After the end of a relationship between parents, establishing shared custody is standard practice. Each parent has a certain amount of time with the children and also a degree of legal authority. The parents usually need to communicate regularly about the children to ensure that they agree on the most important decisions about their upbringing. They also have to regularly exchange custody in accordance with their established custody order.
Occasionally, parents may reach the conclusion that their current custody arrangements do not work well for the family. They might then hope to change or modify the custody order. When is a formal modification a possibility?
When the parents agree on specific changes
As is the case with an initial custody order, parents generally have the option of working together to establish custody terms that work well for their families. They can propose uncontested modifications to the courts that change the allocation of parenting time and possibly also decision-making authority to reflect the current family needs. Parents can theoretically cooperate to modify custody arrangements at any time they deem such adjustments necessary.
When family schedules change
Sometimes, parents don’t agree on custody adjustments. They must then prove that the circumstances for the family meet certain standards. The expectation in Connecticut is that there has been a significant change in household circumstances.
The children transferring to a new school or parents starting a new job could drastically alter household schedules and make a modification necessary. Proposed relocations that could take the children out of the state or complicate custody exchanges could also make modifications necessary. A parent with proof that the current schedules do not align with the established custody order can ask a judge to review and update the allocation of parenting time for the family.
When parents don’t provide appropriate care
Perhaps one parent has begun struggling with their mental health since the divorce. They may not feed the children or might become aggressive toward them. Maybe one parent has started dating an individual with a history of child abuse. Perhaps substance abuse issues are a concern. When there is evidence showing that one parent endangers the children by mistreating them or failing to meet their needs, the courts may agree to modify the established custody order.
The goal whenever making changes to a custody order is to act in the best interests of the children. Parents dealing with frustrating and outdated child custody arrangements may need to take their concerns directly to the Connecticut family courts. Gathering evidence of changing circumstances can help parents prove that a modification is or is not necessary.