Custody orders outline the schedule for parents sharing custody. They help guide co-parenting and should center the best interests of the children. Frequently, parents can maintain the same custody arrangement for years so long as they adhere to the schedule and communicate effectively with one another when a change is necessary.
Occasionally, the current schedule creates conflict or excessive stress. Parents may need to go back to court to modify the custody order to ensure that their arrangements uphold the best interests of their children.
What are some of the warning signs that a custody order has become problematic?
1. Emotional withdrawal
Children stressed by their family situations sometimes close themselves off from their parents, siblings or friends. They may spend more time on their phone or in their rooms. Especially when social withdrawal occurs specifically while they are with one parent or immediately after custody exchanges, parents may need to revisit their schedule.
2. Declining grades
A noticeable drop in academic performance is an early warning sign of a negative change in a young adult’s mental health. When children struggle at school or stop participating in preferred activities, such as sports or theater, those changes may be due to intense negative responses to stressful situations.
3. Consistent scheduling complications
Stability and predictability are key for a child’s ability to adapt to new situations and to get to sleep on time. If parents have to constantly adjust the household schedule, that lack of stability can be harmful for the children and their rest.
4. Regular parental conflicts
Parents may find themselves arguing whenever they need to adjust the custody schedule or communicate about the children with one another. When shared custody triggers repeated conflicts, the disputes between parents can prove highly damaging for the children and the family.
5. Children returning dirty or injured
In some cases, one parent truly cannot meet the needs of the children effectively. They might even become abusive or aggressive towards them. If a parent doesn’t consistently meet the needs of children while they are in their care, reducing their overnight time with the children may be beneficial.
Parents in California can modify custody by reaching new terms together and submitting paperwork together to request an update of their existing order. Both parents have the right to petition the courts to review and update the custody order. They must explain to the courts why the proposed changes are in the best interests of the children when there is a dispute about a modification.
Going back to court to pursue a custody modification can reduce parental stress and conflicts. It can also affect the emotional stability and development of the children. Parents who share custody may need to take action to ensure their custody orders continue to meet their children’s needs.