Yes, custody agreements in North Dakota can include decision-making on education and healthcare. This is outlined in the North Dakota Century Code under section 14-09-31, which pertains to decision-making responsibility.
Decision-Making Responsibility in Custody Agreements
According to the North Dakota Century Code section 14-09-31, a parenting plan must include provisions regarding decision-making responsibility. This responsibility is divided into two categories:
Routine or Day-to-Day Decisions
This refers to the everyday decisions that need to be made in a child’s life. These can include decisions about meals, bedtime routines, and after-school activities.
Major Decisions
Major decisions include those related to a child’s education, healthcare, and spiritual development. This means that the parenting plan can specify which parent has the authority to make decisions about the child’s schooling, medical treatments, and religious upbringing.
Parental Rights and Responsibilities
In addition to decision-making responsibilities, each parent has certain rights and responsibilities as outlined in North Dakota Century Code section 14-09-32. These include the right to access and obtain copies of the child’s educational, medical, dental, religious, insurance, and other records or information. Parents also have the right to attend educational conferences concerning the child and to have reasonable access to the child by written, telephonic, and electronic means.
Modification of Custody Agreements
Custody agreements can be modified by mutual consent of the parents according to North Dakota Century Code section 14-09.3-08. If an agreement is modified before the deployment of a deploying parent, the modification must be in writing and signed by both parents and any nonparent who will exercise custodial responsibility under the modified agreement. If an agreement is modified during the deployment of a deploying parent, the modification must be agreed to in a record by both parents and any nonparent who will exercise custodial responsibility under the modified agreement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, custody agreements in North Dakota can indeed include decision-making on education and healthcare. This is in line with the state’s laws that aim to ensure the best interests of the child are met, and that both parents have the opportunity to be involved in their child’s life, even if they are not the primary caregiver.