Austin Child Visitation Lawyer
Texas state law offers parents the right to child access and visitation following a divorce. During a divorce, a primary caregiver of minor children will be established along with visitation and access rights of the non-custodial parent. When visitation rights cannot be established during the divorce process or need to be amended, contacting an honest and hard working family lawyer is important.
Child visitation lawyer Clifford Swayze, located in Austin, provides parents legal services in all areas of child visitation law, from amending the agreement to fighting for a parent’s right to see the child. In addition to working with clients in Austin, Clifford Swayze is proud to serve as a child visitation lawyer in Travis County and Williamson County. If you live in any of these areas and need information about a child visitation dispute, please call today at 512-335-5245.
Guidelines Regarding Child Visitation
In Texas there is no requirement that the parents be granted equal or nearly equal periods of possession of the child. In Texas primary concern of the courts regarding child custody and visitation is the best interest of the child. The focus of child custody laws is to encourage frequent contact between the child and both of the child’s parents. Texas has statutory guidelines that that govern parenting plans. However, parties to a divorce are allowed to deviate from these guidelines.
The court generally appoints a managing conservator and a possessory conservator. A managing conservator is the parent who has the right to designate the primary residence of the child, and receive support for the benefit of the child. A possessory conservator is the non-custodial parent. Texas has a standard possession order that that applies when the child is over the age of three and is generally used in the absence of agreement or when a circumstances exist that necessitate a deviation from the standard possession order. When courts deviate from the standard possession order there are a number of different factors that the court takes into consideration.
The Texas Family code provides that “the best interest of the child shall always be the primary consideration of the court in determining the issues of conservatorship and possession of and access to the child.” Public policy encourages both parents to have frequent and continuing contact with their child. However, if the parents are not able to agree on visitation, then generally the Standard Possession Order applies.
Child visitation agreements have legal force. If you are a non-custodial parent whose child visitation rights are being interfered with, you are not powerless. Courts may impose fines or, in extreme cases, jail time on parents who interfere with child visitation rights.
Guiding You through Child Visitation Law
Child visitation lawyer Clifford Swayze may be able to help a parent establish or modify current child visitation rights.
Clifford Swayze can help with child visitation disputes such as:
- Drafting and reviewing parenting plans
- Modifying and enforcing divorce decrees
- Resolving matters regarding relocation and other modifications of a parent, either primary or non-custodial
Finding the right child visitation lawyer to protect your legal rights during a visitation modification or child visitation dispute is vital to ensuring a favorable outcome for you and your child. No matter the circumstances, Clifford Swayze will fight for your rights during a child visitation dispute case. To contact Clifford Swayze call 512-335-5245 to set up a consultation.
