Dealing with Custody Issues the First School Year After Divorce 

 Posted on August 12, 2025 in Child Custody

Even when a divorce is amicable, the first school year that follows can be one of the most difficult transitions your children face. The classroom may offer routine, but home life may no longer feel as predictable. Custody exchanges, communication gaps, and lingering emotions between parents can create stress that trickles into your child’s academic performance, emotional health, and social life.

If you are a parent in Dane County, this is not something you want to navigate on your own, especially when your custody arrangement is new or contested. While Wisconsin courts aim to protect the child’s best interests, daily decisions about routines, school involvement, and transportation often fall into a gray area. These are the kinds of practical realities that can turn a theoretical "agreement" into a battle. If this sounds familiar to you, call our Madison, WI child custody attorney. We are here to help.

Custody Orders May Need to Be Changed After School Starts

Under Wisconsin law, physical placement refers to where the child lives, while legal custody refers to who makes major decisions, including about education. Even if your parenting plan spells out these terms, it may not be detailed enough to prevent disagreements when school begins.

Some parents find themselves constantly renegotiating issues like:

• Who picks up or drops off the child and when

• Whether the child is enrolled in after-school care or extracurriculars

• How school nights are divided between households

• What happens when one parent misses a scheduled activity

• Whether both parents receive report cards, teacher updates, and notices

If these issues are not resolved ahead of time, children may be caught in the middle, worrying about who will show up to the school play, which home their backpack was left in, or how their parents will act if they are in the same room. These are not minor concerns. Over time, unresolved tensions like these can lead to anxiety, academic setbacks, and behavioral problems.

Balancing Flexibility and Predictability in Your Custody Plan

Many parents feel compelled to be flexible during the first few months of a new custody plan, but that flexibility should not come at the expense of predictability. Children need clear routines, especially during tough transitions.

If the current plan is not working — if your child is struggling, your time is undermined, or your co-parent is ignoring educational responsibilities — you may need to consider enforcement or modification. Wisconsin law allows placement or custody changes when there has been a substantial change in circumstances and the current arrangement no longer serves the child’s best interests. A child’s declining performance, stress-related health issues, or emotional regression may all be signs that a more structured or legally enforceable schedule is needed.

Contact a Dane County, WI Child Custody Attorney

Whether your child is just entering kindergarten or navigating a tough middle school transition, the first school year after divorce can shape how they cope for years to come. Speak with a Madison, WI child custody lawyer at John T. Fields & Associates, LLC to ensure your custody arrangement is working, not just on paper, but in your child’s daily life. Call 608-729-3590 to learn how we help families protect what matters most.