The cost of your family law case can vary depending on several factors. Call a Carlson Law Firm location near you to schedule your free consultation.
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A child custody lawyer from The Carlson Law Firm knows just how difficult and exhausting these cases can be. Our lawyers understand that when children are involved emotions run high. When it comes to determining custody, child support and visitation rights, you will be focused on ensuring that your children’s best interests are the first priority—and so will our firm. It is an emotional situation that can be handled with the assistance of a family law attorney from our firm. Our Child Support Lawyers can help you make modifications if your financial situation changes or enforce current orders. A Carlson Law Firm custody attorney considers many factors that are part of a child custody case and the family’s previous lifestyle to try and develop a plan that makes sense.
Our child custody lawyers serve the following counties:
The Carlson Law Firm has nearly 50 years of experience supporting clients through child custody matters. If you have family law concerns, contact our Child Custody and Child Support Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
As a Veteran-Owned law firm, The Carlson Law Firm proudly represents military members in our community needing a family law attorney. Our divorce attorneys are here to help you navigate divorce or child custody arrangements.
According to a 2018 study from Pew, around 24 million U.S. children live with an unmarried parent. It is important that parents understand their rights when taking on fighting for their children’s best interests. Parents generally have to agree on the following types of conservatorship:
Sole managing conservatorship is similar to sole custody in other states, where one parent is granted the exclusive authority to make major decisions for the child, such as those concerning education and medical care. The non-custodial parent, known as the possessory conservator, usually retains visitation rights, while the designation of sole managing conservator may be due to factors like absence, substance abuse, or family violence.
Joint managing conservatorship, the most commonly awarded arrangement in Texas, involves both parents sharing decision-making responsibilities for the child. Although one parent may have primary physical custody and decide where the child lives, both parents are encouraged to actively participate in the child's life, with a possession order determining visitation and time spent with each parent.
The parent not named as the sole managing conservator is usually designated as the possessory conservator, with a Standard Possession Order often used to determine visitation schedules. If a nonparent is named the sole managing conservator, both parents typically become possessory conservators, with the order providing a consistent and predictable routine for the child, covering weekdays, weekends, holidays, and special occasions.
In Texas, joint custody (referred to as “joint managing conservatorship”) means both parents share the rights and duties of raising the child, even if the child primarily lives with one parent. Sole custody (referred to as “sole managing conservatorship”) means one parent has the exclusive right to make decisions about the child’s upbringing, including education, medical care, and religious training.
In Texas, the perception that courts favor mothers is false. Statistics show that when fathers actively pursue custody and parental rights, they can be successful. Nationally, fathers who seek joint custody or primary custody in court win about 50-60% of the time. In Texas, fathers who fully engage in the legal process and demonstrate their ability to provide for the best interest of the child win joint custody in a significant number of cases, though exact state-specific statistics can vary. It’s important to note that Texas courts do not favor one parent over the other based on gender; instead, they focus on what is best for the child.
Yes. In fact, 90% of child custody cases never make to court because parents can come to a favorable agreement that works best for their families. Courts tend to honor agreements that parents come to on their own.
Typically, no. The only family law cases where you are entitled to a court-appointed attorney (assuming you meet the income requirements for one) are child protective services (CPS) cases, when your parental rights are being terminated, or when there is a possibility of jail time (i.e. for failure to pay child support).
Bell, Coryell, Milam, Lampasas, Williamson, Hays, Travis, Bastrop, and Burnet.
The cost of your family law case can vary depending on several factors. Call a Carlson Law Firm location near you to schedule your free consultation.
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The court will decide whether the parents will have joint managing conservatorship (shared custody) or if one parent will have sole managing conservatorship (primary custody), determining who will have the legal right to make important decisions about the child's life.
The court will establish a visitation schedule, specifying when the non-custodial parent will have possession of the child. This often includes details about weekends, holidays, and summer vacations.
The court will determine the amount of child support that the non-custodial parent must pay to the custodial parent to help cover the child's living expenses, based on the non-custodial parent’s income and the needs of the child.
The court will decide which parent is responsible for providing health insurance for the child and how any additional medical expenses, not covered by insurance, will be shared between the parents.
Courts may address who will make decisions regarding the child's education, including choice of school, participation in extracurricular activities, and responsibility for associated costs.
In high conflict situations, the court may require parents communicate through applications like Our Family Wizard to help parents manage and communicate about their children. It is used to facilitate communication and reduce conflict.
In most cases, you cannot ask the court for a custody modification for at least one year. There are situations when you can pursue a modification prior to one year, but those conditions are extreme. Under normal conditions, attorneys will take on modification cases when there is a substantial change in circumstances. These circumstances include the following:
While the law allows for modifications when justified, frequent or frivolous requests for changes to custody orders are generally discouraged. The court aims to provide stability for the child, so unless there is a clear and substantial reason, multiple requests for modification in a short period are unlikely to be granted. If you believe that your family needs a custody modification to serve your child’s needs, our child custody lawyers can help.
In Texas, child support is calculated as a percentage of the non-custodial parent’s net income. The percentage depends on the number of children requiring support—20% for one child, 25% for two children, and so on. The calculation considers the parent’s earnings, deductions, and any other financial obligations, ensuring that the child’s needs are met according to the parent’s ability to pay.
Child support orders can be modified if there is a significant change in circumstances, such as a change in the parent’s income, the child’s needs, or the custody arrangement. Either parent can request a review and modification through the court or the Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division. The modification ensures that child support remains fair and reflective of the current situation.
With deep understanding and compassion, we guide you through every step of the legal process, ensuring your family's well-being remains our top priority.
100 E. Central Texas Expy
Killeen, TX 76541
(254) 526-5688
11606 N. I-35
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 346-5688
135 W. Slaughter Ln, Ste A
Austin, TX 78748
(512) 804-7277
6243 I-10 #550
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 696-8600
618 SW Military Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78221
(210) 923-7700
1109 W. Baker Road, Ste A
Baytown, TX 77521
(832) 806-6155
1121 Briarcrest Drive, Ste 200
Bryan, TX 77802
(979) 260-5688
653 Everhart Rd, Ste 105
Corpus Christi, TX 78411
(361) 336-3317
301 Junction Highway, Ste 100
Kerrville, TX 78028
(830) 257-7575
5112 McPherson, Ste 106
Laredo, TX 78041
(956) 712-2588
10101 Quaker Ave
Lubbock, TX 79424
(806) 401-0500
900 Lp 250 Frontage Rd b
Midland, TX 79705
(432) 247-6611
1717 N. I-35 Ste 305
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 671-7277
4282 S Jackson St.
San angelo, TX 76903
(325) 238-4322
2010 SW H K Dodgen Loop, Ste 201
Temple TX 76504
(254) 771-5688
2420 I-35 South
Waco, TX 76706
(254) 772-5653
2909 Garnett Ave
Wichita Falls, TX 76308
(940) 285-6333
1500 Rosecrans Ave Ste 500
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(254) 516-3570
33rd Ave N Ste 220
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 373-4655
100 E. Central Texas Expy
Killeen, TX 76541
(254) 526-5688
11606 N. I-35
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 346-5688
135 W. Slaughter Ln, Ste A
Austin, TX 78748
(512) 804-7277
6243 I-10 #550
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 696-8600
618 SW Military Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78221
(210) 923-7700
1109 W. Baker Road, Ste A
Baytown, TX 77521
(832) 806-6155
1121 Briarcrest Drive, Ste 200
Bryan, TX 77802
(979) 260-5688
653 Everhart Rd, Ste 105
Corpus Christi, TX 78411
(361) 336-3317
301 Junction Highway, Ste 100
Kerrville, TX 78028
(830) 257-7575
5112 McPherson, Ste 106
Laredo, TX 78041
(956) 712-2588
10101 Quaker Ave
Lubbock, TX 79424
(806) 401-0500
900 Lp 250 Frontage Rd b
Midland, TX 79705
(432) 247-6611
559 S I-35 Frontage Rd Ste 250,
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 671-7277
4282 S Jackson St.
San angelo, TX 76903
(325) 238-4322
2010 SW H K Dodgen Loop, Ste 201
Temple TX 76504
(254) 771-5688
2420 I-35 South
Waco, TX 76706
(254) 772-5653
2909 Garnett Ave
Wichita Falls, TX 76308
(940) 285-6333
1500 Rosecrans Ave Ste 500
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(254) 516-3570
333 33rd Ave N Ste 220
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 373-4655
