I live in TX and obviously I'm divorced...have been for a couple of years now. Ex and I have been working under a verbal agreement, that she would never keep my kids from me and I could see them whenever I want provided there were no conflicts in plans. That has been working beautifully up until recently. It's not a matter of her keeping the kids from me, it's a matter of what she thinks is required of me. She is the custodial parent FYI.

I generally see them for a few days every two weeks, almost solely on the weekend. Sometimes it ends up being consecutive weekends, and every once in awhile I may not see them for three weeks, that being my choice and/or circumstance depending on my ex's plans for them. Regardless, I see them as much as I want to and I think the amount I see them is at the very least enough for me and them to maintain a healthy father/child relationship. I generally don't take them to school or take care of them during the week. As I found out recently, this bothers her and thinks I'm not living up to my responsibilities as a father.

Ok, so now to the point. My ex's husband got a job elsewhere, and will be moving to work since it is a better opportunity for their family unit to make money. She and the kids will be staying behind. She goes to school and will need either childcare or me to take care of them when she has classes/if she has to get a job to support two househoulds etc. (Let's ignore the fact that my description of the situation they are deciding to make for themselves seems detrimental for the sake of argument...I just want to look at this from a strictly legal and non-emotional standpoint).

So, now she's saying with him gone, I have to step up my responsibilities with them. It's not that I'm not willing for them to be in my care a little more, but it sounds like she wants to force a schedule on me. Again, I don't necessarily have a problem with increased visitation, but 1) Can it be forced upon me legally? and 2) Can she force it to be by schedule that is not set by me? Like I said I think I see my children enough to maintain a healthy relationship, but that is more of the emotional side of this. I just want to know if legally, she can force me to do things like take care of them overnight and take them to school the next day, when I have work and other conflicts? I know that is a responsibility that parents take, but I was under the assumption that she is supposed to take care of that as custoidal parent. We have joint custody, but my kids primary residence is with her. I was under the understanding that if she has conflicts, it is her job to find someone to care for them in her absence. I have always said to ask me, and if I am unavailable, we would split the costs of childcare. So, in this case, can she force me to take care of them, and if she can't, would I actually owe half the childcare costs? I wouldn't mind the costs as much if childcare were required, but being forced to take care of them when she needs it would be a strain on me...I understand that's part of being a parent but I'm just focusing on what my rights are here in regards to this. She seems to want to force my children on me when she needs someone to take care of them, and I'm not always available. Since her ex is gone, she thinks she can do this to me now. I want to know if she legally can?

Anyway, and I haven't talked to her about it yet because I'm about to contact a lawyer, not just regarding this but other things as well that I won't go into here. What are my rights and options in this situation? I understand about visitation schedules and have read through the one on our divorce agreement, but those are general and we didn't hash any of that out because like I said initially, it's been a verbal agreement up until now. Does a visitation schedule require the non-custodial parent to be with the child during those times, or is it merely an option?

I would appreciate any response that just views this from a legal standpoint and not an emotional one. I have enough of her judging me and don't need anyone else to pass judgment. I'm a good father, my kids love me and I love them, and the situation we have right now is working great. I'm willing to see my kids more, as I'm not an asshole and am willing to work with her new schedule somewhat. I just want to know if she can force the times that they are in my care.

*Edit was for rewording of sentences. General content of my post was not changed.