A custody order establishes baseline expectations for a former couple’s division of parental rights and responsibilities. Parents have to follow the proposed division of parenting time and often also need to share responsibility for making decisions about their children.
Shared custody can be difficult in part because it forces people whose relationship has declined to see each other frequently. Most parents eventually acclimate to shared custody arrangements and find effective ways to communicate with one another. However, some couples struggle to share custody.
Scenarios in which parents have to regularly adjust their custody arrangements because of scheduling complications or other issues may have a harder time co-parenting peacefully than those who can simply follow the custody order. Eventually, parents may decide that a formal modification is the best path forward for their family.
What are some of the indicators that a custody modification may be wise?
Frequent custody adjustments
In scenarios where parents have to regularly contact each other to change scheduled custody exchanges, the frequent adjustments may create opportunities for conflict. Particularly when the existing custody order no longer reflects the parents’ work schedules or the school schedules of the children, deciding to modify the existing order to better accommodate family circumstances can be beneficial.
Changes in family dynamics
Perhaps puberty has hit one of the children very hard, and they constantly butt heads with one of their parents. Maybe one parent has started dating, and the children dislike spending time with their new romantic partner. When the dynamics between people in the family change, the best division of parenting time can also change.
Concerns about safety
Maybe one parent has begun demonstrating signs of drug use. Maybe they have left grade-school children unattended to go on dates or stop at the bar. Perhaps the children come home complaining of missing meals or unnecessary physical discipline. In scenarios where one parent struggles to meet the needs of the children, neglects them or engages in abusive behavior, modifying the custody order may be in the best interest of the children.
Parents can either cooperate with one another or litigate when pursuing a post-divorce custody modification. Keeping custody orders up to date based on family circumstances can help maintain a stable home environment for children.