TEXAS

None

Texas is one of only 9 states lacking a presumptive parenting time adjustment formula; instead it relies on unnecessarily costly and lengthy court deviation procedures generally inaccessible to lower income parents. The lack of a presumptive PTA as an integral component of mandated presumptive child support guidelines arguably violates federal regulatory requirements.

Texas statutes provide for a presumption of joint legal custody.

Texas statutes include a policy statement encouraging “parents to share in the rights and duties of raising their child after the parents have separated or dis- solved their marriage.” TEX. FAM. Code Ann. §153.001

Texas statutes explicitly allow a court to order joint custody (called “joint conservatorship”) in the absence of agreement between the par- ents on joint custody. TEX. FAM. Code Ann. §153.134

Texas statutes treat false allegations of abuse as a factor in custody decisions or provide for sanctions. TEX. FAM. Code Ann. §153.001

Texas has no statutory preference for, or presumption of, shared physical custody for temporary or final orders.

Texas statutes do not explicitly provide for shared parenting during temporary orders.

Texas statutes do not require courts to consider “friendly parent” factors in awarding custody.

Texas statutes explicitly deny that an award of joint legal custody (“joint man- aging conservatorship”) entails “the award of equal or nearly equal periods of physical possession of and access to the child.” TEX. FAM. Code Ann. §153.135