Austin Child Custody Lawyer
Divorce And Child Custody Lawyers In Austin
Austin Family Attorney
Parents in a contentious divorce are often less likely to agree on who deserves to have custody of their children. When they fail to agree, it is up to the court to settle the matter. But the court proceedings can take a long time as the parents try to frustrate each other.
The court’s final child custody order will be based on what the judge determines to be in the best interests of the child. You need an experienced Austin child custody lawyer if you see a high-conflict custody battle in the works.
What Are Common Child Custody Issues
Lawyer For Custody In TX
A child’s best interests are determined by a number of factors. A court may grant custody to a parent that lives in an area with a high crime rate instead of the parent that lives in a safer neighborhood, or vice versa. This is because courts also consider a parent’s ability to provide a better family lifestyle, not just the parent’s income or resources.
Both parents will get to spend some time with their children even after custody is granted. Your Austin child custody lawyer can help you handle the following:
- Joint custody
- Sole custody
- Visitation rights
- High conflict custody
- Conservatorship
- Primary and secondary physical custody
Since courts take child custody very seriously, there is a lot of work involved in trying to convince a court that you should get custody. Your lawyer needs to make a strong case on your behalf.
How Courts Determine Child Custody
Child Custody Advocate In Texas
Courts consider the following factors to determine child custody:
- The child’s relationship with each parent
- The ability of each parent to provide for the health and safety of the child
- The kind of relationship the child has with each parent
- Whether the parents live far apart or close to each other
- The income of each parent
- Any history of violence in the home or child abuse
- Any history of drug abuse among the parents
- The age of the child
- The stability of the home
- The desire of the child
The court is not likely to grant custody to the parent who “spoils” the child or that is “best friends” with the child if the parent cannot care for the child. That means that a child may not necessarily end up living with the parent they like.
Do Courts Grant Primary Custody To Fathers?
Lawyer For Custody Battle In TX
Many people assume that courts are more likely to grant mothers custody. But the law requires the courts to ignore the gender of the parents when making custody decisions. It’s up to the court’s discretion who to grant custody to.
Maybe this is why some judges are more likely to grant custody to the mother if there are young children involved. Your Austin child custody law firm can argue for your interests in court. Fathers are likely to get primary custody if they take an active role in their child’s life. This involves:
- Driving your child to extracurricular activities
- Preparing your child’s meals
- Attending parent-teacher conferences
- Taking your child to school