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In many situations, timing is everything. However, when it comes to divorce, while timing isn’t everything, it can play a crucial role depending on the circumstances. One example of this is trying to decide whether to file for divorce in time to complete the process before the school year starts. Unfortunately, this is no simple task.
What to Expect If You Try to Get Divorced Before the School Year Begins
Just because you file for divorce before school kicks off, doesn’t mean that you will finalize your divorce prior to the beginning of the school year. Each divorce is unique. Some take longer than others, especially if issues such as child custody, visitation rights, and child support are involved. Still, it’s not a bad idea to try to get your divorce out of the way before the hustle and bustle of the school year starts, particularly for the sake of your kids.
Divorce is obviously going to be a big change for them, and the last thing you want to do is combine the complications of divorce with the chaos of a new school year. It could be too much for them, you, and your ex.
Fortunately, there are steps you and your ex can take to help your kids handle a new school year whether you complete your divorce before day one or your divorce drags on into the school year or beyond. The key is to develop a co-parenting plan that you and your ex stick to no matter how things are going regarding your divorce.
Divorce Tips: Co-Parenting During the School Year
Whether you and your spouse are able to get divorced before school starts, or not until well after the fact, the following tips can help you successfully navigate co-parenting your kids during your divorce and throughout the school year:
- Keep the lines of communication open. Everything else stems from communication. If you and your co-parent aren’t communicating, you’re not co-parenting. You need to discuss everything going on with your kids, including performance at school and things going on outside of school. If it concerns your children, you both should know about it.
- Share school shopping duties. This is a great way for you both to be involved with the back to school process and share the financial load. Plus, it can allow you each to spend time with your kids before they head back to school. There’s a long list of items that your children will need for school. You and your co-parent can divide that list up evenly and take your kids back-to-school shopping separately.
- Discuss the situation with the school and your children’s teachers. You should let the school and your children’s teachers know that you’re getting divorced. Knowing what’s going on at home can give your school and teachers a better understanding of how to help your children deal with the divorce, especially if they begin acting out.
- Establish guidelines. Try to keep the rules and expectations the same for the kids no matter which parent they’re around at the time. For example, keep their bedtimes and study schedules the same whether they’re staying with you or your ex.
- Stay on schedule. Make sure to establish a schedule for you and your kids that you can stick to when the school year starts. Include everything, from time with each parent to school pickup and drop off to extracurriculars. Keeping to a regular schedule in the midst of so much change can help your kids, you, and your ex better cope with the situation.
Speak with Our Experienced Divorce & Child Custody Attorneys Today
Is your marriage in its last days? Are you considering divorce? Do you want to try to get divorced before your children’s school year starts? You should speak with our experienced divorce & child custody lawyers about your situation today.
At Rech Law, P.C., our legal team has been representing clients seeking divorces and battling for custody of their kids since 2010. We understand what it takes to successfully guide you through the divorce and child custody process. Our top priority is always protecting your legal rights, securing the most favorable outcome possible for your situation, and finalizing your divorce or child custody dispute as quickly as possible.
For more information about divorce and child custody disputes in North Carolina, or to discuss your situation with our experienced family law attorneys, call us at (704) 659-0007 or contact us online today to set up a confidential, no-obligation consultation.