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Shared custody and vaccines: What are your options?

On Behalf of | Mar 19, 2020 | Divorce |

You and your ex-spouse have differing opinions on how to raise your child. This has always been a problem, and it’s something you wish you could address and put behind you.

One of the most recent conflicts happened when you asked your ex to take your child to an upcoming medical appointment. Your child was supposed to get a few vaccines before they start school. You scheduled the appointment during your custody time, but a last-minute problem at work made you ask the other parent to take them.

You expected everything to go well, but when your ex came to drop off your child, they were more than upset. They said they did not get the vaccines because you hadn’t talked about it and that they weren’t safe. Now what?

If you share custody, you’re going to need to agree on vaccination

With shared legal custody, it’s important that both parents participate in major decisions regarding your children’s care. Vaccination can be a hot-button topic for some people, but regardless of your personal feelings, you need to do what is best for your child. If you go to court, a judge will want to know the reason that your ex-spouse does not want to see the vaccinations take place. For example, if your child previously had a serious reaction to a vaccine, that concern may be justified. However, if the risks are less than the reward, a judge may order that the vaccines take place.

It’s best not to do anything on your own without speaking with your attorney first. You don’t want to end up doing something that a judge is not happy about. Situations like this do need to be handled with caution.