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Your Relationship With Your Children Is Worth Fighting For

When custody is at stake, the fear of losing time with your children can be overwhelming. I represent parents in Corpus Christi and across Texas at every stage of a custody case — whether you are establishing an initial order, seeking a modification, or facing an emergency situation that cannot wait. My goal is to build the strongest possible case for your time and your role in your children's lives.

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How Texas Custody Law Actually Works

Texas uses specific legal terms that most people do not encounter until they are in the middle of a custody dispute. Understanding them helps you know what you are actually asking the court to decide.

 

In Texas, custody is formally called conservatorship. A parent named as a managing conservator holds decision-making rights over the children — things like schooling, medical care, and religious upbringing. A possessory conservator has the right to spend time with the children but does not share in those major decisions. Courts most commonly award joint managing conservatorship, meaning both parents share decision-making authority, while one parent is designated as the primary residence parent.

 

The schedule that governs when each parent has the children is called a possession order. The standard possession order sets out a default schedule used across Texas when parents cannot agree on their own terms. That schedule can be expanded or restricted based on the specific facts of your case — and advocating for the schedule that reflects your involvement is exactly what I do.

What Texas Courts Consider When Deciding Custody

Every custody decision in Texas is governed by one standard: the best interest of the child. That phrase covers a wide range of factors, and courts weigh them carefully. Understanding what judges look for helps you prepare a case that speaks directly to those concerns.

 

Factors that commonly influence custody decisions include:

 

  • Where the children currently live and attend school, and how stability in that environment benefits them
  • The level of involvement each parent has had in the children's daily lives — caregiving, schooling, medical appointments, extracurricular activities
  • The quality of the relationship each parent has with the children and with the other parent
  • Any history of family violence, substance abuse, or neglect
  • The children's own preferences, which courts may consider depending on the child's age and maturity
  • Each parent's ability to provide a stable home, consistent routine, and emotional support

 

Texas law also prohibits courts from discriminating based on sex, national origin, immigration status, or religious belief. Every parent has equal standing to seek custody under the best interest standard. If you have concerns about how your background or circumstances might be perceived, I will help you present your case in the light it deserves.

For relatives living outside the United States


After USCIS approves the initial petition, the case transfers to the National Visa Center and then to a U.S. embassy or consulate in the applicant's home country. Your relative attends an interview abroad and, if approved, enters the United States as a lawful permanent resident. I prepare families for what the consular interview involves and what documents are required.


The right path depends on your family member's specific situation, including whether they entered the U.S. lawfully, whether they have any prior immigration violations, and whether any bars to admissibility apply.

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Consular Processing

Initial Orders, Modifications, and Emergency Relief

Custody cases do not all look the same. Some parents need an initial order established because none exists. Others need an existing order changed because circumstances have shifted. And some situations require immediate court action before a child is harmed or removed.

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Establishing and Modifying Custody Orders

Custody cases do not all look the same. Some parents need an initial order established because none exists. Others need an existing order changed because circumstances have shifted. And some situations require immediate court action before a child is harmed or removed.

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Emergency Custody Orders and International Abduction Prevention

When a child is in immediate danger — or when there is a credible risk that the other parent will remove the children from Texas or take them out of the country — the court can act quickly. An emergency protective order or a temporary restraining order can be filed rapidly to restrict the other parent's ability to travel with the children while the full case is heard.

 

For families with international ties, the risk of international child abduction is a real and serious concern. A Texas court can issue a geographic restriction limiting where the children may be taken, and can order that the children's passports be held by the court or surrendered to prevent travel. These tools exist under both Texas law and the Hague Convention on international parental abduction. If you believe the other parent is planning to leave the country with your children, do not wait — contact me as soon as possible so we can move before they do.

Fathers' Rights and Non-Citizen Parents

Two groups of parents often come to me with the same underlying fear: that the system is already against them before the case begins.

 

Fathers sometimes assume courts favor mothers. That has not been the law in Texas for decades. Courts are required to evaluate both parents equally under the best interest standard, and I have helped many fathers secure primary custody or expanded possession schedules when the facts supported it.

 

Non-citizen parents face a different set of concerns. Some worry that their immigration status will be held against them in a custody proceeding. It will not — Texas courts are explicitly prohibited from using immigration status as a factor in custody decisions. If you are undocumented or have a pending immigration case, you still have every legal right to fight for your children, and I will represent you with the same commitment I bring to every case.

Common Questions About Child Custody in Texas

  • What is the difference between legal custody and physical custody in Texas?

    Texas does not use those exact terms. What most people call legal custody — the right to make decisions about a child's education, healthcare, and upbringing — is called conservatorship in Texas. What most people call physical custody — where the child lives and when — is governed by the possession order. Both are addressed in the same court proceeding.

  • Can I get custody if I work irregular hours or am away from home for stretches of time?

    Yes. Courts recognize that many parents in Corpus Christi work maritime, offshore, or military schedules that do not fit a standard possession calendar. A possession order can be structured around your actual schedule rather than a generic template. This is something I address directly in custody negotiations and litigation.

  • How do I know if I qualify to file for an emergency custody order?

    Emergency orders are available when a child faces immediate physical or emotional harm, or when there is a credible and imminent risk that the other parent will remove the child from the jurisdiction. If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, call me and describe what is happening. I will tell you honestly whether emergency relief is the right step.

  • Can my child's preference affect the custody outcome?

    Texas courts may consider a child's preference, but it is one factor among many — not a deciding vote. Generally, courts give more weight to a child's stated preference as the child gets older. A judge may speak with the child privately or appoint an attorney ad litem to represent the child's interests in the proceeding.

  • What if the other parent violates the custody order?

    A custody order is a court order, and violating it has legal consequences. If the other parent is denying your possession time, refusing to return the children, or otherwise ignoring the terms of the order, I can file an enforcement motion. Courts take violations seriously, and repeated violations can result in modification of the order in your favor.
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Ready to Protect Your Time With Your Children?

Custody cases move on court timelines, not your timeline. The sooner you have legal representation, the more options you have. I represent parents in Corpus Christi and across Texas in initial custody proceedings, modifications, and emergency situations. I speak English and Spanish, and I will explain every step of your case in plain language so you always know where you stand.

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