Trying to navigate custody is always difficult, but it is much easier to arrive at the best resolution when you have a trustworthy guide to protect and lead you. At Hembree Bell Law, we’ve been in your shoes. Our founding attorney, Hannah Hembree Bell, has fought her own custody battle; she knows what you’re going through on a personal level, and on a professional level, knows what you need to do to ensure that your relationship with your kids remains intact. Your vision for your life is worth pursuing! Our experienced Cedar Park custody lawyers can help you attain it. Call today to schedule a free case evaluation and get started. 

How Custody Works In Texas

Custody in Texas looks a little different than how many parents initially expect. It doesn’t always have to be the bitter and drawn-out disagreement that the media often portrays! In Texas, both parents are encouraged to share equal parenting responsibilities as much as possible. There are certainly some situations where that isn’t reasonable, but in general, you can expect that you will have to get used to co-parenting unless there are serious safety concerns. 

Legally, custody is referred to as “conservatorship” in Texas, and parents are known as joint conservators. If it makes the most sense for children to live with one parent more than the other, that parent will be granted “primary residential custody”, but the other will have a visitation schedule and rights. Parents will most likely share joint authority for making decisions about the children’s healthcare, education, religion, extracirricular activities, and more, as well as making joint contributions to their financial needs. 

The simplest, easiest, most affordable, least stressful way to navigate custody is to collaborate with the other parent to work out all the major issues and decide what your family’s life will look like now. Coming up with a parenting plan on your own gives you the most control over your children’s upbringing! However, if a mutually agreeable arrangement cannot be reached through mediation or negotiation, going to court and settling disputes via litigation may be necessary. (Either way, enlisting the assistance of Cedar Park custody lawyers who can advocate for you will give you the best chances at a good outcome). 

The court will consider many factors when making a determination of who the child will live with most of the time and how rights will be shared, including:

• The child’s relationship with each parent
• Each parent’s ability to foster a loving relationship with the other parent
• The child’s relationship to their community (school, church, sports, friendships, etc.) 
• The mental and physical state of each parent
• The career demands and living situation of each parent
• The wishes of the child (if the child is mature enough to express them, which is usually 12 or older in the court’s eyes) 
• Any history of substance abuse, criminal activity, or the like in each parent’s past
• And more. 

No matter how challenging your specific circumstances may seem or how contentious your relationship with the other parent is, we will fight hard but smart for you, your kids, and your money! 

About Our Cedar Park Custody Lawyers

Our Cedar Park custody lawyers are uniquely equipped to give you honest, practical legal advice and compassionate support throughout the process. We take a unique approach when it comes to any family law issue; our goal is to take the time to learn about both your short-term and long-term goals and then build a long-term relationship with you to help you achieve them. We’re not a firm that you just come to once. We want to be here for you, for life! After we wrap up your custody resolution as gracefully as we can, we can offer you the additional support and resources necessary to thrive as a single parent. Every single person on our top-notch team is passionate about making your life better! We will communicate with you every step of the journey.

Call Today For A Free Case Evaluation!

If you’re considering divorce and have kids, contacting us early will give you the opportunity to better prepare for whatever path you decide to take. If you are already in the midst of divorce or custody proceedings, Hembree Bell Law can jump in and assist you! Because custody can take a while to resolve, don’t wait – contact our Cedar Park custody lawyers today to schedule your free case evaluation and learn more about your legal options.