How Do Temporary Orders Protect Children During A Divorce?

 

Temporary orders can keep children safe by creating consistency, setting boundaries and providing support.

Not all Texas divorce proceedings are simple because some couples may have big assets or children that make the split harder to finalize. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, there were 76,423 divorces reported over the course of a single year. In the same year, 59,135 children were affected by these marital separations. Whenever children are a component of a marital separation, the parents may have to take different tactics than a couple who does not have any kids. Temporary orders can be used to protect children physically and emotionally.

Provide Consistency

The shift a divorce causes in family life can be traumatic for some children. Some orders may dictate who has custody of a child before the final agreement is made, which can help create consistency for the day-to-day life of the child and make all of the proceedings less traumatizing. Finalizing a custody agreement can be a long and drawn out process. Hopping between parents in an unscheduled manner can create confusion and make the divorce proceedings even harder for children to handle. Even though the temporary solution may change once the custody plan is finalized, it creates consistency during the interim.

Define Restrictions

In some situations, parent-child relationships have to be restricted during divorce proceedings. One parent may want to take a child to a different state, but this is not always possible. Temporary orders can set specific limitations, including the following:

• Limit parental visitation time.
• Determine the child’s schedule.
• Set geographic boundaries.
• Dictate proper parent-child activities.

Some of the restrictions defined in the temporary order may be changed by a permanent child custody agreement. Restrictions may be necessary when one parent poses a threat to the children, but they can even be used during a fairly straightforward case to ensure the children are kept safe.

Ensure Support

Finally, temporary orders can protect children by making sure they are properly supported during the legal proceedings of a separation. The parents may not be able to agree on who pays for what on their own, so the order may spell out how the expenses are split between the mother and father. In some cases, one parent may be required to pay for the attorney fees of the other person to ensure the children can be properly financially supported.

When kids are a part of a divorce in Texas, temporary considerations may have to be made to ensure the children are kept safe. Even when a couple does not require temporary orders, it can be beneficial to work with an attorney who is familiar with divorce proceedings and family law cases.