If you divorced your co-parent when your children were young, as they grow up, they will likely outgrow the terms of your original post-divorce custody agreement.
When you consider how much the needs of your children have changed between the toddler years and the teens, it’s no wonder custody arrangements are made to be outgrown.
Why you should petition the court for any changes
As co-parents, you may get along quite well, especially if much time has passed since your divorce. At this point, you may believe there is no need to formalize any proposed changes to your custody agreement. And while that may not cause you any problems, other parents have found themselves blindsided by contempt of court charges should their co-parenting relationships deteriorate.
Custody orders are a blueprint to follow
Once signed by a family law judge and filed with the Clerk of Court’s office, your custody order is the law. Both parents must comply with the order until and unless it is formally changed.
What that can man to a parent who deviates from the order? In some cases, an arrest on contempt of court charges is possible.
Changing the terms is not worth the risk
It’s always prudent to follow the letter of the law in matters related to the custody of children unless you have reason to believe that they would be unsafe with their other parent. In those cases, you might need to petition the family law court for an emergency change of custody order to protect your children from any potential harm.