Whether you are going through a divorce or a separation with your partner in Texas and you have minor children from the relationship, you will need to understand how child custody works. In most child custody cases in Texas, it is better for the parents and all parties involved in the case to reach an agreement about how the parents will share custody of their children. Why is it better for the parents to reach an agreement themselves?
There are numerous benefits to an agreed parenting plan under the Texas Family Code, and our firm can help you to understand the advantages. As you learn more about the merits of reaching a child custody agreement, you should seek advice about the particular facts of your case from an experienced Dallas child custody lawyer.
Parents Have More Input Into Child Custody Arrangement
When parents develop an agreed parenting plan that is in the best interests of the child, they have significantly more input into the child custody arrangement. Through informal negotiations with assistance from their Texas child custody lawyers or through an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process like mediation, parents create an agreed parenting plan.
In creating the agreed parenting plan, they can focus on the best interests of the child while also taking into account the specific needs of their family situation to agree on an arrangement for conservatorship and possession, the terms used to describe child custody in Texas.
It is important to keep in mind, however, that parents cannot simply put together an agreed parenting plan that only focuses on their interests. To be sure, according to the Texas Family Code, “if the court finds the agreed parenting plan is not in the child’s best interest, the court may request the parties to submit a revised parenting plan.” If the parents do not ultimately submit a revised plan that is in the best interest of the child, the court can determine the child custody arrangement.
Less Time and Money to Reach an Agreement
In addition to having more input into the custody arrangement, parents can also save time and money by developing an agreed parenting plan. Since parents with an agreed parenting plan that is approved by the court will not need to present their cases before a judge, they will spend less time waiting on hearing dates and less money to litigate the custody case.
Contact Our Dallas Child Custody Lawyers Today
Determining how parents will share child custody, known as conservatorship and possession in Texas, can be a complex process. For most parents, being able to reach an agreed parenting plan that is in the best interests of their children is preferable to taking a case to court and asking a judge to determine what the final child custody arrangement will look like. The dedicated Dallas child custody attorneys at our firm can assist you no matter where you are in the process, from negotiating an agreed parenting plan to advocating for your right to conservatorship and possession before a judge.
We have years of experience advocating for parents in Texas. Out of 100,000 lawyers statewide, no other law firm has as many attorneys named to Thomson Reuters’ list of Top 100 Super Lawyers in Texas. Contact Orsinger, Nelson, Downing, and Anderson, LLP today to learn more about how we can help with your child custody case.