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...
Child Custody
Can older kids have a say in custody decisions?
Despite being at the heart of custody battles, children often have no voice in the decision-making process. Younger children, understandably, still lack the capacity to process the situation or articulate their feelings. However, older kids or teens may be mature...
Ways parents can unintentionally hurt their child custody case
Child custody disputes can be emotionally charged and legally complex, especially in Texas. Parents often make unintentional mistakes that can adversely affect their chances of gaining custody. Understanding these pitfalls is necessary for anyone caught in a dispute....
Pros and cons of bird nesting custody arrangements
When parents divorce, one of their tasks is to determine the custody arrangement that best suits their children's needs. Bird nesting is an option that is gaining traction. In this type of arrangement, the children do not move between their parents' separate...
Factors that can affect time-sharing plans
During and following a divorce, how to share custody of your children becomes a major topic of discussion. You and your former spouse have to decide how to split time with your kids. Every family has outside influences that affect day-to-day life. When creating a...
Understanding child custody modification in Texas
Texas family court recognizes that circumstances often change following a custody order. Parents may petition for custody modification in the same court that produced the original order. Grounds for modification The parent requesting to modify the order must...
Do you have to ask your ex if you want to go on a summer trip?
A fresh start is on the horizon as you finalize your divorce. One of the things you look forward to most is creating new memories with your children, such as planning a summer getaway. However, you might find yourself questioning if you need your ex-spouse's...
Understanding child custody options in a Texas divorce
Going through a divorce is never easy, especially when there are young children in the family. Child custody is often one of the most contentious issues in a divorce. In Texas, you have several options for these arrangements, and it is essential to understand the...
Who claims the child on taxes after divorce?
Raising a child is extremely expensive. Because of that, parents often get tax benefits by claiming their child as a dependent in their taxes. However, both parties cannot claim the child as a dependent on their separate taxes after divorce. So how can divorced...
Splitting parenting time when one parent moves away
As co-parents go about their respective lives following a divorce, circumstances might necessitate a large-scale move to another state. While the custodial parent cannot simply move across borders without the official consent of their co-parent or the court, the...
