Fort Worth, Texas Child Custody Lawyer

Law Firm for Joint and Sole Child Custody in the Fort Worth, TX

There is no denying that child custody cases can have a major emotional impact on everyone involved. Even when both parents are deeply committed to doing what is best for their child, there can be considerable disagreements between them. While many parents are able to develop child custody schedules out of court by agreement, others will need to litigate these matters. Understandably, most parents want to spend as much time with their children as possible after a divorce or separation. This can lead to difficulty in compromising, and disputes may need to be resolved in court.

The Law Office of J. Kevin Clark P.C. is committed to putting the best interests of the children involved in family law cases. Attorney J. Kevin Clark is highly experienced in guiding parents through difficult and complicated child custody cases and developing the best possible co-parenting strategies. He will take the time to fully assess your family's circumstances, the needs of the child, and the ability or inability of your child's other parent to meet those needs. His goal is to help you maintain the strongest possible relationship with your child after your case is resolved.

How Child Custody Cases Are Decided in Texas

Texas law says that when a court is asked to decide on a child custody arrangement, it must make its decision based solely on what is best for the child. There are a number of factors the court will consider, including each parent's role in caring for the child and the unique needs of the child or children. A guardian ad litem will generally be brought in to help the court assess how each factor applies to your family.

Parents also have the option of working together to create a co-parenting plan out of court. This is commonly done during an uncontested divorce, but unmarried parents also have the option of going to mediation. Children often benefit from this type of resolution, as they will probably not need to appear in court or answer questions from a third party.

Options for Joint Custody

Nearly all child custody cases result in some type of joint custody arrangement. Options for joint custody include:

• Splitting time evenly - If you and the other parent will live near each other and your child's school, it may be possible and beneficial to split the child's time evenly between your households.
• Primary custody and visitation - If one of you plans to relocate, it may be more practical for the child to spend most of their time with one parent, visiting the other during breaks from school.
• Supervised visitation - In cases where a child's safety and well-being may be at risk, one parent may be permitted to visit their child only under the supervision of another adult the court deems responsible or at a designated visitation center.

Our legal team will help you assess what type of arrangement would benefit your child the most.

When Sole Custody Is Necessary to Protect the Child

Sole custody is rare, but may be ordered in the following circumstances:

• One parent has a criminal conviction for an offense such as child abuse or a child-oriented sex offense.
• The court believes that one parent poses a threat to the child in any way.
• One parent is simply not interested in spending time with the child. Child support could still be ordered, and grandparents' rights may come into play.
• One parent has a serious, unmanaged mental health condition like schizophrenia or borderline personality disorder or an untreated substance abuse problem.
• The child has been abused, neglected, or endangered by one parent.

In these cases, you may need to go to court to prove that sole custody is truly necessary for the well-being of the child.

Contact an Arlington, TX Child Custody Lawyer

The Law Office of J. Kevin Clark P.C. is dedicated to helping parents maintain strong and meaningful relationships with their children after divorce or separation. Mr. Clark will do all he can to ensure that you can spend the most possible time with your child. Contact us at 817-348-6723 for a complimentary consultation.