Can divorce decree mandate ex taking medication?

[Anonymous]

Why not enforceable?
Someone who is refusing medication is also likely to brag or complain about it, which can be documented.

[Anonymous]

It can literally say anything but it's not enforceable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not enforceable?
Someone who is refusing medication is also likely to brag or complain about it, which can be documented.

Because it isn't mandated by law. Mandated by law is child support and custody schedule. Everything else isn't enforceable.

[Anonymous]

Your son is in ninth grade so a teen and has also lived with his father all his life. He is old enough to know his father has a mental illness that impacts his moods and behaviour. He can call you to come and get him if dad is unwell.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all of these replies. Seems like the best way forward is not to mandate medication in the divorce decree, and to work on empowering son to communicate if dad is unwell. I'll look into the NAMI family to family class too. DS is not interested in therapy and says he doesn't need it, but I'll continue to offer it and to try to connect him with others in similar situations.

[Anonymous]

No.

It was a relief when XH was on probation and the state cared enough to monitor his drug and alcohol use. However, even they couldn’t force him to take his psych meds.

[Anonymous]

I have no experience with this but could you try to drug testing included in your custody order? Maybe monthly? If he’s not taking his meds it will show up. (Or rather, the medication will not show up.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no experience with this but could you try to drug testing included in your custody order? Maybe monthly? If he’s not taking his meds it will show up. (Or rather, the medication will not show up.)

I don’t think there are drug tests that indicate whether someone is taking psych meds as prescribed.

— PP with the order that includes treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your son is in ninth grade so a teen and has also lived with his father all his life. He is old enough to know his father has a mental illness that impacts his moods and behaviour. He can call you to come and get him if dad is unwell.

But OP can get in a lot of trouble for picking up her kid during his time, unless there is something in the agreement that allows it.

[Anonymous]

Can you imagine the government requiring you put a chemical into your body at the request of a non-relative? For how long, permanently? With the consequence of what - force? - if you don’t comply? If you miss a dose, are your parental rights severed?

Some of you guys don’t even spend two minutes thinking of the implications of your requests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you imagine the government requiring you put a chemical into your body at the request of a non-relative? For how long, permanently? With the consequence of what - force? - if you don’t comply? If you miss a dose, are your parental rights severed?

Some of you guys don’t even spend two minutes thinking of the implications of your requests.

Can you imagine being forced to allow your kid to spend time with someone who has hurt them, and poses a danger to them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you imagine the government requiring you put a chemical into your body at the request of a non-relative? For how long, permanently? With the consequence of what - force? - if you don’t comply? If you miss a dose, are your parental rights severed?

Some of you guys don’t even spend two minutes thinking of the implications of your requests.

No one has mentioned ending parental rights. They have mentioned canceling visits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you imagine the government requiring you put a chemical into your body at the request of a non-relative? For how long, permanently? With the consequence of what - force? - if you don’t comply? If you miss a dose, are your parental rights severed?

Some of you guys don’t even spend two minutes thinking of the implications of your requests.

Said by someone who has never spent a day co parenting with someone severely mentally ill

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you imagine the government requiring you put a chemical into your body at the request of a non-relative? For how long, permanently? With the consequence of what - force? - if you don’t comply? If you miss a dose, are your parental rights severed?

Some of you guys don’t even spend two minutes thinking of the implications of your requests.

Said by someone who has never spent a day co parenting with someone severely mentally ill

NP. I have coparented with a bipolar ex spouse for 20 years, over which time he has been off and on meds and a variety of meds, and I would never advocate for meds to be required or part if a divorce decree.

The need for medication changes over time even in the best, most compliant of patients. There is no divorce/custody process or document that is nimble and flexible enough to deal with medications. It is not, "you're bipolar, take X mg of lithium for the rest if your life."

Yes, having a non-compliant mentally ill coparent sucks but the answer is not mandating medication.