Texas Family Code - Section 153.603. Requirement Of Final Parenting Plan

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§ 153.603. REQUIREMENT OF FINAL PARENTING PLAN.  (a) A 
final order in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship must 
incorporate a final parenting plan.  A final parenting plan must:
		(1)  establish the rights and duties of each parent 
with respect to the child, consistent with the criteria in this 
chapter;
		(2)  minimize the child's exposure to harmful parental 
conflict;            
		(3)  provide for the child's changing needs as the child 
grows and matures, in a way that minimizes the need for further 
modifications to the final parenting plan;  and
		(4)  provide for a dispute resolution process or other 
voluntary dispute resolution procedures, before court action, 
unless precluded or limited by Section 153.0071.
	(b)  In providing for a dispute resolution process, the 
parenting plan must state that:
		(1)  preference shall be given to carrying out the 
parenting plan;  and     
		(2)  the parties shall use the designated process to 
resolve disputes.      
	(c)  If the parties cannot reach agreement on a final 
parenting plan, the court, on the motion of a party or on the 
court's own motion, may order appropriate dispute resolution 
proceedings under Section 153.0071 to determine a final parenting 
plan.
	(d)  If the parties have not reached agreement on a final 
parenting plan on or before the 30th day before the date set for 
trial, each party shall file with the court and serve a proposed 
final parenting plan.  Failure by a party to comply with this 
subsection may result in the court's adoption of the proposed final 
parenting plan filed by the opposing party if the court finds that 
plan to be in the best interest of the child.
	(e)  Each party filing a proposed final parenting plan must 
attach:          
		(1)  a verified statement of income determined in 
accordance with the child support guidelines and related provisions 
prescribed by Chapter 154;  and
		(2)  a verified statement that the plan is proposed in 
good faith and is in the best interest of the child.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 482, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2005.           
	Another Subchapter J, Rights of Siblings, consisting of Secs. 
153.551 and 153.552, was added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 1191, 
§ 2.

Last modified: August 10, 2007