Divorce can often lead to a situation where the parents of children have a difficult time communicating with each other. Many times this leads to one parent being denied access to the information provided by the children's schools.

Of course, you can always go to court and get an order from the judge that the one parent must provide the information to the other parent on a timely basis. But there is a simpler and less expensive way to handle it.

If your ex does not provide you copies of the report cards, notices from teachers and other information sent home from school, you can bypass your ex and get the information yourself. At the beginning of each school year, simply provide your child's teacher a stack of self-addressed, stamped envelopes and ask that you be provided copies of everything that is sent home with the child. I have never heard of a teacher denying this request.

This saves you the money you would spend on your expert divorce lawyer and the hassle of going to court to get your uncooperative ex to provide you the information. As a former President of the American Academy Lawyers Florida Chapter, I am constantly trying to think of ways that clients can avoid wasting money on lawyers and energy on needless bickering in the divorce process.

Bottom Line: Although you are entitled to have your ex provide you school information regarding your child, it is often easier and less expensive to deal directly with the teacher.

(copyright Stann Givens 2009)