Shared parental rights and responsibilities are the standard outcome in most Texas divorces. Parents either negotiate arrangements directly with one another or have a family law judge determine the most reasonable way for them to share parenting time and other parental rights.
Texas state law goes into great detail explaining the rights and responsibilities of parents. Those who are subject to a custody order have certain specific obligations that they typically need to fulfill.
An obligation to respect the custody schedule
Texas custody orders include Provisions explaining how the parents should share custody on a day-to-day basis. Custody orders typically also include rules for special events like holidays and birthdays. Parents in Texas have an obligation to abide by the arrangements outlined in their custody order. In scenarios where unexpected disruptions occur, parents should communicate with one another and try to find a reasonable solution when adjusting their parenting schedule.
A requirement to share information
Texas state statutes explicitly extend the right of parents to have information about their children. There is an expectation that they should readily share information about a child’s current academic status and health challenges. The more parents keep each other up to date on their children’s needs and struggles, the easier it is for them to work cooperatively to meet the needs of their shared children.
An expectation of cooperative decision-making
Each parent typically has the authority to make emergency decisions during their parenting time. They can choose who watches their child when they leave school early but due to disciplinary issues or health challenges. They can also choose where to seek out medical care when a child has a sudden illness or injury during their parenting time.
However, parents typically have a responsibility to discuss major decisions with one another. They usually both need to be in agreement on matters related to a child’s education or healthcare. Occasionally, parents in Texas may find themselves going back to court seeking to enforce a custody order or modify it to prevent future issues with their co-parent.
Learning more about how Texas law regulates co-parenting relationships can help adults understand what is expected of them when they share custody. Parents who learn about their responsibilities are less likely to end up embroiled in messy disputes related to parenting issues.