Lubbock County Child Custody Attorneys

Protecting the Best Interests of Your Children

Whether you are going through a divorce or separating from your child’s other parent, ending a relationship is always a difficult time. If you share children, the stakes are even higher as you must now determine how to continue to provide for your children’s best interests in separate households. The experienced Lubbock County child custody lawyers at Cofer & Connelly, PLLC can help you navigate the process. Our team can help you understand your rights and responsibilities and work with you to develop a comprehensive parenting plan that protects your children’s best interests.

Call (806) 298-6518 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our team today. We can help you understand your options when it comes to child custody.

Understanding Texas Child Custody Laws

Under Texas law, child custody is referred to as “conservatorship.” Conservatorship refers to the rights and duties that parents have when it comes to making important decisions for their children. These decisions can include where a child goes to school, what type of medical care the child receives, and more. Parents can be appointed as joint managing conservators, which means they share these rights and duties, or one parent can be appointed as the sole managing conservator, which means they have the exclusive right to make these decisions.

Joint managing conservatorship is generally preferred in Texas, as it is presumed that a child will benefit from having both parents involved in their life. However, if there is evidence of domestic violence or other factors that could put a child’s well-being at risk, the court may appoint one parent as the sole managing conservator.

When most people talk about child custody, they are actually referring to “possession and access,” which refers to the physical custody of the child and the amount of time each parent spends with the child. Possession and access can be divided in a number of ways, and the court will consider what is in the child’s best interests when making this determination.

Parents can work together to develop a parenting plan that outlines how possession and access will be divided. If parents cannot agree, the court will develop a plan for them. In most cases, the court will attempt to create a plan that allows the child to maintain a relationship with both parents, but the child’s best interests will always be the primary concern.

When creating a parenting plan, the court will consider a number of factors, including:

• The child’s needs and circumstances
• The child’s preferences (if the child is at least 12 years old)
• Each parent’s ability to care for the child
• The stability of each parent’s home
• Any history of domestic violence or child abuse

Child Custody Modifications

Once a child custody order is in place, it can be difficult to change. However, if there has been a significant change in circumstances, either parent can petition the court to modify the order. Some common reasons for modifying a child custody order include:

• One parent has moved
• One parent has been arrested or charged with a crime
• One parent has a new job or work schedule
• The child’s needs have changed

If you need to modify a child custody order, our team can help. We have extensive experience handling child custody modifications and can help you understand your rights and options.