When a Texas married couple with children decides to divorce, they must resolve numerous issues regarding child-related topics. Where will the children live? Who will have the authority to make decisions on their behalf? Will either parent be paying child support? Former talk show host Bethenny Frankel understands how stressful child custody litigation can be when parents disagree, as she only recently settled her case after a stressful court battle.
Frankel, age 43, and her ex, Jason Hoppy, have a 4-year-old daughter. As a distressed mother, Frankel told the court that the living situation she had been sharing with Hoppy was brutal and excruciating. She said that, any time she tried to share some time alone with her child, Hoppy would stare her down with a menacing grimace and would refuse to give them privacy. Frankel has since changed her living arrangements so that she now rents a residence where she can have uninterrupted privacy with her daughter.
While things are said to have gotten nasty and intense in court, Frankel and Hoppy have finally come to an agreement. They have agreed to share parental responsibilities to raise their daughter. Frankel says she never wanted the case to go to court but did what she felt was best for her daughter and is now glad that an agreement has been reached. Hoppy’s attorney said his client is satisfied that he has been formally granted a co-parent status by the court.
Once a Texas family court judge issues a child custody decree, both parents are obligated to adhere to its terms. If a parent disregards an existing court order, a judge may rule that he or she is in contempt of court. In all custody cases, the court has children’s best interests in mind and can intervene as necessary to address any legal problems that arise between co-parents.
