my ex want to change only the school where my daughter goes to school

My ex and I split up about 3 years ago. At that time we both agreed on a parenting schedule with the best interest of the kids at mind. Nothig on paper only a verbal arrangement that she will agree to in person. I also have a son that lives with me and another daughter. The arrangement was supposed to be 50/50 but I was caring for my daughter roughly 8 out of 14 days. She was the one who moved out. She moved about 10 mins away. This did not change our present arrangement and this continued for about 2 years. She recently got married and moved out of state about 45 min. away. Our daughter remained in her current school this whole time. At this school she loves it and has a lot of friends and most importantly she is doing very well in all her classes. Her mother called me to ask if she can go to school in her state. Which I denied her, simply because there is no reason for our child to be uprooted from one school to another. She than told me that if I don't allow her she will take me to court for custody, "no judge will keep a child away from me" she claimed. So now we are in court. Our parenting time has been better on her behalf. She is caring for her 50% of the time and than me 50% of the time. Her residence is with me and she has my whole entire family close by to support my daughter. Her mother has no family on her side.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.........

[Happy2girls]

So sorry you are going through this, what a tough situation.  I admire your interest in doing what's best for the children.  The trouble with verbal agreements is that even if you both have the best intentions life circumstances change.  I wish I could offer you some professional advice or even personal experience but I have neither to offer.  If I were you the first thing I would do is get a good lawyer.  Also, there are many good sites you can google concerning father's rights (I have a friend who is in a similar situation as you described and I did some research for him).  When you speak to the lawyer ask him for ideas as far as getting your ducks in a row (ex: speaking with a psycologist about the impact a change of such magnitude will have on your daughter, maybe you can get character references for yourself as well as letters from your daughter's teachers attesting to how well she is thriving in her current environment.  Above all continue to keep your daughter's best interest at the forefront and resist the urge to be negative about her Mom.  I wish I had more to offer you but I wish you the best and I hope you keep us posted.  By the way, how old is your daughter?  

[joseph2541]

Thank you for your comment.  My daughter is 8.

[savik]

In your divorce papers, does it mention that if one of you moves out of the state then a notice is to be served? If so, she may be in violation of that.  
While I admire your efforts, you may not have primary custody  even if the arrangement is 50/50.  Whatever the arrangement is in the divorce papers is what the judge will look at first. You will have to amend the agreement--so court is the place to be. I think your daughter would be fine attending either school or both--sometimes school systems allow students to attend half a year if they are going overseas or have a living arrangement such as yours. You will just have to transfer her each time she moves.
If you do the 50/50 agreement in court, then both of you will have the necessary papers to enroll her in both of your school systems.