Dear Attorneys,
I divorced my wife five years ago, but I still feel “handcuffed” to her. We have joint legal custody and every decision is a headache. I can’t do anything if she doesn’t sign off on it, and she can’t do anything if I don’t. I feel like we are constantly back in court. Do I have any other options?
Sincerely,
Stuck Stan
Dear Stan,
That is a frustrating feeling. Often, joint legal custody is granted because the court does not have a good reason to take away one parent’s ability to make decisions for the children. However, your situation is very common. One “work around” we have seen is to give one parent final decision-making authority in some areas and the other parent final decision making in others. For example, maybe you can have final decision-making authority on educational and extracurricular/sports matters, and she can have final decision making on medical and religious decisions. While we understand those are not exactly the same, it has worked for some clients in the past. Another option may be co-parenting counseling so that you have a professional helping to guide you both to a resolution.
Wolf & Shore Law Group is here to help you make your family law matters easier, not harder. We are realistic and direct with our clients. We encourage potential clients to seek out a firm where they will feel comfortable and confident. Ever argue with a woman? Let Wolf & Shore Law Group go to work for you. Call us at 203.745.3151 or email us at info@wolfandshorelaw.com.
Very Truly Yours,
Wolf & Shore Law Group
*The situations represented in our Dear Attorneys column are entirely fictional and any resemblance to a specific case is unintentional. We cannot, and will not, offer legal advice to anyone who is not a client. However, if you do have questions or concerns, you should contact an attorney at your convenience.
