Child Custody

Houston, Texas, Child Custody Lawyer

A divorce is a very difficult situation for two adults to handle, but it can be much more difficult, traumatic, and life-altering when children are involved. As a family law attorney, I concentrate on what I can do to help you preserve your family relationships with a minimum amount of emotional damage.

If you and your spouse cannot work out a child custody and visitation agreement, the court will step in and decide conservatorship and all of the parent-child issues for you. Conservatorship is the legal term for child custody in Texas. Statutes relating to conservatorship define what duties and rights each parent will have, or not have, regarding their children.

In Texas, there is a presumption that it is in the child's best interests to name both parents as joint managing conservators. Another term for this is joint child custody. When the court rules on the conservatorship issue, the court will designate which parent will have the final say regarding where the children will reside, where they will go to school, who will make major medical decisions, and who will decide the nature of the moral, social, and religious upbringing for the children.

Ultimately, one party will be designated as the parent who has the exclusive right to establish the primary residence of the child. That person is referred to as the primary joint managing conservator. In other states, this parent may be described as having primary child custody while the other parent has visitation, or, in Texas, possession and access.

Nothing in life can be as hard or gut-wrenching than being forced to allow a third party—the judge—to decide what is best for your children. As a board-certified family law attorney with more than 35 years of experience, you can trust me to protect your rights and your interests and to try to find the way to leave the parent-child issues in your hands.

There will be many occasions after your divorce when you will want or should want to maintain civil contacts with your former spouse, including religious milestones, high school graduations, weddings, and births of grandchildren. If you choose to contest child custody and force the case to trial, you risk burning every bridge you have with your spouse. Your children and friends may be drawn into the dispute to support one side or the other. A common sense, rational desire to meet the needs of the children often leads divorcing couples to resolve child custody issues through negotiation, mediation, or the use of collaborative law. This process allows parents to meet outside of the courtroom to amicably decide the best custody arrangement for their children.

In addition to negotiating child custody agreements, I represent clients in modifications and enforcement of these agreements after divorce.

Contact me today if you are looking for a board-certified family law attorney who will provide you with experienced counsel and personal attention to your needs. I serve clients in Houston, Texas, and all surrounding communities.