The divorce was finalized and after evaluation (of some degree) a court order detailing child custody and parenting time was issued. In the early days? That court order was somewhat of a lifesaver. When discussions got heated, when tempers flared – it all boiled down to, “What does the court order say?” Court orders are fantastic in those early days – because it’s written for you in black and white – when coparenting skills have not yet been honed and emotions from a split are still raw, the court order defines the way things should be.

I won’t address what happens when the court order is violated – though, that does happen – and how you deal with such a thing would be something you’d want to address with your appropriate legal representation.

What amazes me is that sometimes, enough time passes that the reliance on that piece of paper minimizes. For us, it has gotten to the point where if the second weekend of the month doesn’t work, my husband can call his son’s mother and ask if they can switch weekends around – and now, she’s less likely to say no, or that she doesn’t have to because the court order says x, y or z.

How closely do you follow your court order – or are you able to amicably deviate from it in a way that works for all parties involved?

Photo credit: Dave_Mcmt