Family Law Attorneys Who Have Been There
In Texas, even after a divorce is final, former couples who have children together must navigate an ongoing legal process affecting their parent-child relationship. This process is the court’s way of making sure that the best interests of children are being met. For many divorced parents, this process begins with the question “Who receives custody of the kids?” Our attorneys are familiar with these questions, because like many other Americans, many of us have been there. The most important thing to remember is that getting a divorce doesn’t mean breaking up a family.
Call our child custody attorneys at 817-275-4100 to schedule a consultation.
Types of Child Custody Managing and Possessory Conservatorships
What most people refer to as “custody” is called “conservatorship” under the Texas Family Code. There are two types of conservators:
Managing Conservator
The “managing conservator” is the parent who has the power to make most of the important decisions affecting the child’s life. These decisions include financial decisions, medical decisions, decisions about where the child will go to school, and even whether to consent to allow the child to get married or join the military.
Possessory Conservator
The other type of conservator is the possessory conservator, a parent who has the right to access and visitation with the child, but has essentially no other powers.
The court considers what is in the best interest of the child in making a conservatorship determination. As you and your former spouse navigate the legal process of determining child custody, it’s important to have counsel that will responsibly advocate for the best interest of your child, and your rights as a parent.
Sharing Parental Responsibility: Joint Managing Conservatorships and Child Visitation Rights
Texas courts do not require that one parent be managing conservator and one be possessory conservator. In fact, Texas law prefers to grant equal rights and responsibilities to the mother and the father. Both parents can be appointed as joint managing conservators (more commonly this is known as “joint custody”). However, even in a joint managing conservatorship, one parent will end up with the power to determine where a child lives.
A joint managing conservatorship rarely results in both parents having exactly equal visitation time with the child, but courts will attempt to put an order in place that allows each parent to maintain an active role in the child’s life. Courts in Tarrant County, and all over Texas, prefer that the parents and their attorneys work together to determine a fair and feasible visitation schedule for the kids without significant court intervention.
Call our family law office at 817-275-4100 to speak with a child custody lawyer at the Jim Ross Law Group, P.C. We offer a legal consultation to help explain these legal concepts and ease any uncertainties as you seek the DFW child custody lawyer right for you.
Special Needs Child Custody Attorney
Addressing child custody issues during the divorce can be a difficult process for any family. However, those who have a special-needs child will likely face additional complexities. Some of these children have frequent medical appointments or therapy sessions. Others require regular in-home care. And many need specialized equipment in the home. Issues such as these can have a significant impact on physical custody, legal custody and parenting time.
Child Relocation Attorney
As a parent, dealing with matters of child custody will likely be the most difficult aspect of your divorce. However, if you or your spouse seeks to relocate with your children, the matter can quickly intensify into a high-stress legal battle. When this happens, it is time to call upon an experienced family law attorney.
Visitation Rights Attorney
“The kid stays in the picture.” — It’s more than a phrase or a movie title. At the Jim Ross Law Group, P.C., it’s the way we handle family law matters. We know that children come first so when we work with parents, we do everything possible within the scope of the law to help parents protect the best interests of their children.
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In the State of Texas, conservatorship is the legal term that describes matters of child custody. There are two types of conservatorships. Possessory conservators only have the right to visitation with their children. Managing conservatorship, however, can be given to one or both parents, and bestows the rights and responsibilities of:
Call our law firm today at 817-275-4100 or schedule a consultation. We recently had a client tell us “I love having my child custody lawyers near me!” With offices in Arlington, Dallas, and Fort Worth we are able serve the entire DFW Metroplex.
“I believe that all clients should be treated like family"