Grapevine Child Custody Lawyers

Supportive Family Attorneys for Child Custody Issues in Grapevine, TX

When parents separate, they will have to reach a long-term agreement regarding child custody. The courts do not take this responsibility lightly, as they will closely scrutinize the proposed parenting agreement to see if it serves the child's best interests. To navigate these tumultuous legal proceedings, consider working with a Grapevine child custody attorney for assistance.

Disputes and concerns about child custody should be handled with the utmost care. At Powell Law Offices, P.C., we have built up a reputation for professionalism and integrity, which you can see in our 150+ 5-star reviews. Our lawyers will work diligently to resolve your custody matter as efficiently as possible, standing up for your rights while focusing on what is best for your child.

Legal Standards in Texas Custody Cases

Texas courts decide custody disputes by focusing on the child's best interest, guided by the factors set out in Holley v. Adams. These include the child's physical and emotional needs now and in the future, the emotional ties between child and parent, each parent's ability to provide for those needs, the child's home, school, and community stability, and any history of abuse or neglect by either parent.

Courts also consider the child's preference when the child is mature enough to form a reasoned choice. Judges weigh these factors without giving any single element controlling weight. Rather, they balance all circumstances to reach a custody arrangement that promotes the child's safety, happiness, and healthy development. When the child's best interests are not immediately clear, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem to investigate the child's home life and make a recommendation to the judge.

How Is Custody Divided?

In Texas, custody comprises two distinct components: physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody concerns where the child lives on a day-to-day basis. A parent with "primary" physical custody hosts the child for the majority of time under the court's possession order, while the "non-custodial" parent exercises possession through a schedule—often the standard possession order providing weekend, holiday, and summer visits. Parents may also agree to more liberal arrangements, swapping weekdays or alternating weeks depending on work schedules.

Legal custody refers to the right to make major decisions for the child, including choices about education, medical care, religious upbringing, and extracurricular activities. Parents often share legal custody, requiring them to consult one another and reach a consensus on significant issues. When parents cannot agree, the court may assign exclusive legal custody to one parent, though courts generally encourage joint decision-making when it serves the child's welfare.

When Is Sole Custody Necessary?

While joint custody is favored by the courts to ensure ongoing relationships with both parents, sole custody may be necessary in certain situations. If one parent has a documented history of domestic violence, child abuse, neglect, or substance addiction that endangers the child, the court may award the other parent sole physical custody. Similarly, if one parent consistently fails to visit, communicate, or financially support the child, the court may determine that a single custodial parent can better meet the child's needs.

In cases involving long-distance relocation, sole custody may be granted to maintain stability in schooling and social networks. Courts also consider whether granting sole custody would protect the child from ongoing conflict or parental alienation. A finding of sole legal custody is made only after the court concludes that joint decision-making would harm the child or is impractical due to entrenched parental disagreements.

Contact a Grapevine, Texas Child Custody Attorney

A healthy child custody arrangement can shape a child's development for the better. At Powell Law Offices, P.C., we can work with you to foster a strong custody agreement that allows you to exercise your parental rights. To set up a free initial consultation, call our offices at 972-584-9382 or contact our Grapevine child custody lawyers. We offer in-person and virtual consultations.