Rockwall Child Custody Lawyer Asserts Your Parental Rights
Knowledgeable attorney advises on conservatorships and parenting plans
If you’re like most parents, a loving relationship with your children and your ability to guide their growth is of paramount importance. When circumstances, such as a divorce, require you to protect your parental rights, you need trustworthy advice and determined advocacy. Heath Grob, Principal Law Firm, P.C. in Rockwall is a practice devoted to family law. For more than 10 years, we have provided parents in Dallas, Rockwall, Collin and Kaufman counties with candid, practical advice and skilled representation focused on results.
Types of child custody in Texas
Texas law uses different terms to address what many people refer to as child custody and divides parenting responsibilities into two general categories. The first is called “conservatorship,” which relates to the authority parents have to make decisions concerning their child’s health, education and welfare. In most cases, a joint managing conservatorship works best. This means that parents will have a say in how important matters are handled. However, if you have a concern about your parenting arrangements, our firm's attorney can advise on whether establishing a sole managing conservatorship is feasible.
When a parent is named sole managing conservator, the other parent is usually named as possessory conservator. This status allows the parent to receive important information relative to the child’s wellbeing, share parenting time with the child, and consent to emergency medical care for the child. Arrangements related to residential custody and visitation are referred to as “access and possession” in Texas.
Though it’s usually best for parents to seek consensus on custody matters, if that is not possible, a judge makes determinations on conservatorship, access and possession based on what he or she believes to be in the best interests of the child. Numerous factors can be considered during this process, including the child’s preference, if they are old enough to make a mature choice. Other factors that often come into play include:
- Each parent’s relationship with the child
- The environment within each parent’s home
- How a decision affects the child’s existing routine
- Any parental history of domestic abuse or substance addiction
In extreme cases, where contact with the parent would be detrimental to the child, the court can deny even a possessory conservatorship.
Modifications of Texas child conservatorship orders
In most cases, conservatorship, access and possession are decided as part of a divorce. However, life goes on, and it may not be long before either parent wants to revisit the issue. Courts in Texas may grant modifications based on substantial changes in circumstances, such as:
- A parent’s remarriage or cohabitating relationship
- A parent’s desire to relocate with the child
- A resolution to the problems that prevented a parent from being a managing conservator
Our attorney represents parent seeking modifications as well as those opposing any changes.
Grandparent visitation rights in Texas
Texas family law does not guarantee visitation rights to grandparents, but may grant visitation if it would be in the best interests of the child. Courts may consider the issue if one of the following circumstances exists:
- The child’s parents are divorced
- The parents have abused or neglected the child
- One or both parents have died, been incarcerated or found incompetent
- A court has terminated the relationship between one of the parents and the child
- The child has lived with the grandparents for at least six months
Being separated from a grandchild can be painful, especially if you have already established a loving relationship. Since your rights depend on the facts of your situation, you should consult a knowledgeable family law attorney.
Contact my Rockwall, TX law office to discuss your child custody dispute
Heath Grob, Principal Law Firm, P.C. represents parents in child custody disputes in Rockwall, Dallas, Kaufman and Collin counties. Our office is conveniently located at 405 W. Kaufman Street, easily accessible from Routes 66 and 205. Please call 972-961-4587 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.
