Reaching a Joint Child Custody Resolution in Texas

 Posted on July 14, 2021 in Child Custody

In Texas, child custody cases run the gamut from hotly contested legal disputes to amicable, mutual agreements, and everything in between. As a parent, you should know that any child custody matter comes with its own set of challenges. While a joint custody agreement may not be as emotionally draining and stressful as a contested custody trial, you can still benefit from the representation of an experienced family law attorney who can help you protect your children’s interests.

Establishing a Joint Managing Conservatorship

Under Texas law, there are several possible custody arrangements between parents who are unmarried or getting divorced. In some cases, one parent may be granted sole custody and visitation rights. In others, one parent may have primary decision-making authority regarding the child, while the other parent has scheduled visitation. However, the most cooperative custody arrangement is known as a joint managing conservatorship.

In a joint managing conservatorship, both parents have certain rights and responsibilities with respect to their children. These include the right to contribute to important decisions regarding the children’s education, health, well-being, and assets, as well as the right to access information related to these matters. Parents in a joint managing conservatorship also have the responsibility to keep each other reasonably informed of important information regarding the children, and to provide for the children’s care needs while the children are in their possession.

Creating a Parenting Plan

One of the greatest challenges for parents pursuing a joint managing conservatorship is to create a parenting plan that serves the children’s best interests. A parenting plan clarifies each parent’s responsibilities, as well as a variety of other important details regarding the custody arrangement, including:

• The designation of the children’s primary residence and the geographic area where their residence must remain
• A schedule of possession indicating when the children will stay with each parent, including for typical weekdays and weekends as well as holidays and special occasions
• An explanation of each parent’s rights and responsibilities, as well as how the parents will work together to share these responsibilities
• Possible provisions for resolution methods for disputes regarding custody enforcement or modifications

If you and your children’s other parent can demonstrate that your agreed parenting plan is in your children’s best interests, the judge will likely approve it, making it a legally binding order.

Contact an Austin, TX Family Lawyer

At Powers and Kerr, PLLC, we can help you understand the requirements for a joint managing conservatorship and review your parenting plan to help you ensure that it protects your children’s interests and your own. Call our Texas complex custody attorneys today at 512-610-6199 to get the representation you need.

Source:

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/FA/htm/FA.153.htm