As you may know, when a judge in a family court is making decisions about how the divide parenting time between divorcing parents, he or she is bound to consider the best interests of the child. But typically a judge is not tasked with having to make such rulings if the parents are able to create an amenable agreement between them. In such a case, the judge will likely approve the agreed upon terms.
But judges aren’t the only ones who should take a careful look at what is in a child’s best interests when determining custody terms. Parents should do this as well and they have the advantage of knowing their child’s specific needs.
One way to help a child cope with having parents who live apart is to opt for joint custody. In joint custody situations, parents typically split time with their children evenly. For example, this could mean each parent has the child on alternate weeks. Or there are other time sharing configurations that involve the child being with the each parent on specific days of the week or on certain holidays.
The aim of joint custody is to give both parents the opportunity to be part of the child’s life while minimizing interruptions in the child’s life. By focusing on your child’s needs it is likely you will be able to arrive at the best solutions possible regarding your custody agreement. And you want to make sure that these decisions are part of the agreement that you and your ex are obligated to maintain.
A Texas family law attorney can help you create the terms of your agreement and act on your behalf to make sure that your parental rights are protected and the best interests of your child are being served.