When deciding child custody matters, Texas courts use a standard possession order (SPO), which outlines basic parenting and visitation schedules and parenting rules. Parents can also use this to create their own schedules.
However, the standard SPO merely serves as a guideline. If you and your co-parent are planning to develop a parenting time plan for your child, it is usually more effective to pursue a comprehensive one.
Understanding your child’s needs
Before anything else, it is crucial to identify and understand what your child needs. Each child’s needs vary depending on the unique circumstances surrounding their lives, family dynamics and environment, among other considerations.
Surely, your child will need more than a basic parenting and visitation schedule for their growth and development. Does your child have extracurricular activities? Who will shoulder them and who will be responsible for transporting them to and from those activities? Do you practice a different religion from your co-parent? Which one will your child follow?
These are some of the questions you have to discuss with your co-parent to develop a plan suitable to address your child’s needs.
Addressing your child’s needs through a comprehensive plan
Once you have identified what your child needs, you can set up a parenting plan that addresses anything and everything that apply to your situation. This includes addressing living arrangements, visitation time, health care, education, financial support, holiday and vacation schedules, future modifications and other special considerations unique to your child or your family circumstances.
Focusing on what’s best for your child
Developing a comprehensive parenting plan takes time and may seem overly complicated. However, this is all part of ensuring that your child receives the best care and will have the support they need all laid down in a well-drafted, easy-to-follow parenting plan.
