One of the toughest and most complicated parts of going through a divorce is dealing with custody arrangements for minor children. There are several factors that go into determining these arrangements, including the financial and mental health statuses of each parent and what is best for the child.
What are some types of child custody arrangements in Texas?
Sole custody
Sole custody occurs when one parent is not fit or able to look after the children at all. Many courts try not to go this route if at all possible but will do so if it is in the best interest of the kids. The parent without custody may still be entitled to scheduled visits with the children.
Joint custody
This custody arrangement is the most common one that the court system awards and involves one parent having primary custody of the children and the other parent sharing that custody. Both parents make decisions about the lives of their children, just as they did prior to divorce.
Third-party custody
Sometimes, neither parent is fit to have custody of their children. In these cases, close relatives such as grandparents or close family friends may file for custody of the minors. As always, the court determines what is in the best interest of the minors prior to making a final decision.
For people who have children and are getting divorced, it is important that they are familiar with the various types of child custody arrangements in order to help decide what is best for their family.