Educating Kids and Custody: It’s on the Record

Your child’s performance in school can affect how a judge makes custody decisions. But it’s one factor among many. When all things are equal, your child’s school performance would have to be markedly different with one parent than the other to impact a custody decision.

When a judge makes child custody decisions, he or she must consider who will “best promote the interest and welfare of the child.” They’ll account for several factors, such as the child’s age, educational needs, the housing situation, and the overall environment in both parents’ homes.

Jonathan Breeden has helped families resolve custody issues in Johnston, Wake, and Harnett County for more than 20 years. Suppose you are involved in a dispute associated with your child’s schooling. In that case, we can discuss your situation, explain North Carolina law, discuss your options, and put a plan into action.

Call the Breeden Law Office at (919) 661-4970 today.

School Performance Reflects What’s Going on at Home

A divorce, an unmarried couple splitting up, or a custody dispute could add a lot of stress in a child’s life, especially if they hear parents complain about each other or argue. This transition period from one way of living to another can be a severe distraction from schoolwork so that performance can suffer, no matter who the child lives with.

Schools are usually good at record keeping. If a child is markedly better or worse when they’re living with one parent or another, it can be evidence the child isn’t getting the attention and care they need.

School issues can be tracked through the following records:

• Attendance: Is the child missing days of school or coming in late?
• Readiness for school: Is the child ready to learn, bathed, and wearing clean clothes? Is the child hungry or falling asleep in class? Is the child prepared, with their homework ready and books in their book bag?
• Parental involvement: If there are problems, is the parent contacting the school? If the school contacts the parent, is he or she responding? Showing up for meetings?
• Grades: Are the child’s grades declining when one parent cares for the child compared to the other? If there’s not much change, it’s not an issue. A student need not get straight A’s to make a parent appear capable, loving, and involved

When Judges Consider School Performance

If there’s a clear difference in school performance when the child lives with one parent compared to another, the judge should care. If there are only minor changes, the judge probably won’t modify an existing custody plan.

It would be unusual if the child is only having problems in school, but not in the rest of their lives if they’re living with a particular parent. If they’re angry or withdrawn, disconnected or poorly cared for, it’s not something the child can turn on and off when they enter and leave a school. A judge will look for overall trends in the child’s life and see if they can be traced to time with a parent.

Contact Breeden Law Office Today

Attorney Jonathan Breeden dedicates his career to helping individuals and families facing family law issues. He serves clients in Johnston, Harnett, and Wake Counties. If you have questions or need help from a North Carolina child custody attorney, turn to one with considerable experience both in family law matters and your local court system.

To speak with the Breeden Law Office, call (919) 661-4970 today. Jonathan is ready to listen and find out how he can help.