In any legal matter that affects your child—whether it’s a divorce, a paternity proceeding or the modification of an existing court order—your child has the right to be a child, free from the fighting that can overwhelm adults’ lives.
Texas has created a “Bill of Rights” for children, helping them live their lives as kids without getting caught up in adults’ legal affairs. They encourage parents to share the Bill of Rights with all the adults in their child’s life, including babysitters, grandparents and stepparents. All adults in the child’s life are expected to conduct themselves accordingly.
What Is the Children’s Bill of Rights?
The Children’s Bill of Rights is a list of 31 bullet points. Each one outlines behavior that’s expected of the adults in a child’s life. Essentially, it’s a list of “do’s and don’ts.” It can really help things run smoothly in child custody matters, and following the Bill of Rights can help your kids stay happier throughout the divorce process.
What Are My Child’s Rights?
The Children’s Bill of Rights lists out many different rights that your child has, generally including things like:
- Parties involved in the child’s life shouldn’t badmouth each other or say foul or abusive things in front of the child.
- Parties shouldn’t let children overhear detailed legal arguments or negotiations.
- Parties should let the child use the telephone to talk with the other parent.
- Parties shouldn’t attempt to influence the child to like one parent over the other.
- Parties should let the child hang pictures of the other parent or other family members in the child’s room.
- Parties should not trivialize or deny the existence of the other parent to the child.
- Parties should acknowledge that the child has two homes.
- Parties shouldn’t communicate moral judgments about a parent’s lifestyle choices to the child.
Contact Us to Protect Your Child’s Rights
When we represent parents in divorces, we work hard to help minimize the impact of the legal matter and to resolve things as quickly and effectively as possible. That way, parents can move forward and successfully co-parent the people they love most in the world: their children.
If you have concerns about how a divorce may affect your child, talking with an attorney is the best way to get answers and protect their rights. For a confidential consultation, call our Ft. Worth law office at 817-755-1852.
