When co-parents have legal custody rights of their child, they can make important decisions for that child. If a couple gets divorced, for example, the court may determine that one or both of them have legal custody rights. With sole legal custody, one parent can make decisions independently, but shared legal custody means they still have to work together.
This often leads to significant parental conflicts. Below are two examples of how this could happen.
Parents cannot find a joint solution
Often, the issue is simply that parents share legal custody, but they cannot compromise or find a solution on their own. If it is time to enroll a young child in school, for example, both parents may have different opinions over which school should be chosen. If the child is already attending school, one parent may want to transfer them to a new educational institution, while the other wants them to remain where they are.
Because both parents have legal custody, the court may even have to step in and help them find an appropriate resolution if they cannot do so on their own.
One parent oversteps their authority
Another reason for conflict is when one parent makes independent decisions that are not allowed under the custody order.
To continue the example noted above, perhaps one parent gets tired of the disagreements and simply enrolls the child in school on their own. They believe they are just doing what is in the child’s best interests, but they have violated their co-parent’s rights. By overstepping the authority granted to them in the court order, they can trigger a significant legal dispute.
Child custody disputes can often be complicated and emotional, so it is crucial that parents know what legal steps to take.