Established CHILD CUSTODY ISSUES IN THE SCHOOL SETTING¡ Legal Custody vs. Physical Custody/Care !...
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Established 1926 www.lynchdallas.com [email protected] Twitter: @lynchdallaslaw (319) 365-9101 CHILD CUSTODY ISSUES IN THE SCHOOL SETTING Emily K. Ellingson Lynch Dallas, P.C. February 7, 2017
Transcript of Established CHILD CUSTODY ISSUES IN THE SCHOOL SETTING¡ Legal Custody vs. Physical Custody/Care !...
Established 1926
[email protected]:@lynchdallaslaw
(319)365-9101
CHILDCUSTODYISSUESINTHE
SCHOOLSETTING
EmilyK.EllingsonLynchDallas,P.C.
February7,2017
OVERVIEW Established 1926
¡ GettingInvolvedinCourtHearings,Trials,Etc.¡ ReviewingCourtDocuments
! LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care! Guardianship! ProtectiveOrders/NoContactOrders
¡ StudentResidency¡ AccesstoStudent¡ StudentRecords
GETTINGINVOLVEDINCOURTHEARINGS Established 1926
¡ Beingcalledtotestify/producedocuments! SubpoenatoAppearandTestify! SubpoenaDucesTecum(SubpoenatoProduce
Documents)! MotiontoQuashSubpoena
! FERPArequiresPRIORnotificationtoparentbeforeproducingrecordspursuanttosubpoena.! Canparentrequestrecordsasparentinsteadofusingsubpoena?
GETTINGINVOLVEDINCOURTHEARINGS Established 1926
¡ Testifyingathearing,trial,etc.involvingbothparents.! Questionstoaskpriortoagreeingtotestify:
! Whoiscallingschooldistrictofficialtotestify?! Isthereasubpoena?! Whatisschoolofficial’sroleinstudent’seducation?
! GeneralRule:Cantestifyaboutstudentandstudentrecords! Mayaskschooldistrictattorneyfortipsfortestifyingincourtifschoolofficialhasnevertestifiedbefore.
GETTINGINVOLVEDINCOURTHEARINGS Established 1926
¡ Testifyingathearing,trial,etc.involvingparentandanotherparty(i.e.,step-parent).! Questionstoaskpriortoagreeingtotestify:
! Whoiscallingschooldistrictofficialtotestify?! Isthereasubpoena?! Whoconsentstoschooldistrictofficialtestifying(musthaveoneparent)?
! Whatisschoolofficial’sroleinstudent’seducation?! GeneralRule:Cantestifyaboutstudentand
studentrecords,providedoneparentconsents.! Ifnoparentalconsent,thenschoolofficialshouldappear,butislimitedinwhathe/shetestifiesabout.
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ Courtdocumentsfromanotherjurisdiction
¡ Initialdivorce(dissolutionofmarriage)actionvs.modificationaction! Temporarymattersaction
¡ Marriedparentsvs.Unmarriedparents! Establishingpaternity
¡ Specificprovisionrelatedtoeducationaldecisionvs.silentoneducationaldecisions
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ Stipulationbetweenpartiesvs.DecreebyCourt
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care! LegalCustody-anawardoftherightsoflegalcustody
ofaminorchildtoaparentunderwhichaparenthaslegalcustodialrightsandresponsibilitiestowardthechild.Rightsandresponsibilitiesoflegalcustodyincludebutarenotlimitedtodecisionmakingaffectingthechild'slegalstatus,medicalcare,education,extracurricularactivities,andreligiousinstruction.IowaCode§598.1(5).
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care! Joint[Legal]Custody-anawardoflegalcustodyofa
minorchildtobothparentsjointlyunderwhichbothparentshavelegalcustodialrightsandresponsibilitiestowardthechildandunderwhichneitherparenthaslegalcustodialrightssuperiortothoseoftheotherparent.Rightsandresponsibilitiesofjointlegalcustodyincludebutarenotlimitedtoequalparticipationindecisionsaffectingthechild'slegalstatus,medicalcare,education,extracurricularactivities,andreligiousinstruction.IowaCode§598.1(3).
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care! PhysicalCare-therightandresponsibilitytomaintain
ahomefortheminorchildandprovidefortheroutinecareofthechild.IowaCode§598.1(7).
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care! JointPhysicalCare-anawardofphysicalcareofa
minorchildtobothjointlegalcustodialparentsunderwhichbothparentshaverightsandresponsibilitiestowardthechildincludingbutnotlimitedtosharedparentingtimewiththechild,maintaininghomesforthechild,providingroutinecareforthechildandunderwhichneitherparenthasphysicalcarerightssuperiortothoseoftheotherparent.IowaCode§598.1(4).! Alsoknownas“sharedcare.”
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ Guardianship! Guardian–a“personappointedbytheCourtto
havethecustodyofthepersonoftheward....”IowaCode§633.3(20).
! ResponsibilitiesoftheGuardian:! “providingforthecare,comfortandmaintenanceoftheward....”
! “takingreasonablecareoftheward’sclothing,furniture,vehicleandotherpersonaleffects.”IowaCode§633.635.
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ OtherRelevantCourtDocuments:! DepartmentofHumanServices(DHS)cases
! ChildinNeedofAssistance(CINA)action.! TerminationofParentalRightsaction(IowaCodeChapter232.
! ProtectiveOrders/NoContactOrders! Protectiveordersgenerallyexisttoprotectavictimofdomesticabuse.SeeIowaCodeChapter236.
! Nocontactordersexistincriminalcasestoprotectthevictimofacrimefrombeingcontactedbythecriminaldefendant.SeeIowaCodeChapter664A.
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ Whatareaschooldistrict’sobligationsrelatedtoCourtdocuments?! Enforcementvs.Compliance
¡ Alsoseetheupcomingtopics:! StudentResidency! AccesstoStudent! StudentRecords
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example1:ParentAtellsschooldistrictthatheisnowthecustodialparentandistheonlypersonwhoshouldhaveaccesstoStudentA’srecords.IsParentAcorrect?
¡ Example2:ParentBtellsschooldistrictthatshewasnevermarriedtoStudentB’sfather.Therefore,FathershouldhavenorighttoseeStudentBandhasnorightstoStudentB’srecords.IsParentBcorrect?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example3:PersonCcomestotheschooldistrictrequestingaccesstoStudentC’sstudentrecords.PersonCprovidescourtdocumentssayingsheisStudentC’sguardian.CantheschooldistrictprovidePersonCStudentC’sstudentrecords?! WhatifPersonCjusttoldtheschooldistrictthatshe
wasactingasguardiantoStudentCwhileStudentC’smotherwastravelingoverseasanddidnotproduceanycourtdocuments?
STUDENTRESIDENCY Established 1926
¡ ResidentStudent–achildwhoisphysicallypresentinadistrict,whoseresidencehasnotbeenestablishedinanotherdistrictbyoperationoflaw,andwho...[i]sinthedistrictforthepurposesofmakingahomeandnotsolelyforschoolpurposes.IowaCode§§282.1(2),282.6(1).
STUDENTRESIDENCY Established 1926
¡ Issue:Doesthestudent’sresidencyfollowthecourtdocuments?
¡ Issue:Whataboutresidencywithsharedphysicalcare?
¡ Issue:Whataboutcourtdocumentsspecifyingwhereastudentissupposedtoattendschool?
¡ Issue:Whatifastudent’sresidencyisdifferentthanwhatisstatedincourtdocuments?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example4:StudentDlivedwithMotherDandattendedSchoolDistrictDlastschoolyear.SchoolDistrictDlearnsthatStudentDlivedwithFatherDoverthesummer,andFatherDisenrollingStudentDinanotherschooldistrictforthisschoolyear.MotherDcomestoSchoolDistrictDandattemptstoenrollStudentDinSchoolDistrictD.WhatshouldSchoolDistrictDdo?! WhatifCourtdocumentsgiveMotherDprimary
physicalcustody/care?! WhatifCourtdocumentsgiveFatherDprimary
physicalcustody/care?
ACCESSTOSTUDENT Established 1926
¡ CustodialParentvs.Non-CustodialParent! CustodialParent–theparentwithprimaryphysical
custody/careofthechild! Non-CustodialParent–theparentwhodoesnot
haveprimaryphysicalcustody/careofthechild! SharedCare–theparentshaveequalphysical
custody/careofthechild¡ Considereachparent’svisitationtimes(incourt
documents)¡ Protectiveorderinplace
ACCESSTOSTUDENT Established 1926
¡ Situationsthatarise:! Parentshowsupatschoolwantingtoseestudent
duringtheschoolday.! Parentshowsupatschoolwantingtoremove
studentduringtheschoolday.! Parentshowsupatschoolwantingtopickup
studentaftertheendoftheschoolday.! Step-parentshowsupatschoolrequestinganyof
theabovesituations.
ACCESSTOSTUDENT Established 1926
¡ Parentparticipatingin/attendingschoolactivities! Privateactivitiesvs.publicevents(i.e.,lunchduring
theschooldayvs.choirconcert)! Issue:Whatifaprotectiveorderisinplace?
¡ Districtalwayshascontroloverwhocanhaveaccesstoschoolgrounds.
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example5:ParentEshowsupattheschoolbuildingdemandingtoseeStudentE.ThebuildingprincipalhasnevermetParentEbefore,buthehascourtdocumentsstatinghehasprimarycareofStudentE.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example6:MotherFshowsupattheschoolbuildingdemandingtotakeStudentFwithher.ThebuildingprincipalhasnevermetMotherFbefore,butshehasvalidcourtdocumentsstatingshehasprimarycareofStudentFthatwereenteredbythecourtyesterday.TheschooldistrictcontactsFatherFwhodemandsthattheschooldistrictcontactthepolicebecauseMotherFshouldnothaveaccesstoStudentF.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example7:FatherGshowsupattheschoolbuildingattheendoftheschooldaydemandingtotakeStudentGwithhim.ThebuildingprincipalhasnevermetFatherGbefore,buthehasvalidcourtdocumentsstatinghehasprimarycareofStudentG.TheschooldistrictcontactsMotherG,whodoesnotpickup.IntalkingwithStudentG,sheisnervoustogohomewithFatherGanddoesnotwanttodothis.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example8:Step-parentHshowsupattheschoolbuildingsayingsheistheretopickupStudentHforFatherH.ThebuildingprincipalknowsthatthereisacontentiouscustodybattlegoingonbetweenFatherHandMotherH.Step-parentHisnotauthorizedtopickupStudentH.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example9:ParentIcontactstheschooldistrictandsayshewantstocometoeachlunchwithStudentIonceperweekduringtheschoolday.Accordingtocourtdocuments,ParentIonlyhasvisitationeveryotherweekend.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example10:MotherJcontactstheschooldistrictandsaysshewantstoattendStudentJ’s6thgradebasketballgame.MotherJandFatherJwereinvolvedinacontentiouscustodybattle,andthebuildingprincipalknowsthatMotherJdoesnothaveprimarycustody/careofStudentJ.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
STUDENTRECORDS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.ParentalRights! LegalCustody-anawardoftherightsoflegal
custodyofaminorchildtoaparentunderwhichaparenthaslegalcustodialrightsandresponsibilitiestowardthechild.Rightsandresponsibilitiesoflegalcustodyincludebutarenotlimitedtodecisionmakingaffectingthechild'slegalstatus,medicalcare,education,extracurricularactivities,andreligiousinstruction.IowaCode§598.1(5).
! ParentalRights–existforeachlegalparentunlessterminatedviacourtproceedings(byotherparentorbyDHS)
STUDENTRECORDS Established 1926
¡ CustodialParentvs.Non-CustodialParent! Iowacustodylawprovidingparentsrightstoaccess
educationalrecordsvs.! FamilyEducationalRightsandPrivacyAct(FERPA)
providingparentsrightstoaccesseducationalrecords
! Otherindividuals?¡ Righttoreceivevs.Righttoaccess¡ ProtectiveOrder(orothercourtdocument
limitingrighttoreceive/accessstudentrecords)inplace
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example11:MotherKhassolelegalcustodyofStudentKaccordingtocourtdocumentstheschooldistricthasinitspossession.FatherKrequestsacopyofStudentK’sstudentrecords.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?! Whatifthereisaprovisioninthecourtdocuments
statingthatFatherKhasnorighttoaccessStudentK’sstudentrecords?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example12:FatherLrequeststhattheschooldistrictremoveMotherLfromtheschool’sofficialrecordsforStudentL.HeprovidesacourtdocumentstatingthathehassolelegalcustodyofStudentL.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?! WhatifFatherLdoesn’trequestthatMotherLbe
removedcompletely,butonlyrequeststhatMotherLnotreceiveanyofStudentL’srecordswhensherequeststhem?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example13:Step-motherM,whoismarriedtoFatherM,requestscopiesofStudentM’sstudentrecords.FatherMandMotherMhavejointlegalcustodyandsharedphysicalcare.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
RESOURCES Established 1926
¡ IowaCodecitations:https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/iowaCode
¡ IowaDepartmentofEducationresidencychart:https://www.educateiowa.gov/resources/laws-and-regulations/legal-lessons/residency-issues
¡ IowaDepartmentofEducationstudentaccess/studentrecordschart:https://www.educateiowa.gov/custody-court-orders-and-requests-records-march-2013-school-leader-update-legal-lesson
