Established 1926
[email protected]:@lynchdallaslaw
(319)365-9101
CHILDCUSTODYISSUESINTHE
SCHOOLSETTING
EmilyK.EllingsonLynchDallas,P.C.
February7,2017
OVERVIEW Established 1926
¡ GettingInvolvedinCourtHearings,Trials,Etc.¡ ReviewingCourtDocuments
! LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care! Guardianship! ProtectiveOrders/NoContactOrders
¡ StudentResidency¡ AccesstoStudent¡ StudentRecords
GETTINGINVOLVEDINCOURTHEARINGS Established 1926
¡ Beingcalledtotestify/producedocuments! SubpoenatoAppearandTestify! SubpoenaDucesTecum(SubpoenatoProduce
Documents)! MotiontoQuashSubpoena
! FERPArequiresPRIORnotificationtoparentbeforeproducingrecordspursuanttosubpoena.! Canparentrequestrecordsasparentinsteadofusingsubpoena?
GETTINGINVOLVEDINCOURTHEARINGS Established 1926
¡ Testifyingathearing,trial,etc.involvingbothparents.! Questionstoaskpriortoagreeingtotestify:
! Whoiscallingschooldistrictofficialtotestify?! Isthereasubpoena?! Whatisschoolofficial’sroleinstudent’seducation?
! GeneralRule:Cantestifyaboutstudentandstudentrecords! Mayaskschooldistrictattorneyfortipsfortestifyingincourtifschoolofficialhasnevertestifiedbefore.
GETTINGINVOLVEDINCOURTHEARINGS Established 1926
¡ Testifyingathearing,trial,etc.involvingparentandanotherparty(i.e.,step-parent).! Questionstoaskpriortoagreeingtotestify:
! Whoiscallingschooldistrictofficialtotestify?! Isthereasubpoena?! Whoconsentstoschooldistrictofficialtestifying(musthaveoneparent)?
! Whatisschoolofficial’sroleinstudent’seducation?! GeneralRule:Cantestifyaboutstudentand
studentrecords,providedoneparentconsents.! Ifnoparentalconsent,thenschoolofficialshouldappear,butislimitedinwhathe/shetestifiesabout.
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ Courtdocumentsfromanotherjurisdiction
¡ Initialdivorce(dissolutionofmarriage)actionvs.modificationaction! Temporarymattersaction
¡ Marriedparentsvs.Unmarriedparents! Establishingpaternity
¡ Specificprovisionrelatedtoeducationaldecisionvs.silentoneducationaldecisions
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ Stipulationbetweenpartiesvs.DecreebyCourt
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care! LegalCustody-anawardoftherightsoflegalcustody
ofaminorchildtoaparentunderwhichaparenthaslegalcustodialrightsandresponsibilitiestowardthechild.Rightsandresponsibilitiesoflegalcustodyincludebutarenotlimitedtodecisionmakingaffectingthechild'slegalstatus,medicalcare,education,extracurricularactivities,andreligiousinstruction.IowaCode§598.1(5).
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care! Joint[Legal]Custody-anawardoflegalcustodyofa
minorchildtobothparentsjointlyunderwhichbothparentshavelegalcustodialrightsandresponsibilitiestowardthechildandunderwhichneitherparenthaslegalcustodialrightssuperiortothoseoftheotherparent.Rightsandresponsibilitiesofjointlegalcustodyincludebutarenotlimitedtoequalparticipationindecisionsaffectingthechild'slegalstatus,medicalcare,education,extracurricularactivities,andreligiousinstruction.IowaCode§598.1(3).
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care! PhysicalCare-therightandresponsibilitytomaintain
ahomefortheminorchildandprovidefortheroutinecareofthechild.IowaCode§598.1(7).
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care! JointPhysicalCare-anawardofphysicalcareofa
minorchildtobothjointlegalcustodialparentsunderwhichbothparentshaverightsandresponsibilitiestowardthechildincludingbutnotlimitedtosharedparentingtimewiththechild,maintaininghomesforthechild,providingroutinecareforthechildandunderwhichneitherparenthasphysicalcarerightssuperiortothoseoftheotherparent.IowaCode§598.1(4).! Alsoknownas“sharedcare.”
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.PhysicalCustody/Care
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ Guardianship! Guardian–a“personappointedbytheCourtto
havethecustodyofthepersonoftheward....”IowaCode§633.3(20).
! ResponsibilitiesoftheGuardian:! “providingforthecare,comfortandmaintenanceoftheward....”
! “takingreasonablecareoftheward’sclothing,furniture,vehicleandotherpersonaleffects.”IowaCode§633.635.
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ OtherRelevantCourtDocuments:! DepartmentofHumanServices(DHS)cases
! ChildinNeedofAssistance(CINA)action.! TerminationofParentalRightsaction(IowaCodeChapter232.
! ProtectiveOrders/NoContactOrders! Protectiveordersgenerallyexisttoprotectavictimofdomesticabuse.SeeIowaCodeChapter236.
! Nocontactordersexistincriminalcasestoprotectthevictimofacrimefrombeingcontactedbythecriminaldefendant.SeeIowaCodeChapter664A.
REVIEWINGCOURTDOCUMENTS Established 1926
¡ Whatareaschooldistrict’sobligationsrelatedtoCourtdocuments?! Enforcementvs.Compliance
¡ Alsoseetheupcomingtopics:! StudentResidency! AccesstoStudent! StudentRecords
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example1:ParentAtellsschooldistrictthatheisnowthecustodialparentandistheonlypersonwhoshouldhaveaccesstoStudentA’srecords.IsParentAcorrect?
¡ Example2:ParentBtellsschooldistrictthatshewasnevermarriedtoStudentB’sfather.Therefore,FathershouldhavenorighttoseeStudentBandhasnorightstoStudentB’srecords.IsParentBcorrect?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example3:PersonCcomestotheschooldistrictrequestingaccesstoStudentC’sstudentrecords.PersonCprovidescourtdocumentssayingsheisStudentC’sguardian.CantheschooldistrictprovidePersonCStudentC’sstudentrecords?! WhatifPersonCjusttoldtheschooldistrictthatshe
wasactingasguardiantoStudentCwhileStudentC’smotherwastravelingoverseasanddidnotproduceanycourtdocuments?
STUDENTRESIDENCY Established 1926
¡ ResidentStudent–achildwhoisphysicallypresentinadistrict,whoseresidencehasnotbeenestablishedinanotherdistrictbyoperationoflaw,andwho...[i]sinthedistrictforthepurposesofmakingahomeandnotsolelyforschoolpurposes.IowaCode§§282.1(2),282.6(1).
STUDENTRESIDENCY Established 1926
¡ Issue:Doesthestudent’sresidencyfollowthecourtdocuments?
¡ Issue:Whataboutresidencywithsharedphysicalcare?
¡ Issue:Whataboutcourtdocumentsspecifyingwhereastudentissupposedtoattendschool?
¡ Issue:Whatifastudent’sresidencyisdifferentthanwhatisstatedincourtdocuments?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example4:StudentDlivedwithMotherDandattendedSchoolDistrictDlastschoolyear.SchoolDistrictDlearnsthatStudentDlivedwithFatherDoverthesummer,andFatherDisenrollingStudentDinanotherschooldistrictforthisschoolyear.MotherDcomestoSchoolDistrictDandattemptstoenrollStudentDinSchoolDistrictD.WhatshouldSchoolDistrictDdo?! WhatifCourtdocumentsgiveMotherDprimary
physicalcustody/care?! WhatifCourtdocumentsgiveFatherDprimary
physicalcustody/care?
ACCESSTOSTUDENT Established 1926
¡ CustodialParentvs.Non-CustodialParent! CustodialParent–theparentwithprimaryphysical
custody/careofthechild! Non-CustodialParent–theparentwhodoesnot
haveprimaryphysicalcustody/careofthechild! SharedCare–theparentshaveequalphysical
custody/careofthechild¡ Considereachparent’svisitationtimes(incourt
documents)¡ Protectiveorderinplace
ACCESSTOSTUDENT Established 1926
¡ Situationsthatarise:! Parentshowsupatschoolwantingtoseestudent
duringtheschoolday.! Parentshowsupatschoolwantingtoremove
studentduringtheschoolday.! Parentshowsupatschoolwantingtopickup
studentaftertheendoftheschoolday.! Step-parentshowsupatschoolrequestinganyof
theabovesituations.
ACCESSTOSTUDENT Established 1926
¡ Parentparticipatingin/attendingschoolactivities! Privateactivitiesvs.publicevents(i.e.,lunchduring
theschooldayvs.choirconcert)! Issue:Whatifaprotectiveorderisinplace?
¡ Districtalwayshascontroloverwhocanhaveaccesstoschoolgrounds.
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example5:ParentEshowsupattheschoolbuildingdemandingtoseeStudentE.ThebuildingprincipalhasnevermetParentEbefore,buthehascourtdocumentsstatinghehasprimarycareofStudentE.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example6:MotherFshowsupattheschoolbuildingdemandingtotakeStudentFwithher.ThebuildingprincipalhasnevermetMotherFbefore,butshehasvalidcourtdocumentsstatingshehasprimarycareofStudentFthatwereenteredbythecourtyesterday.TheschooldistrictcontactsFatherFwhodemandsthattheschooldistrictcontactthepolicebecauseMotherFshouldnothaveaccesstoStudentF.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example7:FatherGshowsupattheschoolbuildingattheendoftheschooldaydemandingtotakeStudentGwithhim.ThebuildingprincipalhasnevermetFatherGbefore,buthehasvalidcourtdocumentsstatinghehasprimarycareofStudentG.TheschooldistrictcontactsMotherG,whodoesnotpickup.IntalkingwithStudentG,sheisnervoustogohomewithFatherGanddoesnotwanttodothis.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example8:Step-parentHshowsupattheschoolbuildingsayingsheistheretopickupStudentHforFatherH.ThebuildingprincipalknowsthatthereisacontentiouscustodybattlegoingonbetweenFatherHandMotherH.Step-parentHisnotauthorizedtopickupStudentH.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example9:ParentIcontactstheschooldistrictandsayshewantstocometoeachlunchwithStudentIonceperweekduringtheschoolday.Accordingtocourtdocuments,ParentIonlyhasvisitationeveryotherweekend.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example10:MotherJcontactstheschooldistrictandsaysshewantstoattendStudentJ’s6thgradebasketballgame.MotherJandFatherJwereinvolvedinacontentiouscustodybattle,andthebuildingprincipalknowsthatMotherJdoesnothaveprimarycustody/careofStudentJ.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
STUDENTRECORDS Established 1926
¡ LegalCustodyvs.ParentalRights! LegalCustody-anawardoftherightsoflegal
custodyofaminorchildtoaparentunderwhichaparenthaslegalcustodialrightsandresponsibilitiestowardthechild.Rightsandresponsibilitiesoflegalcustodyincludebutarenotlimitedtodecisionmakingaffectingthechild'slegalstatus,medicalcare,education,extracurricularactivities,andreligiousinstruction.IowaCode§598.1(5).
! ParentalRights–existforeachlegalparentunlessterminatedviacourtproceedings(byotherparentorbyDHS)
STUDENTRECORDS Established 1926
¡ CustodialParentvs.Non-CustodialParent! Iowacustodylawprovidingparentsrightstoaccess
educationalrecordsvs.! FamilyEducationalRightsandPrivacyAct(FERPA)
providingparentsrightstoaccesseducationalrecords
! Otherindividuals?¡ Righttoreceivevs.Righttoaccess¡ ProtectiveOrder(orothercourtdocument
limitingrighttoreceive/accessstudentrecords)inplace
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example11:MotherKhassolelegalcustodyofStudentKaccordingtocourtdocumentstheschooldistricthasinitspossession.FatherKrequestsacopyofStudentK’sstudentrecords.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?! Whatifthereisaprovisioninthecourtdocuments
statingthatFatherKhasnorighttoaccessStudentK’sstudentrecords?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example12:FatherLrequeststhattheschooldistrictremoveMotherLfromtheschool’sofficialrecordsforStudentL.HeprovidesacourtdocumentstatingthathehassolelegalcustodyofStudentL.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?! WhatifFatherLdoesn’trequestthatMotherLbe
removedcompletely,butonlyrequeststhatMotherLnotreceiveanyofStudentL’srecordswhensherequeststhem?
EXAMPLES Established 1926
¡ Example13:Step-motherM,whoismarriedtoFatherM,requestscopiesofStudentM’sstudentrecords.FatherMandMotherMhavejointlegalcustodyandsharedphysicalcare.Whatshouldtheschooldistrictdo?
RESOURCES Established 1926
¡ IowaCodecitations:https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/iowaCode
¡ IowaDepartmentofEducationresidencychart:https://www.educateiowa.gov/resources/laws-and-regulations/legal-lessons/residency-issues
¡ IowaDepartmentofEducationstudentaccess/studentrecordschart:https://www.educateiowa.gov/custody-court-orders-and-requests-records-march-2013-school-leader-update-legal-lesson