Can a father go to a child's school if he has partial custody?

Answer 1

I believe the answer to this would be yes under certain circumstances: That the mother agrees, and that the courts and school recognize the parent's decisions. In the event that a Mother, who has the majority of the child's custody, works or has an appointment or emergency come up, the Father, if they have agreed to these arrangements, should have written permission to be able to attend, visit, or pick up his own child even with partial custody.

But, usually when parents divorce, and a child lives with one parent most of the time, Father's usually getting partial custody, the Schools are extremely precise and particular about who is allowed to pick up a child in the event of sickness, or transportation home, etc. They have you fill out the forms, and if the Father is not allowed or the mother says she does NOT want the Father to have any contact, then it will become a court matter where the Father would have to file a petition against this decision and prove to the courts that he should in the event of any emergency, be allowed to pick up or visit his child. If the parents are working together to create an emotionally stable and healthy (and Happy!) child without their divorce interfering with the child's mental stability, then they would work all that out during their divorce proceedings so that neighbors or stranger's or boyfriend's are not just allowed to be visiting or picking up children in such a random, and potentially dangerous way.

In the event a parent didn't show up to pick up a child at the end of school, and the school could not get in touch with the main parent, the other parent should be put down as a contact so that the school can assure the safety and well-being of the child is meant otherwise, if no one is designated, and no one can be reached, eventually, depending on the child's age, the police or Social Services would be called. Under normal conditions, a Father, with consent from the parent, should be allowed to visit or pick up his child, especially if the child becomes sick or has to leave school, so work it out before it becomes a problem.

Make sure you have it in writing. I say that, because, in my 30 yr's living in Alabama, I've discovered no one ever writes anything down. No receipts, no permission slips, no consent to seek medical help, (in the event you are baby-sitting or watching someone else's child, or even if you're divorced). So make sure it's legal, agreed upon, written down, and legally accepted by the Courts, and the school systems, and you will not have any issues. Just make sure you have a plan C in the event Dad is sick or unable to come to the school.