A Texas Child Custody Case Involves a Parenting Plan — A Richardson Attorney Can Help
A child custody case in Texas can be a difficult time for Richardson parents. Sometimes it can be contentious, especially when two parents both want custody and have plans for the child.
Ultimately, Texas courts will base their decisions on what is in the best interest of the child. A judge will try to determine what suits the child’s specific needs from a physical, mental and emotional standpoint.
There are some basic questions a judge will take into consideration in a Texas child custody case:
- How able is each parent to raise the child?
- How stable are the parents’ homes?
- What can be determined about the parents’ future plans for the child?
A Richardson child custody case also may include questions about the dynamic among siblings and other members of the child’s family. Those questions are often complicated to answer, and if the child is old enough, the court may take his or her own wishes into consideration.
In some cases, a judge can name one parent the sole conservator of the child. In this case, one parent takes legal custody of the child. In other cases, when both parents have the child’s interests at heart, a judge can grant joint conservatorship of the child.
In either case, it’s important for the sole conservator or the joint conservators to have a parenting plan in place for the child. The parenting plan is a way for parents in a Texas child custody case to outline what the life of the child will be like after custody is granted.
Despite the high emotions of a divorce case, it’s often necessary for parents to work together to create a plan for how they’ll both contribute to the life of the child. In some circumstances, one parent may feel that in creating a parenting plan, the other parent doesn’t have the best interests of the child at heart. It’s possible that one parent has an alternate motive for his or her demands in the parenting plan. A Richardson child custody attorney can help if that’s the case.
Parenting plans can vary from case to case, depending on the wishes of the parents, the needs and wishes of the child and the particular circumstances of each parent’s life. The dynamic between each parent and the child also should be considered.
Before you begin working on your parenting plan, there are certain documents you should collect:
- any court documents related to your divorce or child custody proceeding;
- letters and emails from court officers involving your divorce and child custody case;
- any court orders involving your divorce or child custody case;
- any documents regarding agreements between you and the other parent;
- documents regarding your religious marriage; and
- any documents from others associated with the child, like teachers and counselors.
Sometimes, those documents can be daunting to examine. A Texas child custody attorney can help you understand how they relate to the parenting plan you create with your former spouse. Creating the parenting plan can be simple if both spouses are willing to work together. Sometimes in contentious cases, a mediator is involved to help draft a plan.
Once you start working on a plan, there are several things to consider:
- Who will have custody of the child?
- How will visitation be scheduled for the other parent?
- How will both parents be involved in expenses for the child (i.e., child support)?
- What is the plan for the child’s education (i.e., college fund)?
- Who will handle health insurance for the child?
- Are there religious issues?
- How will parents divide the child’s time at holidays?
Once the parenting plan is finished, you may choose to submit it to the court for a judge’s approval. In doing so, the agreement can be enforced if either party fails to live up to their side of the arrangement. A Texas child custody attorney can help make sure the agreement is manageable for you.
A Richardson Law Firm Can Help With Your Texas Child Custody Case
Preserving your rights as a parent and ensuring that your child’s best interests are considered is crucial to your Texas child custody case. A Richardson child custody attorney at Warren and Migliaccio can work with you on your child custody case and your parenting plan. Call today at 1-888-584-9614 to find out how an attorney can help.
