A parenting plan or custody order may directly influences family life until the children in a particular divided families dual households become adults. It details a breakdown of parenting time and legal authority, making it possible to effectively co-parent.
Typically, parents try their best to follow the terms of a custody order and work together for the benefit of their children. Most parents want as much time with their children as they can get when they share custody.
However, not everyone consistently fulfills their parental responsibilities. After securing shared custody, some parents fail to fulfill their obligations to their children. In those cases, it might be necessary to go back to court and ask a judge to modify a custody order.
Repeated cancellations have financial consequences
Deviations from the parenting schedule can cause financial and logistical challenges. If one parent regularly fails to make use of their scheduled parenting time, that could represent a noteworthy change in family circumstances.
A parent who does not show up for their time with their children puts the other in a difficult position. They may have to cover expenses, such as child care costs, that they did not originally include in their budget for the month. They may miss work or experience social setbacks because they have to adjust their life when a co-parent doesn’t show up for their time with the children. Additionally, canceled parenting sessions can leave children feeling disappointed and even rejected by a parent.
Asking a judge to modify a custody order based on frequent cancellations can take pressure off of the parent with more parenting time and make life more predictable. Custody orders should reflect family circumstances, and if the parent doesn’t make use of their time, then that may ultimately affect how much parenting time they receive.
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