When parents in Texas divorce, one of their main concerns is usually how much time they will get to spend with their child and what level of care they will be able to exercise over their child. The following is a brief overview of child custody laws in Texas.
Joint managing conservatorship
In Texas, there is the presumption that parents should be “joint managing conservators” if it is in the best interests of the child This means that both parents have the responsibility and right to make decisions regarding the child’s care and upbringing. However, even if parents are designated as joint managing conservators, this does not always mean that they will each split their time 50-50 with their child.
The rights of joint managing conservators
If parents are designated as joint managing conservators, they each have rights with regards to this role. These include:
- The right to receive information from the child’s other parent about the child’s health, schooling and welfare;
- The right to work together with the other parent when making major life decisions about the child’s welfare, such as health care decisions or education decisions;
- The right to have access to the child’s medical records and school records;
- The right to talk to the child’s health care providers;
- The right to go to school activities and be listed as an emergency contact on the child’s records; and
- The right to consent to any emergency medical care the child may need
Joint managing conservators each individually share these rights, so it is important that they are able to communicate effectively with one another. If speaking face-to-face is not feasible, other options for communication include phone calls, text messages, email or even a notebook that is passed back and forth between parents.
Learn more about child custody in Texas
Texas has unique child custody laws and they can be challenging to understand if you are not familiar with them. This post is for educational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Those who want to learn more about child custody in Texas are invited to explore our firm’s website for further information.