Both you and your kids have much at stake in a custody dispute, so you should learn as much as you can before filing a divorce or custody suit. Below is a summary of some of the basics of child custody that will give you a head start when you meet with a Dallas divorce lawyer at Epstein Family Law so that, together, we can focus on developing the best strategy for your case.
‘Full Custody’ Isn’t a Real Option
When we meet with new clients, many say they want “full custody” of their kids. They’ve heard that incorrect phrase somewhere, usually on the internet or a TV show. We explain that there’s no such thing as “full custody” in Texas. What most clients really want is to be the custodial parent, which is just one aspect of child custody in Texas. We also help them understand that an all-or-nothing custody demand is unrealistic, except in unique situations where traditional custody arrangements are voluntarily waived by a parent, impossible, or unsafe for the kids.
The Primary Issues at Play in a Custody Case
Texas family courts must make decisions regarding the two distinct components of child custody: 1) “conservatorship” (legal custody) and 2) “possession and access” (physical custody). You will hear the phrase “best interests of the children” many times in your case. This standard is the court’s guiding principle when determining issues that will impact the short- and long-term welfare of your kids. What parents want and what’s in the best interests of the kids aren’t always the same, and the court will always choose the latter.
Conservatorship
Conservatorship primarily focuses on parents’ rights to make decisions impacting the kids’ lives, including education, religious training, medical treatment, and other important parenting areas. Texas law presumes that, for most families, it’s in the best interest of the kids for parents to be joint managing conservators where both generally have equal rights, powers, and duties. In cases where one parent is unfit to be a joint managing conservator, the court can designate the other parent as sole managing conservator with exclusive authority to make parenting decisions.
Possession and Access
The possession and access component of child custody refers to parents’ rights to physical custody of the kids, including a determination of which parent they will live with the majority of the time (“custodial parent”) and the parent with rights to visitation and parenting time as set forth in a possession order (“non-custodial parent”). The custodial parent generally has the right to designate the kids’ primary residence, which often will be geographically restricted to the county of the suit and which, at times, will include surrounding counties as well.
In rare cases, there may be a much broader geographic restriction such as the State of Texas or the continental United States of America or even no geographic restriction to the primary residence of the child, meaning that the parent with this right may designate the child’s primary residence outside of the county of suit and surrounding counties.
There is a rebuttable presumption that the Texas Standard Possession Order is in the best interests of kids over age 3. Unless parents agree otherwise, the non-custodial parent has the right to possession on the first, third, and fifth weekends of the month and Thursdays during the school year. The Standard Possession Order also contains a schedule for summer, spring break, and major holidays. For kids under age 3, the court will create a possession schedule that fits the family’s unique circumstances.
Cases Involving Dangerous Situations
If a case involves substance abuse, mental health problems, domestic violence, or any other threat to a child’s physical or mental safety, the court can order various alternative custody arrangements based on the circumstances, including visitation with conditions, such as drug and alcohol testing, supervised visitation, and/or designating one parent as sole managing conservator with sole physical custody.
About Tarah Hill
Tarah Hill is an associate at Epstein Family Law. A graduate of SMU Dedman School of Law, where she participated in the VanSickle Family Law Clinic and assisted with pro bono cases, Tarah values the firm's collaborative, solutions-oriented approach and commitment to exceptional client representation. Originally from the Texas Panhandle, Tarah joined the firm after gaining hands-on experience as a law clerk. Contact us to schedule a consultation.