Years after COVID-19 first appeared, the debates and disagreements over vaccines seem to be persisting. You may see news stories and social media posts on this topic from across the country, but this debate might hit closer to home for you personally.
Raising young children across two households may already be a challenge, but when you and your child’s other parent fundamentally disagree on critical issues in your children’s lives – such as vaccination – conflict may escalate quickly.
If your family faces this debate, what should you know?
Regardless of where you land in this debate, navigating this dispute may not be easy for unmarried parents. There are several matters you must consider, including:
- What North Carolina says: North Carolina law does indeed list requirements for children’s vaccinations. It is possible to obtain an exemption, but without one, the law generally expects that these requirements will be met.
- What your child’s doctor says: Professional medical advice can play a critical role in this discussion as well. Speak to your child’s pediatrician and obtain their professional opinion.
- What your custody agreement says: Who has legal custody of the children? This will be an important determining factor, as parents with legal custody have the right to make critical decisions regarding their child’s life – including medical care. This can become more complicated if parents share legal custody, and disagree on this matter. Either way, it is critical to review the terms of your custody agreement and understand your parental rights.
- What family law court says: If such a disagreement develops during or after divorce, the last thing you may want is to take matters to court. Even so, it is important to understand how the family law court might approach such an issue. When it comes to matters involving children, things will always come down to one question in North Carolina family courts: what is in the best interests of the child? This means the court’s decision will factor in what is best for the child’s health and wellbeing in the long run.
When unmarried parents disagree on matters like this, there is more to evaluate than just their personal opinion. It is critical to carefully evaluate the situation from these perspectives, and consider seeking legal guidance, in order to understand how you can move forward if you face complex disputes like this.