Many children get their first vaccinations shortly after birth. They will then get more in the months and even years to come. Vaccines are one of the major reasons that infant mortality rates have plummeted in the modern world, helping to eradicate diseases like polio and smallpox.
However, there are parents who are opposed to getting their children vaccinated. When couples are married, they will have to discuss what to do and make this decision on their own. But what if they get divorced? That’s when things can become complicated.
The division of legal custody
First of all, couples in this position need to understand how legal custody has been divided in their case. This is not the same as physical custody, which is where your child lives. Legal custody gives someone the power to make decisions for the child, such as medical decisions about vaccinations.
Often, legal custody is divided between both parents. Legal custody does not have to be split up the same way as physical custody. The child could live only with one parent, while both parents have legal custody. This means that they have to work together to find these solutions and the court expects them to make an effort to do so.
Of course, there may be a situation in which they cannot find a solution and they fundamentally disagree. In this case, it’s important that neither parent violates the other parent’s rights by taking any sort of action against their will. Instead, they may need to go to court and allow a judge to make the decision.
This can create quite a complicated situation, which is why it’s so important to know exactly what legal options you have.
