Do you have to have legal custody to enroll kids in school?

Question

I live in Texas. My husbands kids live with their mama. in the divorce their mother got custody. She is letting them move in wth us. Do we have to have legal custody?

Answer 1

Well, I'm 13 and live in Virginia. Two years ago I left from living with my mother to live with my grandparents (who used to have custody of me when I was younger) and my mother wrote a note saying I could live with them and go to school there for the principle of the school to read. Well, that was not enough. They had to get some kind of legal custody of me. Even joint custody was enough (which is what we ended up getting). So, in Virginia custody is needed, and I'm pretty sure it is anywhere else in the USA. Just to be sure, I'd get it.

Hope I helped!~ =]

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Answer 2

You need to talk to a lawyer. You don't have to have custody, but you have to have some sort of official proof of guardianship, I'd imagine at the very least a certified letter. It's really best to talk to a lawyer.

Answer 3

To be sure call the school or the school district directly. But in most states all you need is a notarized statement from the custodial parent authorizing this. Also, if there was a custody agreement/child support mediated by the court, go back and get it ammended to reflect your current arrangements. You could still be held liable for child support payments if this is never changed through the court.

Answer 4

Your husband can sign any papers as their parent if he needs to sign them.  You can certainly enroll them, but if the school asks for a parent's signature, then just have hubby sign it.  You will need a birth certificate for each child, which only a birth parent or legal guardian can get.  Hubby will have to get that.