Will your divorce force your children to change schools?

Divorce can be difficult for children, and you probably want to do everything in your power to help support them. There are generally two issues that determine how damaging your divorce will be for your children.

The first is how much conflict they witness during the divorce. The more you fight in front of the kids or put them in the middle of your disagreements, the greater the emotional toll your divorce will likely take on them.

The second contributing factor to a child’s struggle when parents divorce is the lifestyle disruptions that result. When parents move, children have to adjust to living in two different spaces instead of one. This inevitably means they must learn new neighborhoods and experience the loss of their previous support networks if they have to transfer schools. Will your children end up in a different school district after your divorce?

Schools may play a role in your divorce decisions

If you and your spouse want to keep your kids in the same school district, those desires may strongly influence the decisions you make regarding property division and custody matters. Your children’s primary address determines what school they attend.

You may not be able to locate new rental properties or homes for purchase in the same school district. One of you may need to retain your current marital home, and that parent may be the one who has primary custody for the purpose of your children’s legal address. Even parents who split custody 50/50 may need to handle their paperwork in a manner to ensure that their children remain at the same schools that they presently attend.

What happens if your ex isn’t cooperative?

The unfortunate truth is that some parents don’t put what is best for their children first. They will make demands based on their own preferences with little regard for what it will mean for the children. If your ex isn’t willing to compromise or negotiate a settlement with you, you must integrate these concerns regarding your children’s education into your divorce strategy.

The way that you present your case to the judge and the concerns that you bring up in both property division and custody proceedings can influence the outcome of litigation. Identifying the big issues that will affect your children’s well-being and happiness after divorce will help you push for custody arrangements and other terms that will help you give your children their own happily ever after.