Q: Can a non-custodial parent prevent summer extracurricular activities that the custodial parent has planned.
I have sole physical custody and joint legal custody and usually have my 13 year old daughter 90% during the summer. I am planning extracurricular activities for the summer for my daughter. My daughter and I have agreed on a community camp close to home with her friends and walkable (which is huge as a single mom with 90% custody) and summer soccer. Lots of neighborhood parents help out with the camp. My ex is trying to interfere and discourage my daughter from wanting to do those activities. I am trying to keep her busy and off video games. If you ask my daughter, of course she would rather play video games than camp. My ex does not help out with anything during the day in summer and has limited visitation in evenings and weekends. Can he prevent me from sending her to the activities? Is there anything that can be done to stop him from discouraging her to want to do the activities? She was onboard with the idea until her dad had multiple conversations with her.
A:
In California, if you have sole physical custody and joint legal custody of your child, you primarily determine where your child resides and the day-to-day activities. However, joint legal custody means both parents share decisions regarding significant aspects of the child's life, which can include education, religious upbringing, and potentially significant extracurricular activities. It’s important to review your custody agreement or court order to understand the specifics regarding extracurricular activities.
If your ex-partner is trying to interfere with the summer activities that you and your daughter have chosen, especially when these activities are beneficial for her and have been agreed upon, it can be challenging. Normally, if these activities do not interfere with his visitation time and are not harmful to your daughter, he should not be able to prevent her from participating. It might help to communicate the benefits of these activities to him and how they contribute positively to your daughter's development and social skills.
If the interference continues and it negatively affects your daughter or violates the terms of the custody arrangement, you may need to seek mediation or consult with a legal professional. Documenting instances of interference can be helpful if legal intervention becomes necessary. It’s also essential to keep your daughter's best interests at heart and maintain open communication with her about her interests and feelings regarding summer activities.
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