Parental Decision-Making, Vaccines for Children, & Tiebreakers for School Disputes with Katharine Lum | Episode 79

Parental Decision-Making in Colorado: Vaccines, School Choice, and Constitutional RightsIn this episode of Divorce at Altitude, Colorado family law attorneys Ryan Kalamaya and Amy Goscha break down parental decision-making in Colorado divorce and custody cases especially when parents can’t agree on hot-button issues like vaccines, school choice, and major medical decisions. They’re joined by Denver divorce attorney Katharine Lum, who explains the legal standards courts use to allocate and modify decision making, and why constitutional arguments sometimes show up in parenting disputes.Katie clarifies that decision-making is not about daily parenting rules it’s about big-ticket issues like education, religion, and non-emergency medical care. The conversation walks through the best interests of the child factors, the three extra considerations specific to decision-making, and why joint decision making is the most common outcome in initial Colorado parenting plans.Guest InformationKatharine Lum is a Denver family law attorney and associate at Loeffler, Cooper & Ramp. She previously clerked for Justice Gregory Hobbs of the Colorado Supreme Court and brings deep experience in Colorado domestic relations law, including constitutional issues in parenting decision-making disputes.Episode OutlineWhat “Decision-Making” Means in Colorado Major decisions (school, religion, medical) vs. everyday parenting choices.How Colorado Courts Allocate Decision-Making Best-interest factors plus decision-making-specific considerations.Why Joint Decision-Making Is So Common Typical outcomes in initial parenting plans and when sole authority may apply.Modifying Decision-Making After Divorce Higher legal standard and the “endangerment/significant impairment” test.Understanding Endangerment in Parenting Disputes How courts evaluate physical health risk and emotional-development harm.Vaccines and Constitutional Rights: In re Marriage of Crouch Religious objections, vaccination disputes, and what the appellate court clarified.Tie-Breaking vs. Reallocating Authority Why the requested remedy changes the legal analysis and strategy.Key Takeaways for Parents Plan ahead, document conflict patterns, and choose the right forum for resolving deadlocks.What is Divorce at Altitude? Ryan Kalamaya and Amy Goscha provide tips and recommendations on issues related to divorce, separation, and co-parenting in Colorado. Ryan and Amy are the founding partners of an innovative and ambitious law firm, Kalamaya | Goscha, that pushes the boundaries to discover new frontiers in family law, personal injuries, and criminal defense in Colorado. To subscribe to Divorce at Altitude, click here and select your favorite podcast player. To subscribe to Kalamaya | Goscha's YouTube channel where many of the episodes will be posted as videos, click here.  If you have additional questions or would like to speak to one of our attorneys, give us a call at 970-429-5784 or email us at [email protected].************************************************************************DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS ON THIS PODCAST IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE. CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE OR AREA TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE ON ANY OF THESE ISSUES.