Dallas Custody & Visitation

Knowledgeable Texas Family Law Firm

Texas Child Custody Overview

Fathers in Texas who are going through a child custody matter will find it most advantageous to become aware of the laws and conditions surrounding custody arrangements.  The most important thing that fathers should know about child custody is that, in the state of Texas, both parents are regarded as conservators of their children.  As conservators, parents are automatically held accountable for their children’s day-to-day-needs and are also responsible for protecting their children’s best interests. 

When parents decide to separate or are not together, the state will become involved and will award one of three types of custody arrangements:  sole conservatorship, joint conservatorship or visitation.  When a parent is awarded sole conservatorship, he/she will be responsible for making decisions for the child and will most likely remain in physical possession of the child the majority of the time.  When parents are awarded joint conservatorship, they may split decision making responsibilities and will also share physical custody of their child. 

Texas Visitation Overview

In cases where sole or joint conservatorship is not awarded to a father, he may be entitled to visitation with his child or children.  In Texas, the law will presume that a standard visitation schedule will be followed for children who are over the age of 3.  The standard visitation schedule divides holidays equally amongst the parents and gives the parent who has been awarded visitation two weekends a month, two hours every Thursday during the school year and 30 days during the summer with his/her child.   The standard visitation schedule will be followed unless parents are able to work together to create another type of visitation schedule that meets both of their needs and that does not disrupt the child’s day-to-day life.

Dallas Child Custody & Father’s Rights Legal Advocates

If you would like to speak with an experienced Dallas family lawyer who is an advocate of father’s rights about child custody or visitation, contact our law firm to set up an initial consultation.