Denton Divorce Lawyers

Sharing Child Custody

Divorce doesn't just affect the parents in a marriage. Going through a divorce can have lasting effects on children. They can bear feelings of guilt, sadness, and anger, as well as feel that they have to choose between one parent and the other, or even withdraw altogether.

Because of the upheaval that divorce can create in a child's life, Texas courts typically give parents joint custody of their children if both parents are capable of taking care of the kids. If parents can amicably devise a sharing plan for the children, the courts may allow them to develop and maintain that schedule on their own, without court supervision.

Ideas for Joint Conservatorship

Parents need to consider their children first when creating a sharing schedule. Although most parents want to split time as evenly as possible, parents should think about balancing the need for both parental figures to be present in the kids' lives as well as keeping them from feeling like they're shuttled back and forth all of the time.

Parents who choose to live in different states should make sure that their legal conservatorship agreement allows one parent to take the child out of the home state of the other parent. In some cases, the out-of-state parent may not be allowed to have periods of custody.

If the ex-spouses want to live in the same state but different cities, this will probably mean that the child will spend the school year with one parent, and most of the summer with the other. Another convenient option is to live in the same city, and even in the same school district. Thus, a child is near his or her friends and may not feel so “uprooted” when going from parent to parent. Also, as both parents live near the school, they can actually divide the weekdays, rather than just weekends and holidays.

Contact Us

Divorce can have strong repercussions on all aspects of a family. To make sure that your joint conservatorship agreement will best meet the needs of your children, you should consult with an experienced divorce attorney. Contact the Denton divorce lawyers of Alexander & Associates today at 972-420-6560 to learn more about how we can help you.