One of the biggest goals during divorce is to protect your parental rights, thus allowing you to stay in your children’s lives. To that end, divorcing parents often want and need information about their legal rights as a parent both during and after their divorce. Knowledge regarding parental rights can help parents formulate strategic and realistic goals prior to the dissolution of marriage. This knowledge can also help parents determine whether their rights are infringed upon after a divorce and decide if further legal action is necessary.
In Texas, parental rights that are often relevant in family law matters include the right to:
- Receive information from the other parent concerning the health, education and welfare of the child, and to confer with the other parent regarding these matters
- Access children’s medical, dental, psychological and educational records, and consult with the child’s health care providers and school officials
- Attend school activities
- Be designated on the child’s records as a person to be notified in case of an emergency
- Consent to health care providers during an emergency involving the child
- Manage the child’s estate (if an estate exists)
In addition to these rights, parents also have legally mandated duties regarding their children in family law matters, including the duty to timely inform the other parent of significant information concerning the health, education and welfare of the child.
Do not face family law issues without full knowledge of your parental rights and duties and the parental rights and duties of your children’s other parent.
