In the state of Texas, courts want to support the best interests of children and families in cases of divorce. When possible, judges award joint conservatorships, allowing both parents to involve themselves in their children’s lives.
If you are a parent going through a divorce in Texas, you should understand how joint conservatorship works.
Sharing custody in Texas
Texas law uses two different terms when discussing aspects of child custody. Possession or access describes where the children reside. For instance, your children can live with you primarily, and your former spouse can have visitation rights at specified times. Conservatorship refers to the legal custody of the children. If you have a joint conservatorship with your former spouse, you both have the right to parent and make decisions regarding your children. This permits you to discuss issues with your children’s teachers and medical providers. In addition, you can make important choices about your children’s education and religion.
Joint conservatorship benefits
Even if you are not the primary custodian of your children, a joint conservatorship can be beneficial. Joint custody encourages divorced parents to work together to raise their children and allows both parents to maintain family connections. There are many models for joint custody arrangements. For example, your children can stay with their noncustodial parent on weekends if you live in the same area. If your former spouse lives further away, you can split time between the summer and the school year.
In general, Texas law aims to keep parents in their children’s lives by prioritizing joint conservatorship arrangements.