Courts regularly award possessory rights related to a child through divorce decrees and custody orders. Unfortunately, problems can arise after this order when one of the parties violates the order by denying the other party access to the child when it is his or her period of possession. When a person takes, retains, or conceals a child at a t...
Read moreIf your spouse tells you to move out, you should consult a family law attorney before doing so. There can be negative legal consequences that result from moving out of the marital home. Generally, your spouse cannot force you out of the marital home without your agreement or a court order. During divorces, judges often grant temporary orders to p...
Read moreThe birth of a child is often described as a life-altering event. For many, this pivotal moment marks a new stage in one’s life—one in which the parent’s actions can no longer be guided by his or her own desires, but must now accommodate the best interests of the child. Parenthood is a unique status with a host of new privileges and responsi...
Read moreRecently, social media and local media outlets have buzzed with the story of Ann and her unusual custody battle. The case has gone all the up to the Texas Supreme Court. Unlike most op-eds covering the case, this post does not seek to advocate for either party, but to provide an unbiased analysis on the case’s effects on Texas family law. The u...
Read moreChild custody is set by a court order at the time of divorce or at the resolution of an original Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (“SAPCR”). However, this order is not permanent and, as time goes on, the needs of the family may warrant changes to the original order. The process to change a child custody order is referred to as “m...
Read moreFor couples with children, one of the biggest concerns in a pending divorce is what child custody will look like. While a child custody order will depend on a multitude of factors, the court’s primary focus in issuing its order will always be the best interests of the child. Texas’s default custody order for children older than three years ...
Read moreGeographic Restriction In child custody cases, a geographic restriction limits where a child’s primary residence may be. Such a restriction may be important if, for instance, one parent tries to move away with the child, thereby hindering the other parent’s ability to see that child. A family court order including a geographic restriction will...
Read more50/50 custody? What exactly does that mean? “Custody” is a term that is commonly used and comprises multiple aspects of the parent-child relationship, including: conservatorship (rights and duties); possession and access (the schedule of time with the children); and child support. Usually when someone refers to “50/50 custody” they are ref...
Read moreIn Texas, one of the most common problems that an individual in a same-sex relationship faces when involved in a child custody dispute is proving he or she has “legal parent” status. It is important that you be a “legal parent” because only parents with this status may sue for custody, formally known as conservatorship in Texas. There are ...
Read moreA “SAPCR” is a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship. More specifically, this type of lawsuit addresses the rights, duties, and obligations that a parent has with regard to a child. Here are some of the issues that will likely be addressed in a SAPCR: 1. Conservatorship Will the parties be joint managing conservators, or wi...
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