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Hi everyone, I’m Dr. Michael Mantell with another Family Law Matters. I’m always privileged to be joining Bonnie Rabinovitch-Mantel, the owner and managing partner of the Primus Family Law Group. Hi Bonnie.

Hi Michael, how are you doing today? Doing well. Lots of families are facing the end of summer, getting ready for back to school, you know, tension that is inevitable that comes with this, especially with families that are separated or divorced. What are the kinds of things especially that you hear from families at this time of the year? Well, you know, oftentimes during the summer parents have different schedules with their children.

You may have a more equal split during the summer because the kids are off of school and vacations are taken during the summer. And then when the kids go back to school, they may have a completely, you know, a different visitation schedule. Maybe more with one parent during the week and with the other parent on the weekends or something split like that.

And you may be hearing from your children that they like it better the summer way because it was a little more equal. So, you know, this may be a transition time to sit down with the other parent if that’s possible and see if you guys can come up with an arrangement that better suits the children’s needs. Now that they’re a little bit older, maybe in a different school, middle school to high school or something like that, you know, instead of waiting for somebody to file a motion because they want more time.

The other thing to consider is that, you know, school supplies. They’re obviously the expectation that each house will have pens, pencils, paper, the basic needs. But maybe your child needs a computer and that’s going to go back and forth.

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So that should be something that you guys split the cost of, discuss at least. And finally, you know, trying to understand your kids and what they’re going through when they go back to school. It may be difficult for them, new grade, harder school.

So just try to be cooperative with the other parents a little bit more. And the way you can do that is get involved in their schools. Join, not join the PTA, but be on the email list.

Don’t rely on the other parent to send you notices. Get to know the teachers a little bit, even if it’s by email, so that your kids feel supported by both parents in this process. That’s great advice.

And this is exactly why you are known for your focus, your clarity, your insight, and your ingenuity. And if people want to talk with you or anyone at Primus Family Law Group about back to school and getting ready and how to do it properly, how can they be in touch with you? You can always reach us for a consultation at 619-574-8000. Or you can reach us online at www.PrimusFamilyLaw.com. And that’s for a free 30-minute consultation, correct? Correct.

Good, good. Bonnie, thank you very, very much. Talk to you next week.

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Absolutely. Have a good one.