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Can your professional success impact custody in a Texas divorce?

People spend years or even decades establishing themselves in a profession. Unfortunately, success at work does not always translate to success in interpersonal relationships. Many people who are driven to great heights at work actually struggle to maintain healthy relationships at home.

All of the time spent focusing on a career can leave your spouse or even your children feeling like you don’t have time for them. Some dedicated professionals may be anxious about divorce for a number of reasons. A common concern is whether the devotion to their jobs will have an impact on the outcome of custody proceedings.

The courts will look at existing relationships and household stability

Each family is unique, so there is not a set answer available regarding whether your professional pursuits will impact the custody outcome in your divorce. However, if you understand how the Texas family courts determine custody, that may help you better predict the likely outcome in your case. Every custody decision should focus on the best interests of the children involved.

In most cases, the best interest of children include ongoing and positive relationships with both parents. However, there are many other factors that can influence how the courts eventually rule in custody proceedings. One will be the quality of the existing relationship between the parents and the children. If you work so much that you rarely care for them, your spouse may have a better chance of securing primary custody.

Similarly, if you routinely find yourself traveling out of state or out of the country for work, that could impact how the courts establish custody. A parent who cannot reliably be available for daily obligations required by the children may find themselves more likely to have weekend visitation than fully shared custody. You may have to create a plan to adjust your work schedule to be more available to the children if you want a 50/50 shared custody outcome.

Focusing on your job does not mean you can’t be a good parent

There is more to being the best parent you can be than simply spending as much time as possible with the children. Parenting time is a critical aspect of fulfilling your parental responsibilities, but it is far from the only one.

Making enough money to support yourself and your family is also critical. Health care has never been more expensive, and neither has college. Seeking professional success helps ensure that you provide your children with the necessities of life and give them a better chance at success themselves in the future.

If you are a dedicated professional facing divorce, that doesn’t mean you have to choose between your career and your children. You can still seek custody while working a demanding job. Developing the right legal strategy and finding a way to balance the needs of your career with the needs of your children after a divorce will help you plan for a fulfilling future.

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