Custody & Visitation
Protecting your parental rights and your children's best interests.
When you face child custody or visitation disputes, having a seasoned attorney by your side will improve your chances of securing custody of your children. Our goal is to provide legal advice and help parents protect their relationships with their children.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is child custody decided in Texas?
By the best interest of the child (Family Code §153.002), applied through the Holley factors: each parent's caregiving history, stability, plans for the child, any danger, and — from age 12 — the child's own wishes. Texas presumes joint managing conservatorship unless family violence or other evidence rebuts it.
What is the Standard Possession Order?
The default Texas visitation schedule: 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends, Thursday evenings during school, alternating holidays, and 30 days in summer. An expanded SPO adds overnights and reaches roughly 45% of the year; true 50/50 schedules can be agreed or ordered when appropriate.
Do mothers automatically get custody in Texas?
No. Texas Family Code §153.003 forbids gender preference. Fathers who document their caregiving — school involvement, medical appointments, stable homes — win primary custody in Ector and Midland County courts regularly.
Can my child choose which parent to live with?
Not outright, but from age 12 the judge must interview the child in chambers on request (§153.009). The preference is weighed with the reasons behind it — it influences, but never controls, the outcome.
Can a custody order be changed later?
Yes — by showing a material and substantial change in circumstances since the last order (Chapter 156): relocations, new work schedules, remarriage, safety concerns. Within one year of the order, stricter requirements apply.