Question:

Recently, the mother of my 17-year-old son has had some financial difficulties, and now he is living with myself and my wife. However, we live in a different school district. Will the courts require that my son to switch schools?

Answer:

Without knowing any more about your particular situation, it hardly seems likely to me that a court would order a child who is nearly finished with his final year of high school in a place where he knows all of his teachers and has friends to suddenly transfer schools.

Courts do not want to disrupt children’s lives, but will make those orders that are necessary for parents to effectively care for their children. Are you able to support the burden of having your child in one city and attend school in another?

For example, in Texas, a court can make decisions regarding custody, support and even choice of schools for a child once there has been a Petition to Modify Final Order filed with the court and a court hearing has been set.

Absent a filed Petition and court hearing, and without knowing whether there are any special circumstances in this case, I have observed that the court does not usually unilaterally make decisions regarding families or change living arrangements that have been agreed upon by all parties.

Remember, I am unable to provide you with anything more than divorce tips for men, so please consult a domestic litigation attorney in your area to obtain specific advice as to the laws in your state and how they impact your potential case.

To arrange an initial consultation to discuss divorce rights for men with a Cordell & Cordell attorney, contact Cordell & Cordell.