During a divorce, the primary goal and concern of Texas parents is to protect the best interests of the child above all else. They want what is best for their kids, and for many, this means creating a custody plan that is custom-tailored to the specific needs of their family. In order to develop a meaningful and beneficial plan, it will be necessary for a parent to understand child custody and how to determine what is best.
Physical and legal custody
There are two types of custody, legal and physical custody. Legal custody refers to a parent’s right to make important decisions for a child. Physical custody refers to the actual amount of time a child will spend with each parent. When creating a custody plan, there should specific terms that outline how parents will share each of these types of custody.
Joint custody is a popular type of child custody arrangement, and this means parents could share both legal and physical custody. However, each situation is different, and it is possible for one parent to maintain legal custody while sharing physical custody or vice versa. What will work best will depend on the specific details of the individual situation.
Where should a parent start?
Texas parents do not have to navigate custody matters alone. They will benefit from the assistance of an experienced attorney who can help them make smart decisions that will be sustainable for the future. An assessment of the specific case can help one understand the best and most practical way forward.