Hurst Parenting Plan Lawyer
When parents divorce or otherwise split up, deciding how you will share conservatorship of your child can be a stressful matter. Once you agree on a conservatorship arrangement or the court does it for you, the issue is not over. This is because you need to develop a highly detailed parenting plan for the court to approve.
At Hoppes Law Firm, we help clients create parenting plans that work for their specific situations, and that work to govern shared conservatorship arrangements. Do not hesitate to consult with a Tarrant County parenting plan attorney today.
Texas Law on Parenting Plans
Texas law sets out guidelines to ensure that child-related decisions are all made based on what is in the best interests of the child. The law and public policy dictate the following regarding child-related issues:
- When parents have the ability and willingness to act in their child’s best interests, they should both have frequent and continuing contact with their child.
- Children should be provided with a stable and safe environment by their parents.
- Conservatorship and related issues may not be conditioned upon child support payment.
- Both parents are encouraged to actively share the rights and duties of raising a child despite separating or getting divorced.
Courts look to see if parenting plans reflect these principles when possible.
Developing Your Parenting Plan
Parenting is highly subjective, and determining how you will share time and decision-making authority regarding your children is undoubtedly an emotional issue. However, when establishing your parenting plan, you want to focus on practical considerations - not emotions. An experienced family lawyer can provide an objective perspective and knowledge of legal requirements to help develop an effective parenting plan.
In order for a parenting plan to be approved by the court, it must address the following:
- A normal schedule for possession and access of the child for each parent.
- Schedules for dividing holidays, vacation, school breaks, and other out-of-the-ordinary circumstances outside of the normal schedule.
- Arrangements for parents to attend school meetings, extracurricular activities such as sports games, and other events.
- How parents will make both important decisions and day-to-day decisions.
- When the parents can make temporary or long-term changes to the parenting plan.
- How parents will transport their children from one house to the other.
- How parents will handle expenses for extracurricular activities, school supplies, and other costs.
- How parents should work to resolve conflicts without needing intervention from the court.
If you are having difficulty agreeing on one or more issues required in your parenting plan, our legal team can help with negotiation or represent you in mediation. We work to ensure you can design your own parenting plan whenever possible instead of turning it over to the court. If needed, we will fight to represent your interests and rights as a parent before the court, so you receive a fair parenting plan.
Consult with a Tarrant County Parenting Plan Attorney
If you need representation in a conservatorship case, you want a Hurst parenting plan lawyer from Hoppes Law Firm on your side. Call 817-283-3999 or contact us online to schedule your consultation.