Parents can get very territorial about their children in a divorce case, even after the divorce is final. Some can be so acrimonious that one parent doesn't want the other to have any access to the children at all. In some cases, a parent may simply decide that he or...
Child Custody
Equal Custody: Has Its Time Come in Texas?
It wouldn't be a legislative session in Austin without someone trying to remake family law in Texas! This year, there was a bill introduced by an East Texas legislator, Rep. James White, calling for equal custody for both parents in a divorce case. Adopting this bill...
CPS Interviews: What to Expect
I have recently had the opportunity to sit in on some Child Protective Services interviews related to custody cases I have been working on. Even for people who have been model parents, CPS interviews can be scary, because their findings can lead to people losing the...
Rethinking Visitation
When parents negotiate a divorce settlement, parenting time is one of the most important elements to consider. Too often, in my view, parents either go with the default standard order or seek a 50/50 schedule in the interest of "fairness" and "equal time." But I find...
Getting the Lawyer, LPC, and Parent All on the Same Page
I've recently been working on a child custody case in which testimony from the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) was central to our case. While involving an LPC isn't essential in all custody cases, it's crucial to have one involved if there are any allegations of...
Preventing Parental Rights Termination
If you're a parent facing parental rights termination, you're in a legal situation that could greatly affect the rest of your life. Because those are such serious civil charges with such profound penalties, the State of Texas will likely provide you with free legal...
How to Persist When the Opposing Side Won’t Budge
In most family law cases, I often have to remind myself of the importance of patience. As a family law attorney, we are always coming across the same issues, wherein the opposing party decides to thwart all efforts at our completing the discovery process. These...
Why You Need a Lawyer in CPS Matters
Legal proceedings involving Child Protective Services (CPS)--especially for cases in which the state is evaluating the termination of a person's parental rights--can be incredibly involved. Our firm provides legal services to parents, grandparents, and other relatives...
The Ugly Face of Bullying in the Electronic Age
Does it ever seem like the world has tilted on its axis and is spinning out of control? It's hard to fathom the cavernous differences in the world in which our children are growing up these days from the world we lived in just a few decades back. In an age where...
Helping Texas residents reach peaceful custody arrangements
Child custody is arguably the single most important factor, both objectively and subjectively, in any divorce that involves children. In nearly every instance, maintaining a significant relationship with the child or children is of the utmost importance to both...