child involved. The answer can depend on the parenting plan, the parents’ decision-making responsibilities, and the circumstances of the particular family.
Transportation and Attendance Can Become Major Issues
The activity itself may not be the biggest problem. Getting a child to practices, games, performances, or competitions can require a significant amount of coordination.
Parents may need to work out who handles transportation when an activity falls during each parent’s time. They may also need to discuss uniforms, equipment, registration fees, travel expenses, and changes to the normal schedule.
Attendance can create another source of tension. Some parents may both want to attend their child’s activities, while others may have restrictions in their parenting plan that affect attendance. Florida’s approved parenting plan forms can include specific provisions addressing a parent’s access to the child’s school, athletic, and extracurricular activities.
Talk About the Schedule Before Signing Up
Many extracurricular disputes can be avoided if parents discuss the practical details before committing the child to an activity.
Before signing up, parents may want to consider how often the child will practice, whether activities occur during either parent’s time, how much travel is involved, and whether the activity will interfere with school or other responsibilities.
If parents cannot agree, they should avoid making unilateral changes to an existing parenting plan. A Florida family law attorney can review the plan and explain how it applies to the particular situation.
Children’s activities should be something they enjoy, not another source of conflict between their parents. A little planning can make it easier to support the child’s interests while respecting the parenting schedule.
Working with an Attorney
If your child’s extracurricular activities are interfering with your parenting time rights, you might have options. Contact the Law Offices of Robert M. Geller to discuss your situation and find out what you can do.
