San Antonio Child Custody Attorney - Bailey & Galyen Attorneys at Law

1. SanAntonioChildCustodyAttorneys AltText-SanAntonioChildCustodyAttorney LetUsHelpYouProtectYourRightsandPromotetheBestInterestsof YourChildren Whennavigatingthecomplexterrainoffamilylaw,entrustingyourcasetoexperiencedSanAntoniochildcustodyattorneyensurestailoredlegalsolutionscraftedwithexpertiseand compassion. Whenyourmarriageisoverandthereareminorchildrenremaininginthemaritalhome,they areyourfirstpriority.Youwanttoknowthattheirneedswillbemet.Atthesametime,you wanttomaintainastrong relationshipwiththem,tobetheretoofferthemguidance,andto shareintheirgrowthandupbringing.Hopefully,yourexfeelsthesameway,andwillwork cooperativelywithyoutoensurethatyouhavemeaningfultimewithyourchildren. Unfortunately,custodialparentscanoftenusechildrenaspawns,wrongfullydenyingaccess.To ensurethatyourrightsarefullyprotected,youwantexperiencedandknowledgeablelegal counsel. YouwantBailey&Galyen. TosetupameetingwithanexperiencedSanAntoniochildcustodylawyer,contactBailey& Galyenonlineorcallouroffices844-402-2992.

2. HowTexasLawGovernsRightsofChildrenandParentsinCustody and VisitationMatters • TheTexasFamilyCode,whichsetstherightsandresponsibilitiesofparentsincustodyand visitationproceedings,grantsequalrightstomothersandfathersincustodymatters.Whena marriageis legallydissolvedintheLoneStarStateandthereareminorchildren inthemarital home,eachparentispresumedbylawtobea“jointmanaging conservator.”Theparentshave equaldecision-makingauthoritywithrespecttomostissuesinvolvingtheminorchildren,and theyalsohaveequalresponsibility forthechild’swell-being.Thatdoesnotmean, however, thatbothparentshavearightofequaltimewiththechildren. • Often,thepartiestoa divorceproceedingwillworkouttheirown custody/visitation plan, withoutinvolvementfromthecourt.Evenwhentheydo,though,thecustodyarrangement mustbeinwritingandmustbeapprovedbythecourt.Iftheparentscannot cometoan agreement,thecourtwillconsiderevidenceandmakeadetermination,focusingonthe • perceived“bestinterestsofthechild.” • WhatAretheDifferentTypesofChildCustodyinTexas? • WhenthereareminorchildrenofadivorceinTexas,thecourtwillissueanordergrantingone ofthefollowingtypesof“custody”: • Jointmanagingconservatorship(alsoknownas“jointcustody”)—Jointcustodypresumesthat • bothparentswillsharetherightsand responsibilitiesofraisingthechild.The courtmay, however,grantoneofthepartiestheexclusiverighttomakecertaintypesofdecisions, based onwhetherthecourtdeterminesthatdoingsois “inthebestinterestsofthechild.” Accordingly,thedivorcedecreewilloftenidentify bothseparateandjointpowersand responsibilities.

3. Whengrantingajointmanagingconservatorship,thecourtwilltypicallyawardoneparentwhatWhengrantingajointmanagingconservatorship,thecourtwilltypicallyawardoneparentwhat • isknownas“primaryphysicalcustody”,whichestablisheswheretheprimaryresidenceofthe • minorchildrenwillbe.Insucha situation,the courtwillalsogranttheotherparentsomeform ofregularvisitationoraccesstotheminorchild.Thespecifictermsofthenon-custodial • parent’stimewithminorchildrenarecustomarilyfoundinaseparate courtdecreecalleda “standardpossessionorder.” • Solemanagingconservatorships (or“solecustody”)—Whenthecourtdeterminesthatdoingso willbeinthebestinterestsofaminorchild,thecourtwillgrantone parentsoleorexclusive rightandauthoritytomakedecisionsaboutthechild’swelfare.Thistypicallyincludesthe right todetermine: • Thechild’sprimaryresidence • Anymedicalordentalcarethechildreceives • Allaspectsofthechild’seducation • Participation bythechildinextracurricularactivities • Any psychologicalorpsychiatriccarerequired byorforthechild • Thedesignatedcontactpersonincaseofemergency • Customarily,when oneparentisgrantedsolemanaging conservatorship,thatpartyalsohasthe righttoreceivechildsupport. • WhatFactorsAreCommonlyConsideredbytheCourtsWhenMaking DecisionsaboutChildCustody? • TheprimaryobligationofthecourtsinTexas,whengrantingchildcustody,isthelegalstandard of“thebestinterestsofthechild.”Whendeterminingwhatwillbeinthebestinterestsofthe child,thecourtcanconsider:

4. Theamountofinvolvementeachparenthadinthechild’s lifeduringthecourseofthe • marriage • Thewillingnessofbothparentstoworkcooperativelyforthebenefitofthe child. Specifically,thecourtwillseektoidentifyiftherearedocumentedinstanceswhereoneof theparentshas,inanyway,soughttoalienatethechild’saffectionfortheotherparent or todiminishordisparagetheotherparent. • Therelativestabilityofeachparent’shome—thecourtwillevaluatethelivingsituationwith eachparenttoensurethattheycanprovideaconsistentandsafeplaceforthechildtolive andthrive. • Anyhistoryofsubstanceabuse,domesticviolenceorcriminalactivitybyeitherparent • Thedesireforcontinuityinthechild’slife—Thecourtwillseektoput arrangements inplace thatminimizeanyinterference,inconsistency orirregularityinthechild’sdailylife • Thewishesofthechild—Asageneralrule,whenachildreachestheageof12,he orshe mayhaveinput intowhereheorshewill live • WhatIstheTypicalTimeFrametoResolveaChildCustodyDisputein Texas? • Whenparentsworkcooperativelytoputtogetheracustodyplan,theprocesscanoftenbe resolvedquickly,typicallywithinafewweeksormonths.Whencustodyorvisitation is contested,though,itcantakemonthsorevenyearstocometoaresolution. • WhatIsaParent-ChildRelationship(SAPCR)inTexas andWhatIsIts Purpose? • InTexas,wheneitherparentneedstoresolveadisagreementrelatedtotheirrightswith • respectofaminorchild,thatparentmustfileaproceedingknownasa”suitaffectingaparent- childrelationship,”orSAPCR.TheSAPCRmayinvolvedisagreements relatedtocustody, visitation,andchildsupport, medicalanddentalcosts.

5. WhatAretheMostCommonChildCustodyIssuesthatAriseinSan Antonio? • Asageneralrule,mostchildcustodydisagreementsrelateto: • Whowillreceiveprimaryphysicalcustodyandhowandwhenthenon-custodialparent will havevisitationwith oraccesstothechild • Anyallegedwrongfuldenialofaccessorvisitationbythecustodialparent • Theabilityofeitherparenttotakeachildacrossstateorinternational borders • Modificationofthetermsof thechildcustodyorder • HowDoYouModifyanExistingChildCustodyOrder? • Situationschange…aparentmaytakeanewjoborneedtomoveforwork.Thechild’sneeds maychangeaswell.Custodyordersarenotsetinstonebutarenoteasilymodified.Evenifyou andyourexagreetocertainchanges,though,thosechangesmustbeapprovedbythecourt.To successfullymodifyanexistingchildcustody order,oneparentmustfileamotionwiththecourtseekingtoamendthecourtorder. Ifnecessary,thecourtwillscheduleahearingtogather evidencebeforemakingadetermination. • WhyShouldYouHireBailey&GalyentoHandleYourChildCustody Concerns? • AtBailey&Galyen,webringmorethan40yearsofexperiencetoparentsthroughoutTexas whoareinvolvedinchildcustodycontroversies.Wehaveacomprehensiveknowledgeofthe lawandknowhowtoeffectivelyworktogettheoutcomeyouwant. • GotaQuestion?ScheduleaFreeInitialConsultationwithOur San AntonioChildCustodyAttorneys • AtthelawofficesofBaileyandGalyen,withofficesthroughoutTexas,weworkhardtoensure yourtotal satisfactionwithourrepresentation.Wewilltakeyourcall24hoursaday,seven

6. daysaweek.Eveningandweekendconsultationsmaybearrangeduponrequest.Wewillalsodaysaweek.Eveningandweekendconsultationsmaybearrangeduponrequest.Wewillalso traveltomeetwithyou,ifnecessary. Tolearnwhetheryouqualifyforafreeconsultationtodiscussyourchildcustody dispute,call ourofficesat 844-402-2992orcontactusbye-mail.