Legal Custody

[Geepers]

Soc...here's the highlights.   Husband just got custody of his 3 kids.  Got 100% physical, 50% legal.  Ex is having major issues (LOL) with the outcome.  One daughter got in trouble in school for sharing homework answers a couple of weeks ago.  She informed her mother of this during visitation.  For background - one reason Mom lost custody was due to inappropriate discipline; daughter in question suffered most of the discipline and verbal abuse, but is not a disciplinary problem at all.  

1)  Mom sent email asking if daughter was disciplined.  Husband shared what the teacher did (took 5 points off homework score).  Now she wants to know what punishment father gave.  Based on 50-50 legal, are we required to tell her?

Thanks!

Geepers

[Peanutsdad]

I would simply return an email stating the matter has been resolved appropriately.

[socrateaser]

>1)  Mom sent email asking if daughter was disciplined.
>Husband shared what the teacher did (took 5 points off
>homework score).  Now she wants to know what punishment father
>gave.  Based on 50-50 legal, are we required to tell her?

Legal custody grants the right to make decisions about the non-day-to-day health, education and welfare of the minor child(ren). There is no requirement implied that you must tell th other parent what decisions you make, unless the order specifically states that "the parties shally jointly and equally cooperate in making major decisions regarding the child(ren)'s health, education and welfare." I don't know what you mean when you say "50% legal," because the phrase has no well established legal meaning.

However, your facts suggest that the child was caught aiding another student in cheating. If the discipline is short term -- a few days, one-time action, then the custodial parent has sole authority to administer it, and no obligation to explain the action to the non-custodial parent.

If the discipline involves an extreme remedy, such as the child's relocation to another school, then both parents should be involved.