As many divorced Texas parents who have school-age children are aware, requirements of shared parenting duties differ during the school year and its holidays. Couples who have ended their Texas marriage are advised to evaluate the viability of their custody and visitation agreements and continue to keep track of how well their arrangements meet the needs of their children throughout the school year.

Generally there is an important litmus test revolving around communication between ex-spouses, as they still need to communicate effectively with each other to raise their children. Due to the need to maintain multiple schedules, Texas parents find it beneficial to use tools like text messages or specialized divorce applications to unify their activity plans for the school year. Some parents keep notebooks that they can share with each other to track of their children’s development and schedule.

Of course, visitation plans should both be realistic enough to be sustainable by both parents and reflective of the needs of the individual children in question. Texas parents are warned against letting their emotional baggage concerning their separation influence them during custody proceedings and to submit all plans to the court system regardless whether both parties are in agreement.

Parenting rights in Texas need to incorporate both physical and legal custody. Additionally, when determining where children will reside parents need to decide who will make important decisions. While some Texas parents come to agreements concerning these matters on their own, parenting plans are not enforceable unless they become part of the divorce order. Those who want to raise their children in split households may find it advisable to have their respective attorneys review their agreement before submitting it for court approval.