When parents are no longer together and one parent needs work-related childcare, the other parent may think that the child should just stay with them rather than going to day care. Having the child with a parent rather than with a third party might seem to be better for the child, but the courts do not often order work-related childcare to the other parent first.
Because the co-parenting relationship with the parents may not be friendly, or it may become unfriendly over time, courts are often reluctant to order that a child go with the other parent for childcare. Having that much interaction between parents can be stressful for the child if the parents don’t get along and taking away the choice of the working parent for childcare on his/her time is not something courts often do.
So, while it may seem to be in the best interest of a child to be with a parent instead of daycare, courts must take a wider view of the situation, including thinking about possible issues in the future. Talking to an experienced family law attorney about childcare issues, whether you are the parent offering to care for the child or the parent needing childcare, can provide an outline of the possible benefits and drawbacks of all options.
For this or other family law questions, please contact one of the family law attorneys at Sandberg Phoenix.
