Child Custody
In Texas, custody is two things: conservatorship (who has rights and duties over the children) and possession and access (when each parent has them). Getting both right matters. I've handled custody cases throughout Texas for 18 years — and I'll tell you honestly what outcome your facts support.
If you have a court date coming, call now — (817) 382-8333.
How I approach it
Custody cases in Texas almost always have three possible paths, and choosing the wrong one costs time, money, and sometimes the outcome you needed.
The first road is an agreed parenting plan. When both parents can put the children's interests first and reach full agreement on conservatorship and a possession schedule, a well-drafted agreed order is the fastest path and the least disruptive to the children. I'll make sure what you sign actually says what you think it says — vague agreements become expensive disputes later.
The second road is mediation. Most DFW courts strongly encourage — and some require — mediation before trial. A skilled mediator helps parents find workable ground on conservatorship and schedules without putting a judge in charge of the outcome. I prepare my clients for mediation seriously: you walk in knowing your position, your leverage, and your walk-away points.
The third road is litigation. When one parent poses a safety concern, when the facts genuinely don't support the other side's position, or when agreement simply isn't possible, I take custody cases to court. The standard Texas courts apply is the best interest of the children — and I know how to present the facts that matter to a DFW judge.
Your Plan of Action picks the road deliberately, based on your situation — not on which road is easiest to sell you.
Related: Divorce · Child Support · Modifications & Enforcement
The first step
Custody cases require a clear-eyed look at what a court would actually do with your facts before you commit to a strategy. The Plan of Action does exactly that — and it identifies which conservatorship and possession outcomes are realistic for your specific situation.
After that, it's pay-as-you-go — you always know the price before the work begins. No retainer to exhaust, no surprise invoices, no hourly meter.
Conservatorship is the legal term Texas uses for what most people call "custody." It covers the rights and duties each parent has regarding the children — who makes medical decisions, who has access to school records, who can consent to various activities. This is separate from the possession schedule, which governs when each parent has the children physically. Both pieces matter and both are addressed in your Plan of Action.
Texas courts start with a default possession schedule built into the family code, and many cases end up with something close to it — alternating weekends, certain holidays, and extended summer time for the non-primary parent. Whether the standard schedule fits your family or whether you should push for something different is a strategy question your Plan of Action will answer.
It depends on the facts. Texas courts presume that joint managing conservatorship is in the children's best interest in most cases — but that presumption can be overcome with the right facts. Safety concerns, documented history of family violence, and other factors can shift the analysis. The Plan of Action will tell you what your facts support and what a realistic outcome looks like.
Paternity and parenting rights for unmarried parents go through a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship, not a divorce. The conservatorship and possession framework is the same — the procedural path to get there is different. This is a significant part of my practice, and the Plan of Action covers it the same way it covers a divorce-related custody dispute.
Possibly — if there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances since the order was entered. Custody modifications are governed by that standard, and not every change qualifies. See the modifications and enforcement page for more detail, or start with a Plan of Action and I'll tell you whether your facts clear the bar.
The $500 Case Review & Plan of Action gives you a clear strategy — and a realistic picture of what your facts support — before you spend a dollar more.
If you have a court date coming, call now — (817) 382-8333.