To keep out of the courts, you must work out child custody issues if you are divorcing or separating and have children. As long as both parents act in the best interests of their children, it is possible to set up an amicable co-parenting plan when you have shared custody. While establishing a childcare plan with your ex-spouse can be difficult at the start, it is possible to make a plan work in the long term.
Learn below how to set up an agreeable co-parenting plan with your ex-partner so both parties have parental rights Please contact the child custody lawyers in Dallas at Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson if you have child custody questions.
Parental Rights in Texas
Before setting up a co-parenting plan, it is essential to understand your parental rights in Texas. Some, but not all, of the rights to which you are entitled as a parent are:
- The right to access to dental, medical, educational, and psychological records of your child;
- The right to consult with a doctor, psychologist, or dentist of your child;
- The right to go to your child’s school activities;
- The right to speak to the other parent before making decisions about the child’s health, education, and welfare;
- The right to be an emergency contact for your child; and
- The right to be part of decisions about your child’s education
Remember the following tips to create a co-parenting plan with your ex-partner:
Work With Your Ex
Squabbling over child custody issues is not merely stressful, it is expensive. Divorces or “messy” custody cases can cost $100,000 or more, especially when few or no issues are agreed upon. The cost on the children who are partes of these suits can also suffer a high emotional cost. The children who endure a messy divorce or separation usually have higher incidents of depression, anxiety, and self-esteem problems. Therefore, if possible, it pays off for all parties to reach a fair co-parenting agreement without the courts.
Write A Detailed Co-Parenting Plan
Sit down with your ex-partner and establish the rules of your co-parenting plan. If the divorce was contentious or additionally emotional for some reasons, you would often need a more detailed plan that addresses those issues.
Some issues to address in your co-parenting plan are:
- How will you handle the child’s birthdays and holidays?
- Where and when will you (or your ex-spouse) pick up your child?
- How long should you wait before you introduce the children to a new partner?
- Can you post images of the child on social media? Reviewing the co-parenting plan every year or so to make sure it still reflects the child’s age.
“Fair” May Not Be Equal
Many parents might think that shared custody means exactly 50% access to the child. However, that is not always true. What works best for the child may be different than a 50/50 schedule, and sometimes a traditional equal-time schedule can be more difficult on the child. For instance, if the mother travels often for work, it may be logical for the children to be with their father more.
Your Ex’s House Will Not Always Follow Your House Rules
When your son is at home, you may have rules for the TV to be turned off at 9 PM and limits on ”screen time.” However, your ex-spouse may have different rules when she has possession. It is unreasonable to expect your ex to follow all of your household rules, but having an agreed parenting plan can help to keep your relationship with your ex-partner amicable and have consistent rules across both households.
Contact Child Custody Lawyers in Dallas Today
Child custody can be one of the most challenging aspects of family law. Parents often want custody of their children, and some will go to great lengths to get it.
If you are divorcing, our child custody lawyers in Dallas can assist you with joint custody, primary custody, contested custody, and what is in your child’s best interests.
The attorneys at Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson serve the communities of Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, and San Antonio. Please contact our Dallas child custody lawyers at (214) 273-2400.