Child Custody Attorneys in The Woodlands
Fighting for The Best Interests of Children in the Greater Houston Area
Child custody refers to the legal and physical responsibility for making decisions about a child's upbringing and providing for their care and well-being. In Texas, child custody is divided into two types: legal custody and physical custody.
Navigating child custody matters can be emotionally challenging and legally complex. At Parchman Law Group, PLLC, our dedicated team of child custody lawyers in The Woodlands, TX, is committed to providing compassionate and effective legal representation to protect your parental rights and your child's best interests.
Why Choose Parchman Law Group?
At Parchman Law Group, we understand the sensitive nature of child custody disputes and the impact they can have on families. Our experienced child custody lawyers are here to provide the guidance and support you need to navigate this challenging process. We prioritize communication, integrity, and results. With our team on your side, you can trust that your child custody battle will be handled with the utmost professionalism and dedication. We are committed to achieving the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Whether you are going through an uncontested divorce or are facing a litigious divorce, having the right legal team on your side can make all the difference. Our Woodlands child custody lawyers have the experience and compassion to help our clients with family law matters, especially Texas child custody cases. From helping you negotiate terms in your initial agreement to enforcing a custody order , you can rely on us to fight for your parental rights. Our child custody lawyers in the Woodlands, TX always strive to act in the best interest of the child, looking out for their well-being.
Request a free consultation with our Woodlands child custody attorney near you! Contact us online or call us at (713) 364-0777. We speak Farsi and Spanish.
Our Woodlands Child Custody Services
At Parchman Law Group, we offer a wide range of child custody services to address the diverse needs of our clients in The Woodlands, TX. Our experienced Woodlands child custody attorneys are dedicated to providing compassionate and effective representation in all aspects of child custody law.
Here are some of the custody services we offer:
- Parental Rights: Protecting parental rights is paramount in Texas child custody cases. Whether you are seeking to establish paternity or modify custody arrangements, our Woodlands child custody lawyers can help you navigate the legal process to ensure your rights as a parent are upheld.
- Grandparent Rights: Grandparents play an important role in many families, and we understand the significance of preserving their relationships with their grandchildren. Our Texas grandparents' rights attorneys advocate for grandparents' rights in cases where visitation or custody is at stake.
- Joint Custody Agreements: We assist parents in negotiating and drafting joint custody agreements that outline each parent's rights and responsibilities regarding the care and upbringing of their children. Joint custody arrangements can promote stability and cooperation between parents.
- Sole Custody Representation: In cases where one parent seeks sole custody of a child, we provide comprehensive legal representation to protect their interests and advocate for the child's best interests. We work diligently to present compelling evidence in support of our client's custody petition.
- Child Custody Modifications: Circumstances may change following a custody order, necessitating modifications to custody arrangements. Whether you are seeking to modify custody due to relocation, changes in a parent's circumstances, or other reasons, we can guide you through the modification process.
- Enforcement of Custody Orders: If a parent fails to comply with a custody order, we can take legal action to enforce the order and ensure that the custodial rights of our clients are upheld. We are committed to protecting the integrity of custody arrangements established by the court.
- Emergency Custody Proceedings: In urgent situations where a child's safety or well-being is at risk, our Woodlands child custody attorneys can initiate emergency custody proceedings to secure temporary custody orders to protect the child from harm.
- Custody Evaluations: In cases where parents are unable to reach agreements on custody matters, we can coordinate custody evaluations to provide the court with expert opinions on what custody arrangement would be in the child's best interests.
How Child Custody Is Determined in TX
There are two main types of custody: legal and physical. Simply put, physical custody determines where the child will live or how time will be shared between both homes. Legal custody regulates who will be responsible for making decisions about the child.
Every single Texas child custody case is different and mistakes can be made, despite local laws and guidelines to protect their best interests. If you and your spouse (or the other parent of your child) are able to agree amicably, our Woodlands child custody lawyers can draw up an agreement and submit it to family court. However, if your case goes to litigation, it will be up to the judge to make determinations about what type of custody will be awarded to whom.
A few factors they may consider include:
- The parenting abilities of each party
- Any evidence of neglect or domestic abuse
- The physical health of each party
- The wishes of the child
- The ability of each party to provide
- The child's needs
How Visitation Works in Texas
When the noncustodial parent is chosen, they have the right to have their child for the time allotted by the plan. At no time is the parent with conservatorship allowed to deny the other parent of this time. The court’s number one priority is that every decision is in the child’s best interest. Therefore, if there is found to be a reason that this arrangement needs to be changed, a family court judge will do so.
Scheduling Visitation Time in Texas
If the parents can come up with a plan they agree on, it is legally allowed for them to use it. However, in many cases, time for possession and access has to be decided by a judge. Most custody orders will include a standard possession order (SPO) that outlines the schedule for each parent’s time with the child.
A basic SPO typically allows the noncustodial parent to have possession of the child during the following times:
- A few hours every Thursday night
- On the first, third and fifth weekends of each month
- On alternating holidays
- At least one month in the summer
The SPO also states where the parents will exchange the child and state where the child will spend each holiday. This plan is the general standard. However, if parents live over 100 miles apart from each other, they will have a different set of rules. The SPO does not have to be followed if the child is under three years old or it is not in the child’s best interest. Our child custody lawyers in The Woodlands, TX can help you navigate SPOs and Texas visitation schedules.
Parental Rights in Texas & The Greater Houston Area
At Parchman Law Group, we understand the severity of a child custody case. Whether you are divorcing your spouse or had a child with someone to whom you are not married, our legal team stands ready to represent you. Because we are aware that the outcome of a child custody dispute will affect your life for years to come, our highly-reviewed child custody lawyers in The Woodlands take our role as your legal counsel very seriously.
How to Prove a Parent Unfit
When analyzing a custody case, a judge may examine the possibility of one parent being unfit. This is usually brought to their attention by one of the parents who feels that the other cannot raise a child safely and effectively. These are serious claims, as being ruled unfit can significantly impact parental rights.
Factors that a judge may look at include:
- History of drugs and alcohol
- History of domestic violence
- History of child abuse and neglect
- History of mental illness
If you are concerned about the safety and well-being of your child, talk with our Woodlands child custody attorney today by calling (713) 364-0777 to discuss your options!
Is Texas a Mother or Father State?
Grandparent Custody Rights
How can grandparents get custody of grandchildren in Texas?
According to Texas state code section 153.433, the following conditions must be met in order for grandparents to be awarded access to or custody of their grandchildren:
- At least one biological or adoptive parent has NOT had the grandparents’ rights terminated by the time the grandparent's petition for visitation or custody.
- The court has determined by a preponderance of the evidence that the parents are not acting in the best interest of the grandchildren and that denying the grandparents visitation or custody of the children would impair the grandchildren’s physical or emotional well-being.
- The grandparents must be the legal parent of one of the parents to the children, and the parent must be incarcerated during the three-month period preceding the grandparents’ filing for custody; found incompetent by the court; deceased, or otherwise without actual or court-ordered custody of the children.
There are limitations even on these criteria. For example, if one set of grandparents has petitioned for adoption AND that petition has been granted, then the other set of grandparents may not have to stand in court to petition for custody of their grandchildren.
Contact us online or at (713) 364-0777 today to speak with our Woodlands child custody lawyer about your case!