Fulshear Father’s Rights Lawyer
In the past, certain states and family courts favored the mother when deciding family law matters, like child custody. However, this is no longer the case in Texas. All courts and family law judges in Fort Bend County and throughout Texas must make decisions based on what they believe to be in the best interest of the children.
This means there should be no bias in family law matters based on the gender of the parent. Both the mother’s and father’s rights are equal, and both parents enter child custody proceedings on the same footing.
However, there are still some cases of biased decision-making in cases involving fathers. Therefore, it is important that you seek legal representation from a skilled Fulshear, TX father’s rights lawyer, who can ensure that your rights are protected throughout your entire case.
A father’s rights lawyer can help with various father’s rights issues, parental rights, as well as issues surrounding parental alienation. They can help you with your divorce and any family law matters, including advocating on your behalf in a child custody battle, fighting for fair spousal maintenance, and protecting you from unfair asset division in your divorce proceedings.
If you are currently considering divorce, have been served with papers, or have already divorced your spouse but need support with modifications or unfair orders, call a father’s rights lawyer right away.
Skillern Firm – Speak To Us About Your Family Law Issues Today!
At Skillern Firm, our law firm helps clients throughout Fulshear, Sugar Land, and the greater Houston area. Our family law attorneys work tirelessly to protect the rights of every client that walks through our door. As a father, this includes your parental rights. Our team will keep you updated throughout your case and we will ensure you receive the fair treatment you are entitled to.
With family law, it is usually in the best interests of everyone involved to come together on important decisions. The fewer decisions that require court involvement, the better, as every decision will need its own hearing, which drags the process out and adds legal court costs.
Our Fulshear family law attorneys also understand that while it is in the best interests of everyone to come to amicable decisions together, this is not always possible. If you and the other party cannot sit down in the same room, for example, we may use third-party mediation or resolve the case through litigation.
Complex family legal issues involving fathers are best handled by attorneys that have experience working with clients in similar cases. Our team has worked with many fathers over the years, helping them achieve their goals with as little displacement in their children’s lives as possible.
Protect your rights as a father and call our law office today at 936-213-8479.
Father’s Child Custody Rights
Mothers and fathers have equal rights under family laws in Texas. As long as you are the legal father, you have every right that the mother has with a family law matter, like child custody. Neither the mother nor the father should have any advantage when going into a child custody battle. Instead, each party should be examined based on their own individual merits.
Things can be more complicated when the father is not the legal father, which often happens when the parents were not married at the time the child was born. In this situation, you may need to work with our attorneys to establish your paternity.
If the mother acknowledges the father, they can sign an agreement that the father is the legal father, which is known as an Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP). If the mother disagrees and refuses to sign the AOP, you may need to turn to legal proceedings to establish your paternity.
If this is the case, you should talk to a skilled attorney to obtain representation. They will help you navigate the process and ensure that your rights are protected whilst you seek paternity.
Rights of Legal Parents
Legal parents have the right to:
- Make decisions involving the child’s continued education.
- Influence and attend recreational activities beyond the education system.
- Contribute to decisions concerning health, religion, and living arrangements.
This is true until the point where a sole conservatorship is awarded. However, in most cases, a joint conservatorship is the preferred route, with both parents maintaining the ability to make important decisions in their children’s lives.
The Importance of Making Decisions That Are In The Child’s Best Interests
In many families, both parents will have played an integral role in the upbringing of their children until the divorce proceedings. Family law judges will make decisions based on what they believe to be in the child’s best interest and often, this can feel unfair to one party. The best way to avoid this is to come to an agreement that suits everyone, without court involvement.
Sometimes, a judge may decide that the parent who has been most involved with the child should become the primary custodian; this may be the parent who has attended most of the important events in their child’s life, such as parents’ evenings and sporting events. However, a court could also decide that the parent who is most stable with their employment and financial situation should become the primary custodian.
The decision is tough, and the courts will want to consider a wide range of factors before deciding. Each parent will be fully evaluated based on:
Danger To The Child
The most important factor, and the first thing that should be considered, is whether either parent is a danger to their children. If this is the case, and one parent has a history of drug or alcohol abuse, child abuse, or domestic violence, for example, then this may be used against them.
If you have a history of drug use or criminality, you could work with an attorney to submit evidence proving you have rehabilitated, which may be beneficial to your custody petition.
Equally, if you are planning to appeal for sole custody, you must provide a compelling case backed with evidence that your spouse is a danger. The best way to do this is to work with a family law attorney who can help you prove your claims.
Previous Involvement In The Child’s Life
The courts will also consider the extent to which each parent has been involved in the child’s life up to that point, including their participation in the child’s education, healthcare, and daily activities. Parent involvement can help the courts to determine which parent is more likely to provide a stable and nurturing environment for the child, and who is more likely to promote the child’s best interests.
The previous involvement of the parents is an important factor to consider when deciding a custody arrangement because it can provide valuable insight into the behavior and character of each parent. It can also help the courts to make a fair and informed decision about what is in the best interests of the child.
Familial Support
If your children have grown up with a strong family circle around them, the courts may want to keep them close to that support network after your divorce. Strong support networks, including religious groups, are seen as beneficial to a child’s development. A court may consider the communities and people involved in a child’s life when making custody decisions.
Alienating The Other Parent
Alienation is frowned upon in child custody cases because it can have a negative impact on the child’s well-being and can be seen as a form of emotional abuse. Alienation occurs when one parent intentionally or unintentionally turns the child against the other parent, often by criticizing the other parent, restricting the child’s access to the other parent, or manipulating the child’s feelings towards the other parent.
The courts recognize that alienation can be harmful to a child’s mental and emotional health, as it can create feelings of confusion, anxiety, and depression, and can undermine the child’s relationship with the other parent. It can also make it difficult for the child to form healthy relationships in the future and can cause long-term psychological damage.
Therefore, in a child custody case, the courts may take allegations of alienation seriously and will assess the situation carefully to determine the best interests of the child. If there is evidence of alienation, a Judge may take measures to remedy the situation, such as ordering counseling or therapy for the child and parents, modifying custody arrangements, or even limiting the custody rights of the alienating parent.
Stability
One of the most important factors when deciding on physical custody is the stability of each parent. A parent that struggles to keep down a job, does not pay bills on time, and has a lot of debt may be seen as unstable.
A parent that pays their bills on time, has a stable job, and has no debt may be seen as the most stable parent for a child to live with as they will be better prepared to provide for the child’s financial needs in the future.
The Child’s Opinion
Once a child reaches the age of 12, they can voice their opinion on the parent that they want to stay with. While the opinion of a child over the age of 12 may be considered by the Judge, it does not always influence a Judge’s decision.
How Our Attorneys Can Help With Your Family Matters
Divorce Proceedings/Divorce Law
Ensuring you receive fair treatment during your divorce is one of the most important reasons you should hire an attorney. From spousal support issues to paternity suits, Skillern Firm can help you explore your legal options and fight for a reasonable outcome on your behalf.
Whether you knew the divorce was coming, instigated it yourself, or have been served divorce papers without an idea they were coming, you should involve a divorce attorney from our family law firm immediately.
If your spouse has filed for divorce, they may already have an attorney and they could already be working on their strategy. Your partner securing their attorney may give them a slight advantage, one that you can mitigate by obtaining your own representation quickly.
If you are considering divorce, or you have decided already, hiring legal services to help you file could give you an advantage. We can help you prepare the documents you will need and can begin building your case.
Custody Discussions
Once your divorce has begun, we can help you and your spouse work together on important matters. We will start with negotiation meetings, where you, your attorney, the other parent, and their attorney will sit down together and attempt to reach an amicable agreement on custody issues. The important thing is to create a plan that is in the best interests of your children.
If you and your spouse cannot sit down together in the same room without a conflict, it may be necessary to turn to third-party mediation, where you are in separate locations and a third-party intermediary helps to resolve issues. Even the most conflict-heavy parents are surprised by what they can achieve with this kind of help.
Custody Litigation
Even though the love between two spouses may fade, leading to the breakdown of the marriage, the love each parent feels for their children is eternal. Because of this, child custody is often the issue that causes the most conflict during the divorce process, as neither parent wants to back down.
As a result, child custody is the issue most likely to require court involvement. When a custody battle goes to court, you will need strong family law attorneys fighting for your parental rights. The Fulshear family lawyers at Skillern Firm will litigate aggressively on your behalf to protect your rights as a father.
Termination of Parental Rights
Termination of parental rights in Fulshear, Texas, is a legal process that permanently ends a parent’s legal relationship with their child. If the parental rights are terminated, the parent will no longer have any legal rights or responsibilities for the child which includes the right to visitation or decision-making.
In Texas, a parent’s rights can be terminated voluntarily or involuntarily. Voluntary termination occurs when a parent voluntarily gives up their parental rights through a legal process, such as adoption. Involuntary termination occurs when a court determines that it is in the best interests of the child to terminate a parent’s rights.
Termination of parental rights is a serious and irreversible action, and the courts will only order it when it is in the best interests of the child. The process can be complex and emotional, and it is important to seek the advice of an experienced family law attorney if you are facing termination of your parental rights in Fulshear, Texas.
Defense Against Unfounded Allegations
If you have been accused of domestic violence and the accusations are false, you will need to work with your attorney to disprove the allegations. Sometimes a parent may falsely accuse the other parent of abuse to gain an upper hand in custody battles. While underhanded, it is not unheard of.
If you are facing accusations of domestic violence and your partner is seeking a protection order against you, it is crucial to contact a proficient attorney as soon as possible. Our legal team can assist you in challenging these allegations and help show the court the underhanded tactics your partner is using.
Don’t Let Anyone Violate Your Father’s Rights, Contact A Fulshear Father’s Rights Lawyer Today
Here at Skillern Firm, we have extensive experience with family law cases and state laws on parental rights. When you need effective advocacy from an attorney you can trust, we should be your first call. We handle all aspects of family law, from property division, custody battles, spousal support, and adoption.
The team of family law attorneys at Skillern Firm is dedicated to protecting your legal rights. We understand that every individual, regardless of their gender, deserves to be treated fairly in legal proceedings. Our team is committed to working diligently to secure the best possible outcome that will enable you to move forward toward a better future for you and your family.
At Skillern Firm, we prioritize the attorney-client relationship and take the time to listen to your story. We strive to keep you informed and educated throughout the legal process so that you are never left in the dark.
If you want to spend time with your children and protect your rights as a father, contact the Fulshear attorneys at Skillern Firm today by calling 936-213-8479.