Co-parenting with your ex may have been running smoothly in the first several weeks or months after settling the divorce. However, recent developments may leave you questioning whether things can continue as they are. For instance, you may be concerned about your children’s safety or general welfare under the current state of affairs.
Fortunately, it is possible to modify court-issued custody orders if doing so is in the children’s best interests.
Modifying child custody orders in Texas
There are two main ways of changing a custody order in Texas. You can agree with your co-parent on the changes you want made and seek approval from the court. A judge will assess the changes and how they affect the children before formalizing the orders.
However, if your co-parent opposes such changes, you can directly petition the court for a modification. However, you need to provide evidence that will convince the judge that the children will be better off under a revised custody arrangement.
The court will conduct a hearing, and your co-parent will be allowed to air their concerns or reasons for objecting to the changes. Finally, the judge will determine the matter and issue their orders. The court will modify the existing orders accordingly should your petition be successful.
Child custody orders are enforceable
The newly issued orders will remain in place and are enforceable unless the court gives instructions to the contrary. Therefore, you may turn to the same courts to enforce the orders if your co-parent disregards them.
While it’s necessary to keep confrontations with your co-parent to a minimum, it is equally important to be aware of your legal options if your parental rights are at risk.