• Home
  • Firm Overview
    ▼
    • My Practice
    • Professional History
    • Memberships, Activities, Recognition
  • Practice Areas
    ▼
    • Divorce
    • Collaborative Divorce
    • Mediation
    • Parenting Rights
    • Probate, Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning
  • FAQs
    ▼
    • Just Been Served Papers? Now What?
    • Child Support FAQs
    • How Long Does It Take To Get A Divorce?
    • Is There Such a Thing as Legal Separation?
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Paula Lock Smyth

Dallas Family Law & Divorce Attorney

  • Home
  • Firm Overview
    • My Practice
    • Professional History
    • Memberships, Activities, Recognition
  • Practice Areas
    • Divorce
    • Collaborative Divorce
    • Mediation
    • Parenting Rights
    • Probate, Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning
  • FAQs
    • Just Been Served Papers? Now What?
    • Child Support FAQs
    • How Long Does It Take To Get A Divorce?
    • Is There Such a Thing as Legal Separation?
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Blog / Child Custody / Keeping parenting plans about the child’s needs

Keeping parenting plans about the child’s needs

January 9, 2015 By legal staff - W.C.

Divorce is often a stressful, emotional and unexpected event, but parents in Texas and elsewhere need to be aware how the process impacts their children. While it is clear that the divorce process will significantly change the lives of both parents, the decisions they make during dissolution shape the upbringing a child will be faced with. More importantly, a parenting plan should be about the needs of the child and not those of the parents.

It is too often the case that divorcing parents will use a child custody agreement as payback to their former spouse or a way to get favoritism of a child or children. Using a parenting plan to fulfill the needs of a spiteful plot will not only create more disputes and hostility among the ex-spouses but could significantly impact the child both mentally and emotionally.

While it is clear that all divorces and parenting situations are not the same, parenting time should be about the child and what works best for the child. Although it is important to consider the work schedules and other commitments each parent might have, a child should not work around the schedule of a parent but rather parents should work together to create a custody arrangement that will focus on the best interests of the child.

Despite the methods to approach custody plans positively and rationally, custody disputes do occur. In these matters, it is best to obtain insight and advice about how to best approach the situation. This will not only help them work through the divorce issues but will keep the focus on the needs and interests of the child or children involved.

Source: Huffington Post, “Parenting Is Not About Me,” Lauren Stevens, Jan. 6, 2015

Filed Under: Child Custody, Divorce Tagged With: best interests of the child, Children, Parenting Plan

Paula Lock Smyth Law Offices

2911 Turtle Creek Blvd. Ste. 300
Dallas, Texas 75219

Phone: 214-420-1800
Fax: 214-420-1801

Find what you need…

Additional Videos

VIDEO Title 1 Placeholder Text
VIDEO Title 1 Placeholder Text
VIDEO Title 1 Placeholder Text
VIDEO Title 1 Placeholder Text
VIDEO Title 1 Placeholder Text
VIDEO Title 1 Placeholder Text

Contact Us

From the Blog

Get help asserting father’s rights in Texas

There is a presumption that a child born to a married couple in Texas must be the father’s … [Read More...]

Paula Lock Smyth Law Offices

2911 Turtle Creek Blvd. Ste. 300
Dallas, Texas 75219

Phone: 214-420-1800
Fax: 214-420-1801

Disclaimer
The contents of this website does not imply legal advise or counsel and does not establish an attorney/client relationship. Please contact us for information on our policies regarding any relationship with clients, potential clients, or non-clients of our firm.

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 · by Paula Lock Smyth Law Offices. All rights reserved.

· · ·

Website Design by The Crouch Group

Log in