Parents who share custody in Texas typically find ways to work together for the benefit of their shared children. They might communicate via a parenting app and establish a regular schedule of custody exchanges. When they need to make major decisions about their children, they have appropriate conversations that focus on the best interest of their children.
Many families are able to make co-parenting work by deferring to the custody order and keeping the focus on the kids. In some cases, parents may come to the conclusion that the current custody plan doesn’t meet the family’s needs. They may eventually need to go back to family court to adjust or modify their custody order.
How can parents know when a formal custody modification might be necessary?
When adjustments lead to conflict
Some families realize early in a co-parenting scenario that the current custody order isn’t quite right. The parents may need to frequently make changes to their schedule for custody exchanges, which can cause disputes between the parents. When the need to frequently negotiate adjustments to the co-parenting schedule leads to conflict, that can be destabilizing for the children and stressful for the parents. Modifying a custody order to better reflect family needs can be a smart move in that situation.
When the children are at risk
Sometimes, one parent starts demonstrating dangerous behavior in a shared custody arrangement. Perhaps they leave their children alone with a new romantic interest who engages in abusive discipline. Maybe they have developed a substance abuse disorder which impacts their ability to meet the children’s needs. A concerned parent worried about the children experiencing abuse or neglect at the other household may need to request a custody modification for the protection of their children.
When the needs of the children change
Issues ranging from puberty to sports injuries can change the type of support that children require and the connection that they have with their parents. Custody arrangements should prioritize the best interest of the children. When the needs of the children in the family change, then the custody arrangements may need to change as well. In some cases, parents can cooperate with each other to set new custody terms that work well for the whole family. Other times, one parent may need to pursue a litigated or contested custody modification because they worry about the children when they are with the other parent.
Proposing a custody modification and centering children’s needs throughout that process can help parents do right by their children under difficult circumstances. A custody order for a Texas family should be a source of support and guidance, not the reason that parents find themselves fighting with one another.