Child-rearing decisions are difficult to make absent pressure from a co-parent or judicial involvement. When paired with a divorce, child custody modification, or another family law case, these choices become nearly impossible.
If you need help with a Lake Travis child custody case, contact the attorneys at Evans Family Law Group. Our Texas Certified Family Law Specialists will work alongside you to manage your legal issues allowing you to focus your attention on your children.
At Evans Family Law Group, we believe in families and parent-child relationships. That is why we are:
- Strong advocates for alternative dispute resolution whenever possible;
- Recognized for excellence in the family law community; and
- Positively endorsed by former family law clients.
Contact our office in Lake Travis today to schedule your complimentary child custody consultation.
Let Our Lake Travis Child Custody Attorneys Help You
Texas child custody law is unique and complex. You may find you are quickly overwhelmed without the help of an experienced Lake Travis child custody attorney.
At Evans Family Law Group, we believe you should know and understand Texas child custody laws as they apply to you. When you retain one of our seasoned attorneys, they will:
- Walk you through your child custody case and the child custody process;
- Identify your case’s strengths and weaknesses;
- Suggest ways to improve your position with the court;
- Prepare you for any court hearings; or
- Suggest possible alternative dispute resolution methods.
Speak with an experienced Evans Family Law Group attorney to learn more about our approach to child custody cases and the benefits of hiring our full-service family law firm to represent you.
The Best Interest of the Child Standard
Texas bases its child custody decisions on the best interest of the child standard. This means that all child custody rulings are made to further a child’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
There is a presumption in Texas that it is in a child’s best interest to have frequent and continuing contact with both parents. Therefore, in the absence of parental unfitness or a similar threat to a child, the court prefers making joint custody awards where parents share child-rearing rights and responsibilities.
Some of the factors a judge may consider when analyzing a child’s best interest include but are not limited to:
- The child’s wishes;
- The physical and emotional needs of the child;
- Each parent’s relationship with the child;
- Any history of abuse;
- Each parent’s ability to care for the children;
- Each parent’s plans for the child;
- The stability of each parent’s home; and
- The ability of each parent to cooperate with their co-parent.
It is crucial to note that the court only determines child custody when parents cannot do so on their own. Parents who agree on child custody and a visitation schedule need only ensure their plan meets state minimums and have their documents approved by the court.
An experienced child custody attorney can assist with creating a mutually acceptable plan following Texas law.
Child Custody Terms in Lake Travis
There are some important legal terms and distinctions to know before engaging in any Lake Travis child custody case. These begin with custody itself.
In Texas, child custody is referred to as conservatorship. Legal custody of a child is managing conservatorship, and physical custody of a child is possessory conservatorship. Child visitation is called access.
Parents may share legal custody as joint managing conservators, or one parent alone may be a child’s managing conservator. The possessory conservator is typically the parent who pays child support.
While a possessory conservator has parental rights and responsibilities, they may not make any legal decisions regarding their child. This is left to the managing conservator.
It is rare for a parent to have sole child custody. This is reserved for cases of abuse, neglect, and where there is a threat to the child’s health, safety, and well-being.
Contact an Experienced Lake Travis Child Custody Attorney Today
Contact an experienced Lake Travis child custody attorney at Evans Family Law Firm today. Our attorneys are more than valuable sources of legal information. We offer guidance, reassurance, and compassionate family law services to meet your legal goals and expectations.