Texas is a community property state, meaning that nearly all property acquired during marriage is split equally if a couple gets a divorce. Though there is no similar hard-and-fast rule when it comes to child custody, many parents nowadays decide that they want to share equal custody over their children. While it is generally good for children to split their time between parents 50-50, there are some shared custody schedules that work better than others.
Some parents may find it easiest to split custody by switching off every other week. However, this is probably not in the best interests of the children. In younger children in particular, going a full week without seeing one of their parents can cause separation anxiety. It is generally a better idea for children to go no longer than four days without seeing one of their parents. For this reason, a 3-4-4-3 schedule is considered to be a good option for parents sharing custody 50-50.
As the name implies, a 3-4-4-3 schedule gives one parent custody for three days and the other for four, and then they switch. A similar option to this is the 2-2-3 schedule, but this schedule would require children to go between parents more often during the school week, which may be difficult for some parents to manage.
Not all parents need to adhere to a 50-50 schedule, but it is a good idea for both parents to be actively involved in their children’s lives. In order to effectively co-parent, it can help for parents to develop a detailed custody plan at the outset. A good custody plan will account for things like sickness and other emergencies. A Texas-licensed family law attorney may help individuals develop a custody plan that works for everyone.