When married parents divorce or unmarried couples with children break up, they often turn to the Texas family courts to set up a custody order and parenting plan. Unfortunately, parenting plans can sometimes benefit one parent more than the other.
In cases where mental health issues, addiction, a history of neglect or other problems affected the custody order, one parent may have a lot more time with the children than the other. If you have taken steps to better yourself or address those issues, you may be in a position to ask for a modification that increases your access to the children.
Self-improvement may constitute a material change in circumstances
The judge presiding over your divorce or custody case had to consider everything from testimony by therapists and teachers to medical records and police reports when deciding how to split custody. Although kids generally do better after a divorce when their parents share custody, judges may limit the access of one parent dealing with personal problems or instability.
If you can show that you have been going to counseling, completed rehab, obtained a safe place to live or otherwise addressed the issues that affected your custody rights, a custody modification could increase how much time you have with your children.
If you are now in a position to more effectively parent, the court may change the existing custody order and increase your parenting time. Building a case for a modification can help a parent play a more active role in the lives of their children, which will benefit the children and the parents in the long run.
