If your ex is late to drop off once or twice, that can be a bit irritating. If they make it a habit to drop your kids off late, that’s a problem. You need to address this, and a Tazewell County child custody lawyer from our firm can help. You and your ex agreed to a parenting plan when you got a divorce. Now it’s time to make sure that they stick to it.
What Should I Do If Drop Off Isn’t on Time?
When your ex does not drop off the kids on time, document it. Keep track of all of the days when your kids are late. If this interferes with your life somehow, like by making you late for work, make a note of that as well.
You should try talking to your ex about this issue before you take more drastic steps. We recommend written communication. If you have texts or emails to refer to, you have evidence that your ex knew about the drop off problem. If they continue to be late, you have evidence that they ignored your reasonable requests.
When Should I Go to Court Over Drop Off Times?
The court is probably not going to step in if your ex is late for drop off once or twice. A judge might want to hear about your situation if your ex makes it a habit though. So keep documenting and be ready to take your ex to court once you can show that your ex has not made any attempt to change their habits and honor your parenting plan.
If there is a reason why your ex is always late, you may be able to address it. Maybe there are ways that you can adjust your current parenting plan to make things easier for everyone. If your ex continues to cause problems, they could be held in contempt. So it really is in everyone’s interest to come together and find a solution.
What Arguments Should I Be Prepared to Refute?
Your ex might try to make some arguments in favor of keeping your kids for longer. They may say something like:
- The kids want to stay with me
- The kids take too long to get ready
- They just keep hitting traffic
- They are trying to keep the kids away from an unsafe environment
Our lawyers can help you address these arguments and argue for changes to the parenting plan that could make everyone happier.
Contact Our Law Firm
If your ex won’t stick to a parenting plan, don’t put up with that. You have rights as a parent and we can help you enforce them. Contact Butler, Giraudo & Meister, P.C. and we can tell you what to do if your ex won’t drop off your kids on time.
