If you are a parent in Texas with questions about custody over your minor children, it is important to have an understanding of Texas child custody laws.
Dealing with custody matters can be complicated and emotionally draining, but you don’t have to handle them alone.
The Houston child custody and divorce attorneys at the Stout Law Firm PLLC have the knowledge and experience necessary to guide you through the process.
For assistance, please call (713) 980-4300 to send us an online message for a consultation to discuss your rights under Texas custody laws.
Read on to learn more about child custody laws in Texas and see how we can help.
Filing for Child Custody in Texas
The first consideration in filing for custody, referred to as “conservatorship” in Texas, is determining if the child has lived in the state for the requisite period of time.
Generally, before filing a new child custody case in Texas, you must first be able to show that Texas is the child’s “home state.” Under Texas Family Code section 152.102(7), this means that the child must have lived in Texas “with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least six consecutive months immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding.”
Once this is established, you can then fill out the appropriate paperwork to continue the process. Depending on your specific circumstances (e.g., divorce, contested vs. uncontested, etc.), your paperwork may vary.
An experienced attorney in this area of Texas custody law can help you determine what needs to be completed and guide you through the rest of the process to fight for your rights as a parent and protect the best interest of your child.
Modifying Child Custody Orders
If you have a final order regarding conservatorship over your child, then you might be wondering if that child custody order can or should be modified.
In general, if there has been a material change in circumstances since the last custody order you may be able to seek a modification of that order.
Texas conservatorship, rights and duties, possession and access, and child support are all modifiable in a final order regarding a child provided you meet the burden to prove those terms should be changed.
Once a determination has been made that circumstances warrant modifying the existing order the next inquiry is where to file the modification proceeding.
In most instances, the court that made the initial custody decision maintains “exclusive continuing jurisdiction” to modify the order and that is the court in which the modification request should be filed.
How Conservatorship Works in Texas
In Texas, “conservatorship” is synonymous with “custody.” Conservatorship essentially describes the rights and duties of the parents involved regarding custody over a child. A person with court-ordered custody of a child is called a “conservator.”
There are three types of conservators in Texas: joint managing conservator, sole managing conservator, and possessory conservator.
Joint Managing Conservator
Texas law presumes that both parents should be named joint managing conservators over their child as set forth in section 153.131 of the Texas Family Code.
Unless the court finds that it would not be in the best interest of the child to do so, this is the default determination for parents in a child custody proceeding.
When joint managing conservators are appointed in a case, various rights and duties must be allocated between the parties including but not limited to:
- The right to designate a child’s primary residence;
- The right to consent to medical, dental and surgical treatment involving invasive procedures;
- the right to consent to psychiatric or psychological treatment of the child;
- the right to receive and give receipt for child support;
- the right to represent the child in legal action and to make other decisions of substantial legal significance concerning the child;
- the right to consent to marriage and enlistment in the armed forces of the United States;
- the right to make decisions concerning the child’s education;
- the right to services and earnings of the child; and
- except in some instances, the right to act as an agent of the child in relation to the child’s estate if action is required by a state, US, or foreign government.
Most of the foregoing rights can be allocated to conservators in one of three ways: a right can be exclusive to one parent, independent to each parent, or joint to both parents.
Sole Managing Conservator
Sometimes, however, it is not feasible for both parents to be named joint managing conservators over the child.
For example, in cases involving family violence, or abuse or neglect by one parent, it might not be in the child’s best interest for both parents to have the authority to make decisions regarding the child’s care.
In those instances, it may be best for one parent to be named the sole managing conservator over the child with exclusive rights and duties regarding the child’s care as set forth in section 153.132 of the Texas Family Code.
Possessory Conservator
If a person is not named as the sole or joint managing conservator over a child, that individual may still be named in the final order regarding the child and have rights to possession and access to the child as a “possessory conservator” over the child.
This enables that person to have court-ordered possession and access to the child in the manner determined by the court to be in the child’s best interest.
Understanding how conservatorship works in Texas will allow you to better understand your potential child custody rights and help you identify goals as you move forward in your case.
How Can a Texas Child Custody Lawyer Help Me?
Understandably parents often have many questions about Texas child custody laws.
Some of the most common questions and areas of concern include the following:
- What is joint custody vs. sole custody;
- How do courts determine child custody;
- How long does it take to decide who gets custody;
- How are rights and duties allocated between parties;
- What are the most common ways people get custody;
- How do grandparents rights work and what rights do grandparents have in relation to a child;
- Who will the child live with primarily; and
- Where can our child live?
Our team of attorneys has the knowledge and experience necessary to answer your questions and help guide you through the child custody process.
Contact Our Child Custody Lawyers
We are here to help you navigate this difficult time in your life.
We can help you gain a better understanding of your legal rights under Texas custody laws and fight for you.
Contact the attorneys at The Stout Law Firm PLLC by filling out our online form or call (713) 980-4300 to schedule a consultation and see how we can help you today.
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