In an ideal world, every child would get to experience the joy of Christmas morning with both of his or her parents, but sadly, 'ideal' is not always what children get. According to the American Psychological Association, 90% of people marry before the age of 50, but 40 to 50% of those unions (at least, those that occur in the U.S.) end in divorce. As of November 17, 2016, 69% of children (those 18 or younger) lived with two parents; however, that percentage sharply decreased since 1960, when the percentage hovered at 88%. It is becoming the norm for children to grow up in a split household, but just because it is the norm, does that mean it is any easier? At Clark Law Groups, we know that it is not-especially during the holidays.

The Challenges Posed by the Holidays, and How You Can Overcome Them

Divorce forces couples to think about things they never would have given a second thought to before, one of which is, how do we split up the holidays? Who gets the child on Christmas Eve, and who gets to wake up with them on Christmas morning? Should they split the day, 50/50, or do every other year? Which parent gets to uphold which family traditions? How do the parents make sure that the child does not miss out on family time with either set of grandparents and cousins, aunts and uncles?

Before you and your spouse got a divorce, you loved taking last minute vacations to the Gulf Coast, or going on spontaneous road trips to the Grand Canyon, and even though you and her are now divorced, your love for spontaneity has not changed. You are tempted to pick up and go-with your child, of course-on your next adventure, but then you wonder: Do you need permission from your child's other parent first? The answer is yes. This is especially true if you plan on crossing state or international borders, as you may need several forms of identification-including proof of mailing address-to get back home.

Taking a trip with a child almost always involves extensive planning, but if you are a divorced parent, 'almost' becomes 'always.' However, this is for both yours and your child's safety. These rules were put in place to protect children from kidnapping, and to prevent you from being charged with kidnapping. For these reasons, consider these common issues parents face when planning travel with kids post divorce.

Parental Interference

When it comes to divorce, custody-or conservatorship, as it is referred to as in Texas-is a primary concern for couples with children. Many parents feel that they are entitled to sole conservatorship. However, just because a parent feels that he or she is entitled to full custody does not mean that the parent actually is. The state of Texas, and most states throughout the union, for that matter, believe that joint parenting is best for children of divorce. Joint custody allows both parents to foster a healthy relationship with the child, which is considered to be in their best interests. However, every once in a while, joint custody is not in the best interests of the child, in which case, the judge will seriously consider sole conservatorship. If you believe that you deserve sole custody of your child, work with the Dallas child custody attorneys at Clark Law Group to learn more about sole managing conservatorship and what circumstances warrant such a ruling.

Sole Managing Conservatorship Vs. Joint Managing Conservatorship

In Dallas, if a parent is granted sole managing conservatorship, it means that they are the only parent who is legally allowed to make any decisions in regards to the child, including but not limited to health care choices, schooling decisions, and determining which religion the child should practice. If a couple is granted joint managing conservatorship, it means that they must share the responsibility of making decisions regarding the child. However, joint managing conservatorship does not necessarily mean that both parties will share physical custody of the child; one parent may still receive fewer visitation rights than the other if the courts believe that to be the best thing for the child.

When a couple announces to friends and family members that they are getting a divorce, one of the first questions people usually ask is, 'Have you told the children yet?' In the early stages of the process, the answer is typically, 'No,' to which the inquirer will then reply, 'Just tell them.' While it is inevitable that the children are going to find out, the worst thing that you can do is 'just tell them.' If you and your spouse have decided to get a divorce in Dallas, there are several things to consider before making the announcement to your children. When you work with the Dallas divorce attorneys at the Clark Law Group, we will discuss those considerations with you and advise you on how and when to tell your children about your impending separation.

Things to Consider Before Telling Your Children About Your Divorce

While divorce is hard on everyone, children are especially vulnerable during the process. Because of this, you should approach the subject with great care and tact. At the Law Offices of Stephen Clark, we suggest keeping the following considerations in mind when deciding when and how to tell your children: