Child Custody Lawyers and Attorneys San Antonio, TX
Child custody and child support negotiations can be a very difficult and taxing process for all involved. The Texas family law codes are complex and it is of the utmost importance that you have the best possible legal representation in order to achieve a desirable outcome. Hiring the right San Antonio child custody lawyer is the first and most important decision you need to make to protect your interests.
Working with highly experienced child custody attorneys who specializes in the issues of custody, child support, visitation and divorce negotiations will give you a much needed edge in this difficult time. Fortunately, there are a number of top notch San Antonio child custody lawyers who can help you.
It is a good idea to know what type of custody you would ideally like to have before you start the process. Below are the custody types that you will encounter:
Joint Custody means that both parents will jointly share responsibility and rights regarding decisions about the child. The child may reside primarily with one parent, but decisions are still shared jointly.
Legal Custody is different from joint custody in that only one parent makes all the decisions regarding the childs upbringing and does not have to consult the other.
Physical Custody determines which parent the child primarily resides with.
Sole Custody is complete custody both physically and legally and denies the other parent any rights due to unfitness related to drug, alcohol or abuse problems for example.
Statistically about 70% of the time, the mother will be awarded custody of the child. In about 10% of cases the father will be awarded custody and 20% of cases end in joint custody arrangements. However, the family court will take into account the history of the case with regards to the quality of parenting thus far, the childs age, the time each parent has free and other factors that will affect the upbringing of the child when making a decision.
Often courts will recommend attempting mediation before a full family court trial is begun. Even in the case of mediation it is important that you find a competent child custody lawyer in the San Antonio area who can help you navigate this so that you do not make any uninformed, regrettable decisions regarding the custody of your child.
Ideally you will be able to come to mutually agreeable terms regarding custody, child support and visitation through attorney negotiations or court appointed mediation. If not, however, the San Antonio, Texas family court system will decide the matter. They will in all cases put the perceived well-being of the child first.
Once custody is decided there is also the matter of visitation. This will also need to be decided in pre-trial negotiations or in the case of a family court trial a child visitation schedule will be created for you. Visitations will generally involve specified weekends and weekdays and may or may not require a neutral supervisor in certain circumstances. A child visitation schedule is binding and legal compliance with it is mandatory, so it is important to have an experienced lawyer on your side to help negotiate one that is favorable to you.
If you are currently involved in a child custody negotiation or are planning on initiating divorce proceedings where children are involved, you can take the first step on securing a better outcome by filling out the form to the left or calling xxx-xxxx. One our representatives will contact you to discuss the details and arrange a free consultation for you with an experienced child custody attorney within 24-72 hours.
Call us today at this number and speak to a qualified San Antonio child custody lawyer today.’