Bulverde, Texas Child Custody Attorneys

Dedicated Child Custody Lawyers in Bulverde, TX

Protecting your parental rights during a divorce or custody dispute is important. Trying to navigate these issues on your own can expose you to risk, as family law courts adhere to a specific set of standards in these cases. To make sure you are properly represented in a conservatorship case, consider working with a Bulverde child custody lawyer.

Attorney Brandon Wong of Brandon Wong & Associates has over 15 years of experience representing clients in issues of family law, which has given him a clear perspective on how to approach custody cases. Our firm will provide you with hands-on representation, standing up for your parental rights in and outside of court.

Can I Get Joint Managing Conservatorship in My Bulverde Custody Case?

Joint managing conservatorship is the most common custody arrangement in Texas, and courts start from the position that it is usually in a child's best interest for both parents to share decision-making authority.

Under this arrangement, both parents have the right to be involved in major decisions about the child's education, medical care, and general welfare. That does not mean both parents have equal say on every issue. The court can give one parent the exclusive right to make certain decisions while preserving the other parent's involvement in other areas.

Joint managing conservatorship also does not guarantee equal possession time. One parent is typically designated as the primary conservator, meaning the child lives with that parent the majority of the time. The other parent receives a possession schedule, which often follows the standard possession order outlined in the Texas Family Code. Departures from that standard schedule are possible when the circumstances of the family call for a different arrangement.

What Factors Do Judges Consider in Texas Custody Cases?

Every custody decision in Texas is guided by the best interest of the child standard. That standard is broad by design, and courts look at a range of factors when applying it to a specific family. Those factors can include the emotional and physical needs of the child, each parent's ability to meet those needs, the stability of each parent's home, the child's relationship with each parent, and any history of family violence or substance abuse.

Courts also consider how well each parent is likely to support the child's relationship with the other parent. A parent who has interfered with the other parent's access, made false accusations, or attempted to turn the child against the other parent may be viewed unfavorably. Older children may have their preferences considered as well, though a child's wishes are viewed as one factor among many.

When Can You Modify a Custody Order?

A custody order does not have to be permanent. Texas courts can modify an existing order when there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances since the order was put in place and when the modification would serve the child's best interest.

What qualifies as a material change depends on the facts involved, but common examples include a parent relocating, a significant change in a parent's work schedule, a change in the child's needs, or a deterioration in one parent's ability to provide a stable environment.

Modification cases can be contested, and the parent seeking the change carries the burden of showing that the threshold has been met. In most cases, a custody order cannot be modified within one year of being entered unless specific circumstances apply, such as a risk of harm to the child.

Contact a Bulverde Child Custody Lawyer Today

At Brandon Wong & Associates, our attorneys help parents navigate custody disputes and modification proceedings. Call 210-201-3832 or contact our Bulverde, TX child custody attorneys to arrange a consultation.