Navigating the intricacies of child custody agreements can be a tricky aspect of divorce. How children are reared and where they spend most of their time significantly impacts their lives. If you are a parent facing a divorce in Plano or a stand-alone child custody case, you should understand the Texas child custody process and how it will affect your circumstances. Understanding the child custody process in Texas can be difficult on your own, that is where the attorneys of the Law Offices of Lisa G. Garza, P.C. can help. Contact us online or call 214-373-6556 to learn more about how we can help.
Why Choose a Plano Child Custody Lawyer at Law Offices of Lisa G. Garza, P.C.?
At the Law Offices of Lisa G. Garza, P.C., we know how passionate you are about your children and making the best possible decisions for their future. Our legal team is prepared to assist you regardless of your child custody needs.
Attorney Garza has more than 25 years of family law experience in all aspects of child custody, including:
- Child custody in divorce
- Post-divorce custody modifications
- Child custody trials and appeals
- Long-distance relocations and objections
- Parenting plans
- Domestic violence
Attorney Garza can also represent you in divorce, child support, paternity, or associated matters. Call the Law Offices of Lisa G. Garza, P.C., now to schedule your confidential consultation.
What to Know About Child Custody in Texas
Texas refers to child custody and visitation as conservatorship and possession and access. Conservatorship is akin to legal custody of a child.
Parents may hold joint managing conservatorship of a child, or one parent may hold sole managing conservatorship of a child. Conservatorship permits a parent to make significant life decisions for a child, including:
- Schooling
- Religion
- Major medical decisions
Possession and access to a child is physical custody of or visitation with a child. Texas has standard and extended standard schedules, or parents may agree on a different schedule to suit their needs.
Whenever possible, Texas prefers parents to hold joint managing conservatorship. When parents are unable to cooperate in making child-rearing decisions, the court will determine the rights and duties of each parent based on the best interest of the child.
The Best Interest of the Child Standard
The best interest of the child standard may be found in the Texas Family Code Section 153.002. This law states that the child’s best interest is the court’s utmost consideration when deciding child custody, visitation, and support.
The court may use any relevant facts when deciding what is in the child’s best interest, including but not limited to:
- The desires of the child
- Any emotional and physical danger to the child now and in the future
- Each parent’s ability to parent the child
- The stability of each parent’s home
The best interest of the child standard may be found in its entirety at Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 371–72 (Tex. 1976).
Contact an Experienced Plano Child Custody Attorney Today
You do not have to face your child custody issues alone. Reach out to the Law Offices of Lisa G. Garza, P.C., today.
Our Plano family law attorneys want to save you time and money by resolving your child custody matter outside of court whenever possible. When courtroom litigation is necessary, rest assured Attorney Garza is an aggressive trial attorney who will fight for your legal rights.
Schedule your child custody consultation with the Law Offices of Lisa G. Garza, P.C., now.