If your ex is late to drop off once or twice, it may not seem like a big idea. However, if they are constantly dropping your kids off late, that’s going to get irritating quickly. This kind of problem can quickly turn into a major waste of your time and a source of stress. Fortunately, there are ways to address this and our Dallas County child custody lawyers can help you find the best approach.
When Can I Bring My Ex to Court Over Drop Off Times?
The court is probably not going to step in if your ex has been late to drop off once or twice. You need to show a pattern, and that means that you should do your best to document every late drop off. Write down the date and time every time your ex is late. You should also keep any correspondence about this matter to e-mail or text. This way, it’s easy to go back and show that you made your ex aware of the problem and they still did nothing to change and respect the parenting plan that was in place.
When you bring your ex to court, you can show that they are consistently late to drop off and that this is interfering with your life. Whether it’s costing you money, making you late for work, or just causing stress, you have valid reasons to bring your ex into court and address this. If they have been particularly flippant about the parenting plan you have made, the court might even decide to hold them in contempt.
Can My Ex Blame the Kids for a Late Drop Off?
A common argument your ex might employ is that the late drop off wasn’t their fault at all. One of your children just took too long to get ready. Or maybe they will say that your kids just wanted to spend more time with them.
This can be understandable if it happens occasionally or if your kids want to make up time with their other parent because something else interfered with visitation last time. However, at a certain point, your ex is the parent. They agreed to a parenting plan and they need to be able to meet their obligations.
When Should We Amend Our Parenting Plan?
There are some times when amending the parenting plan you have in place can be a good idea. If your children have more activities taking up their time and that interferes with your ex’s parenting time, it’s valid for your ex to want more time with the kids. If you or your ex moved for work, increasing the distance between you, maybe you need to adjust the parenting schedule a bit and change drop off times to account for the longer drives. Try to talk things out first, but be ready to go to court if your ex won’t cooperate.
Contact Our Law Firm
If you are having issues with your parenting plan or an ex who won’t follow the rules, contact Iowa Defenders, PLLC. We can help you address these types of issues without causing more stress for your children.
