Due to COVID-19 and the shelter in place order, I will be conducting all business via phone or email. Please don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions!

Child Custody Put Experience & Perseverance in Your Corner

Hurst Child Custody Attorney

Acting in the Best Interests of Children

Woman Holding Her Daughter

If you have children, your primary concern during a divorce should be to protect their well-being. Your spouse should share this goal, and ideally you can work together to achieve it. However, determining what is truly in a child’s best interest is a difficult and emotionally charged process.

Whether the process goes smoothly or becomes difficult, it is important to keep your children out of the fray. The changes that divorce brings to their lives are disruptive enough without the trauma of being caught in the middle. Children should certainly not be exposed to the details of court actions involving them. If your former spouse is willing, try going to a counselor or sitting down with a mutual and trusted friend to work out how to interact with your children in a positive and appropriate way.

If you are facing a child custody dispute, I urge you to seek guidance from a skilled family law attorney. I am a Tarrant County child custody lawyer that is dedicated to helping families like yours find positive resolutions to these tough and emotional situations.

Serving Southlake, Colleyville, Fort Worth Keller, Grapevine, and all of Tarrant County.

Call (817) 270-6635 or Contact Our Lawyers Online Now to Schedule Your Free Consultation. I Serve Clients Throughout Tarrant County, TX.

Different Types of Child Custody in Hurst, Texas

In Texas, custody is actually referred to as conservatorship. A parent who has “custody” of a child is called a conservator. Parents can arrange a joint managing or sole managing conservatorship.

Conservatorship includes the right to:

  • Make decisions regarding the child’s health, education, and general welfare
  • Consent to medical treatments for the child
  • Discuss the child with doctors, dentists, educators, and other professionals

In a joint managing conservatorship, parents will have equal legal rights over the child but may not have equal possession. A standard possession order (SPO) is a visitation schedule that outlines who the child will live with during certain times and when each parent will have access to the child.

Legal Custody

Parental rights and responsibilities associated with decisions regarding the child’s upbringing fall into this category. Religious upbringing, education and medical care and other issues concerning raising a child are at the discretion of one or both parents that are granted legal custody.

Physical Custody

All duties regarding the day-to-day care of a child as well as the rights to direct the child’s daily activities fall into the realm of physical custody. This includes the actual living arrangements and other matters of daily routine.

Sole Custody

Sole physical custody occurs when one parent retains the exclusive, primary right to live with the child. Sole legal custody is the exclusive right to control the upbringing of the child. If one parent has the primary responsibility for a child, the other parent, known as the non-custodial parent, most often maintains rights to uphold a relationship with the child through visitation.
Sole custody usually takes the form of sole physical custody for one parent and a generous visitation schedule for the non-custodial parent. Sole physical and legal custody generally only occurs if a history of abuse and neglect is present.

Joint Custody

With joint custody, both parents share responsibilities for decisions regarding their children. Any combination of custody is possible, however parents with joint physical custody often also have joint legal custody. However joint legal custody does not automatically imply joint physical custody. The nature of these arrangements can either be agreed to by both parties or ordered by a court.

Shared Parenting

In shared parenting arrangements, parents share legal and physical custody and the children spend equal amounts of time with both parents.

Split Custody

Split custody refers to cases in which each parent takes custody of different children.

How Is Child Custody Determined in Texas?

In Texas, custody is either decided between the parents through mediation or collaborative law, or it is decided by a judge. In any case, the final determination is in the best interests of the child. The court will consider each parent's financial situation, their living situation, their history of substance abuse or domestic violence, and the child's preference if he or she is 12 years old or older.

At What Age Can a Child Decide Which Parent They Want to Live With in Texas?

Until a child is a legal adult, he or she cannot decide which parent they want to live with. It will be decided either by their parents, or by a judge. However, a judge may take a child's preference into consideration if the child is at least 12 years old.

The Child Custody Process in Texas

Custody is one of the first issues discussed when couples separate. When parents resolve visitation and custody issues themselves, courts generally honor those agreements during divorce proceedings. If couples cannot agree, several procedures exist to resolve custody disputes and determine custody.

How Long Do Custody Battles Take in Texas?

If you are involved in a contested custody battle, it will take over a year unless you deal with an uncontested child custody case. Then, it will take only a few months or even less. Many issues occur between two types of cases, and most parents do settle with the guidance of a mediator eventually. Unfortunately, there are valid reasons to go to a trial on a child custody matter.

Temporary Hearing

Once the initial divorce papers are filed, the family court holds a temporary hearing to consider financial and custodial orders to put in place until the court enters its final divorce decree. If custody is contested during the temporary hearing, the court will issue a custody order that remains in effect until the trial.

Evaluations

If the parents are unable to reach an agreement on custody on their own or through mediation, courts often order a custody evaluation by an outside expert prior to trial in order to determine what arrangement would be in the best interest of the child.

Trial

If custody is disputed, the court will award custody at trial. This decision is based on a variety of factors, including the child’s age, the physical and mental health of each parent, the child’s attachment to the primary caregiver, any history of domestic violence or abuse and the child’s wishes depending on the child’s age and motivation.

Modifying Custody and Visitation in Tarrant County

Certain procedures are required to change custody and visitation arrangements depending on how those arrangements were made. If custody was granted by court order, additional involvement by the court is required. If an agreement was reached through mediation, a couple can return to mediation if they cannot agree to changes on their own.

Either parent seeking any modification of custody or visitation arrangements must show that circumstances have changed substantially and that the modification is in the child’s best interest. Our Tarrant County Child Custody Attorney also helps with child support needs.

Protecting Your Child's Best Interests

At Nunneley | Family Law, we understand that child custody cases can be emotionally challenging and complex. Our dedicated Hurst child custody attorney is committed to acting in the best interests of your children and helping you navigate through the legal process.

When it comes to child custody, there are different types that may be applicable in Hurst, Texas:

  • Legal custody: This refers to the right to make important decisions about the child's upbringing, such as education, healthcare, and religious practices.
  • Physical custody: This determines where the child will live on a day-to-day basis.
  • Sole custody: In this arrangement, one parent has both legal and physical custody of the child.
  • Joint custody: Both parents share legal and/or physical custody of the child.
  • Shared parenting: This involves a more equal division of parenting time and responsibilities.
  • Split custody: In certain situations, siblings may be divided between the parents.

Child custody in Texas is determined based on the best interests of the child, considering factors such as the child's age, relationship with each parent, and the ability of each parent to provide a stable and nurturing environment.

It's important to note that there is no specific age at which a child can decide which parent they want to live with in Texas. The court will take the child's preferences into account, but the final decision will be made by the judge.

The child custody process in Texas typically involves temporary hearings, evaluations, and, if necessary, a trial. Our experienced attorney will guide you through each step, ensuring your rights are protected and advocating for the best outcome for you and your child.

If you need assistance with modifying an existing custody and visitation arrangement in Tarrant County, our attorney can help you navigate the legal process and present a compelling case.

Why choose us? Our attorney has a proven track record of success in child custody cases and is dedicated to providing personalized and compassionate legal representation. We understand the importance of protecting your child's best interests and will work tirelessly to achieve a favorable outcome for you and your family.

Contact Nunneley | Family Law today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how our child custody attorney can assist you. Call (817) 270-6635 or reach out to us online.

My Approach

Resolving visitation and child custody disputes requires a rational approach from both parents despite the stress of divorce proceedings. By listening to your wishes and concerns and then explaining the options for your situation, Nunneley | Family Law can help you clearly understand all the issues. My goal is to create a plan to achieve the best result for you and your children.

Contact Me Online or Call (817) 270-6635 to Learn More About How I Can Assist With Your Child Custody Case.

"When children are involved, they are always the most important part of a family law case."

- Stephen C. Farrar

Why Choose Me

  • Results

    I vigorously fight for my clients. You need someone in your corner – make sure it’s someone who can get you the best solution possible.

  • Client Focused

    Every situation is unique. I am compassionate and empathetic. I listen to my clients and provide guidance through the entire process.

  • Experience

    With years of Family Law expertise and a consistent track record of industry and client accolades, I understand complicated family law issues.

Take The Next Step "No matter how difficult your situation, a caring and compassionate attorney can guide you through the process and see you to the other side."

Nunneley | Family Law

Contact Me Today

Put one of DFW's preeminent family law firms to work for you.
  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.