Child Custody

Southlake Child Custody Lawyers

A Team of Compassionate Family Law Attorneys Dedicated to Helping Parents Resolve Child Custody Disputes and Achieve Favorable Outcomes 

Very few divorce cases are easy to resolve, particularly contested divorce matters in which the spouses disagree on one or more essential factors related to the dissolution of the marriage. Divorce cases involving children tend to be even more challenging, not just because they can be emotionally taxing and legally complex, but also because many times these cases result in contentious legal battles. Every parent wants to do right by their children, but they may disagree that the other parent is capable of providing the same level of care, or there may be other reasons to doubt the other party’s willingness to forge a healthy continuing relationship with the parties involved. In cases involving legal disputes over child custody arrangements, visitation rights, and other relevant matters, it is critical to retain experienced family law attorneys. Selecting the right legal team to represent your interests and the interests of your children is paramount in resolving any custody battle, no matter how optimistic you may be about your chances of achieving a favorable resolution.

Our law firm has a deep knowledge of the Texas Family Code and child custody laws, making us highly qualified legal representatives who can assist you through the legal process of your child custody case. As your attorneys, we will draw on our combined years of experience practicing law to safeguard the child’s well-being and help you pursue your goals.

In addition to serving clients in Southlake, Texas, we also represent individuals in various family law matters in Dallas, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and surrounding areas. To discuss your Texas family law case in more detail, please contact our law office to schedule your free consultation with our attorneys and legal staff today.

How Are Child Custody Decisions Made in Texas?

In ideal situations, parents agree on how to determine child custody, but this is not often the case. Disagreements between parents over custody, visitation, or parenting time can lead to complex legal battles and other family issues. In many situations, parents are encouraged to try mediation to reach common ground, but the process can also fail. 

When negotiations fail to produce an agreeable outcome, Texas family law courts may order an evaluation of the facts to determine child custody. Evaluations include professionals assessing family situations and expert witnesses offering testimony and recommendations, all to render a decision in the best interest of the child.

Several factors will be considered when determining custody and the primary custodial parent of the children.

Among the many factors considered when determining child custody cases are the following:

  • The child’s preferences, provided they are mature enough to offer an opinion
  • The emotional and physical needs of the child, and which parent is better suited to address those needs 
  • Any dangers that may threaten the child’s well-being and their mental and physical health, such as substance abuse or a history of domestic violence
  • The stability of the home environment
  • Presented by either party 
  • The child’s medical needs and which parent is better suited to provide them with the health care they require
  • Plans that parents have for how to raise the child
  • The financial and logistical abilities of each parent to be there for their children when they need them
  • Any instances of lying during a family law case could be frowned upon and negatively affect the parents’ standing in the court 
  • The health and life expectancy of the parents
  • Where the parents live and how close they live to each other
  • The emotional bond between parent and child, as well as any bonds with other family members, such as siblings or grandparents
  • Any omissions that one parent may have made that warrant consideration

What Are the Different Types of Child Custody in Southlake, TX? 

There are two main types of custody in Texas: legal custody and physical custody.

Legal custody refers to a parent’s authority to make important decisions about their child’s life, upbringing, religious beliefs, healthcare, social activities, and education. Physical custody, on the other hand, relates to where the child primarily resides and who is responsible for their daily care and needs.

There are two types of legal custody arrangements: joint custody and sole custody. Additionally, physical custody can be joint or sole. In a joint physical custody situation, the child splits their time roughly equally between both parents’ homes, while sole physical custody situations involve the child living with only one parent.

It’s also worth noting that Texas laws refer to custody as conservatorships. Unless there is a compelling reason to choose otherwise, Texas family law courts tend to prefer joint managing conservatorships in which the parents work together to raise their children. Even in situations where the parents are appointed as joint managing conservators, many cases involve children having one permanent residence with their custodial parent. In contrast, the noncustodial parent is granted a specific number of visitation days.

How is Child Custody Different from Child Support? 

Child custody refers to the parental rights and responsibilities of a child’s parents and can include physical and legal custody. Meanwhile, child support is the financial support the noncustodial parent must provide to help the custodial parent pay for the child’s daily living expenses. 

Essentially, child custody refers to a parenting arrangement, whereas child support concerns the child’s financial needs and ensures they are adequately met.

To learn more about the differences between child support and custody, and how both are meant to strengthen the child’s welfare, please contact our law office to speak with our team today.

Is it Possible to Modify Existing Child Custody Court Orders? 

Child custody arrangements can sometimes be modified, provided the requesting parent can establish a significant change in circumstances that could affect the child’s welfare and the parent’s ability to spend adequate time with the child.

For example, if one parent spends most of their time with the child but plans to move farther away, there may be cause to modify the existing custody orders. Other reasons for modifications include job loss or changes of employment, new concerns about a child’s safety and well-being, developing medical needs of the children, and more.

Contact Our Law Firm to Schedule Your Free Initial Consultation with Our Experienced Child Custody Attorneys Today

Texas child custody cases are often hotly contested legal matters, regardless of whether the parents are seeking joint or sole conservatorship. If you are going through a child custody case, our law firm has the legal experience necessary to help you throughout the entire process. With our dedicated legal representation, we will assist you in achieving the custody arrangement and child support orders you desire in your family law case.

Our North Texas law firm offers free consultations to prospective new clients interested in retaining our professional legal counsel. To discuss your case in more detail, we encourage you to contact our law offices to schedule your free case review today. 

Please get in touch with us by calling our firm at 214-238-9188.