Houston Child Custody Attorneys
Trusted Houston Family Lawyers
Every single divorce case has a number of issues which can come to dispute,
regardless of the exact reason you are parting ways. The most complex
problems in a
divorce case can be the matters relating to your children, such as child custody and
visitation. It can be very difficult for you and your spouse to come to an agreement
about who your children will live with and who will be responsible for them.
If you and your spouse have been arguing over this issue, it is imperative
that you retain the services of a Houston family law attorney to represent
you. We understand just how emotionally stressful and complex a divorce
can be, and we are here to help.
Contact our firm
today
or fill out a
case evaluation
form
to get more information about how we can help!
What Is the Law in Texas About Child Custody?
In the state of Texas, custody will never be determined based only on the
parents’ genders to determine who will be a better custodial parent.
Custody is legally defined as any person who gets the exclusive right
to determine where the child(ren) will live or with whom they will reside.
The other parent involved will be able to petition for visitation rights.
Whichever parent has custody is termed the “custodial parent,”
while the one who only has visitation is called the “non-custodial
parent.”
What Affects Child Custody Decisions?
Child custody is awarded based on many factors, but primarily the child’s
best interests and his or her preferences are considered the top priority
in any custody case. Texas law presumes that the parents will take full
responsibility for providing for their children, either by awarding joint
legal custody or primary physical custody. There are no one-size-fits-all
solutions and each family and child will have a preference.
These factors can encompass a wide variety, such as:
- The age of the children
- Each parent’s living situation
- The location of the children’s schools, daycare, and other areas
- The children’s preference and expectations
- Each parent’s relationship with the children prior to divorcing
- Each parent’s ability to provide for the children
- If there were any incidences of domestic violence, abuse, or drug or excessive
alcohol use
- If the other parent is willing to accommodate the other’s relationship
with the children
What Are Key Factors That Determine Child Custody?
There are also additional factors that the courts might use in consideration:
- Which parent helps put the child to bed
- Which parent usually makes educational decisions
- Which parent usually makes medical decisions
- Which parent cares for the children’s day-to-day, such as feeding
and dropping the child off at school
- Who attends parent-teacher conferences or participates in after-school
activities
- If one or the other parent has been distant from the child
- Which parent continues maintaining a friendly, encouraging relationship
with the other
Our Houston family lawyers can help you explore the many possibilities
and outcomes from your custody arrangements. As you can see, many factors
contribute overall to the outcome of the here are many different factors
contribute overall.
How Can Our Houston Family Law Attorney Help?
At the
Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny, we aim to do whatever it takes to help you come to an agreement about
child custody and visitation. If we must go to court, you can rely on
our knowledge, resources, and
30 years of experience in
family law to work to your advantage. When your spouse attempts to contest your desired
outcome for child custody, we work to assist in your defense. If you or
your spouse decides to remarry, it can alter the child custody order in
the future.
If you would like to receive compassionate legal support and guidance,
please do not hesitate to
call our Houston family law lawyers today at (713) 936-2300 to request more information or to make an appointment
for a consultation!