How does Texas encourage co-parenting after divorce?

Sharing parental responsibilities with your ex after a divorce isn’t easy. Even those who deeply love their children can let emotional response to the divorce and a sense of betrayal or anger toward their ex influence how they handle shared custody.

Co-parenting is a process notorious for causing unnecessary conflict and even malicious non-compliance with a written parenting plan. People may try to use the children as a weapon against each other or use the parenting plan as a way to punish their ex.

Texas lawmakers included provisions in the law that help address the common conflicts experienced by those who share custody.

The state gives each parent rights and responsibilities

Under Texas law, parents have certain obligations to their children. They need to provide practical and financial support. They also need to make decisions that are in the best interests of the children.

Some of the rules about shared parental responsibilities in Texas can help encourage a healthier co-parenting relationship. For example, the state does require that parents communicate and provide necessary information about a child’s current circumstances.

What do these rules mean for your family?

If your ex consistently withholds information about your children’s health or current school circumstances, their behavior may be a violation of your rights and an indicator that they are not acting in the best interest of your kids. Speaking of which, the best interests standard that guides most custody decisions can also be a crucial tool for motivating parents to cooperate.

If one parent intentionally tries to deprive the other of access to the children or turns the children against the other parent, the parent deprived of a relationship with the children could go to court and ask a judge to change the custody order.

If a judge believes that one parent has not acted in the best interests of the children, they may change or reduce that parent’s right to make decisions and even their amount of parenting time. Understanding Texas state law will help you not only build a better case for custody after your divorce, but how to keep the focus on your children. This is essential for those transitioning to a co-parenting relationship.