As a parent, going through a divorce requires careful consideration of a number of issues that relate specifically to your children’s financial and emotional needs. From the method you and your spouse choose for getting divorced to the statutory calculation of child support, virtually all aspects of your divorce can play a role in your children’s post-divorce lives.

If you are a parent preparing to go through a divorce in Texas, here are five key facts to keep in mind:

1. You Have Options

When it comes to the process for getting divorced, you have options. Going to court is one option, but it is invariably the most expensive, and it also has perhaps the greatest potential to have an emotional influence on your children. Divorce litigation tends to be contentious (especially since going to court is a last resort for spouses who cannot resolve their differences amicably), and this can lead to difficult and conflicting feelings for children who see their parents in dispute with one another.

As a result, before resorting to the courts, it is important to pursue the other options that are available. Even parents who are in stark disagreement over the terms of their divorce can often come to terms through methods such as mediation and collaborative divorce. For more on these options, you can read: Divorce Options in Texas.

2. What You Do Now Can Influence Your Child Custody Rights

For parents contemplating divorce, preparation can be essential to securing the custody, property and financial rights you desire. With regard to custody in particular, everything from involvement in school activities to deciding whether to relocate out-of-state after your divorce can factor into the “best interest of the child” analysis.

3. You Are Entitled to the Information You Need to Calculate Child Support

Even though child support awards in Texas are determined based upon a statutory formula, arriving at an accurate calculation still requires a clear understanding of the law and access to all of your spouse’s relevant financial information. You are entitled to this information in your divorce (and your spouse is entitled to your financial records as well), but if your spouse attempts to hide income – or even fails to disclose key information in good faith – this could greatly impact your final child support award.

4. There Are Issues to Consider Beyond Custody and Child Support

While custody and child support are likely two of your greatest concerns, it is important not to ignore the other issues that are involved in your divorce. For example, you may need to negotiate a division of property that allows you to keep the family home, and you may want to negotiate an arrangement for covering your children’s college expenses – since these expenses generally are not covered by child support.

5. Divorce Decrees are Final

Finally, while it is possible to modify divorce degrees under limited circumstances, it is important to approach your divorce with the goal of securing a final resolution. Parents should think critically about all of the relevant issues, and should focus on ensuring that the outcome of their divorce will serve their and their children’s needs long-term as much as possible.

Speak with the McKinney Divorce Lawyers at Nordhaus Walpole PLLC

If you are a parent considering divorce in McKinney, Texas, one of our attorneys would be happy to sit down with you to discuss what you can expect during the process. To schedule a free and confidential consultation at our offices on S. Lake Forest Drive, call (214) 726-1450 or request an appointment online today.