Tarrant County Child Custody Lawyers

Child custody and visitation are referred to as conservatorship and possession and access in Texas. All conservatorship determinations are based on what the court believes is in the best interests of the child, and there are many possible outcomes for your custody case, depending on your circumstances.

If you are getting divorced, have a paternity case, or a custody matter arises on its own, you want the help and representation of a Hurst child custody attorney at Hoppes Law Firm, PLLC. We regularly represent parents in this type of matter, and we can work to protect your parental rights. Contact our office today.

Conservatorship Determinations in Texas

Conservators have a vast array of rights and duties in relation to children, including but not limited to, consenting to medical procedures, making educational decisions, and determining the residence of the child as well having the right to consult with professionals such as teachers and medical providers. It is presumed that joint managing conservatorship is in the best interest of the child. Generally, this means parents share in the decision making and each has duties toward the child. In some instances, joint managing conservatorship may not be appropriate. Under very specific circumstances, the Court may award sole managing conservatorship to one parent, meaning only that parent has certain rights regarding decision making. The conservator who has the right to determine the child’s residence is often referred to as the primary conservator while the conservator who has the possession schedule is often referred to as the possessory conservator. Texas has a standard possession order which governs the time each parent will spend with the child in most circumstances.

The Court is governed by the “best interest of the child’ which includes, but is not limited to, the child’s emotional needs, ability of the parents to cooperate, the age and desires of the child, each parent’s fitness to parent, who has been the primary caregiver of the child, and any emotional or physical danger to the child. There are a broad range of factors that the Court may consider, and the outcome can be very fact specific. The attorneys at Hoppes Law Firm, PLLC will give you an honest and forthright analysis of your case and develop a strategy that minimizes the conflict to the children.

Reaching a Custody Agreement

Parents tend to understand their schedules, the nature of their relationships with their child, the child’s needs, and other factors better than anyone else. Most parents also want to maintain control over the conservatorship order, since it can impact their lives significantly for years to come. While Hoppes Law Firm, PLLC is always prepared to litigate in court, as seasoned family law attorneys, we strongly support alternative dispute resolution and negotiation to resolve conservatorship, possession and access issues. In our many years of handling a myriad of family law cases, it has been our experience these methods minimize the emotional distress of the children and provide a better foundation for stability moving forward post-divorce.

Our lawyers know how to negotiate with your child’s other parent (through their attorney) to try to find a shared conservatorship arrangement that works. We can also represent you in mediation, which helps facilitate compromise. Whenever possible, an out-of-court agreement tends to be preferable for parents.

If you cannot reach an agreement, or if your case involves abuse or a parent who might be unfit, the matter will go before the court, and the judge will decide what arrangement is in the best interest of the child. We are skilled litigators who know how to represent your rights as a parent in court.

An Experienced Hurst Child Custody Attorney Can Help

If you are facing a conservatorship case, you should always have the assistance of a dedicated child custody lawyer from Hoppes Law Firm, PLLC. We are committed to applying our considerable experience and resources to your case to reach the most favorable outcome possible. Our knowledgeable legal team proudly serves Hurst, Bedford, Colleyville, Keller, North Richland Hills, Southlake, Fort Worth, Arlington, and Richland Hills in Texas, so please do not hesitate to contact us online or call us at 817-283-3999 for more information today.