North Richland Hills Child Custody Lawyer
Child Custody Lawyer North Richland Hills
If you are facing a child custody dispute in North Richland Hills, then you need an experienced attorney on your side. Parenting time, decision-making authority, and living arrangements are all big decisions that can have long-term impacts. Our North Richland Hills, TX child custody lawyer at Brandy Austin Law Firm is here to help you navigate this situation. We have been working with Texas families since 2013 and we are ready to stand in your corner.
Why Choose Brandy Austin Law Firm for Child Custody in North Richland Hills, TX?
Experience With Texas Family Law
Brandy M. Austin founded this firm in 2013 with $300 and a commitment to building something different, a firm that takes family law seriously and treats clients like people, not another case number. She has been licensed to practice in Texas since 2008 and is admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas. She earned her law degree from Baylor University School of Law in Waco.
Brandy currently serves as President-Elect of the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers, and holds membership in the Tarrant County Bar Association and Arlington Bar Association. She has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers from 2015 through 2018, named a Top Attorney by Fort Worth Magazine during that same period, and received the AVVO Top Attorney designation. She is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and an Associate Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
As a family lawyer in North Richland Hills, TX, our firm brings more than a decade of family law history to every child custody case we handle. You can depend on us during some of life’s most difficult moments.
Results That Matter to Families
Custody cases are different from other types of cases which may involve a dollar amount. Family matters are often about your children going to sleep in a safe home, and with the right parent making the right decisions for their best interests. In family law, we measure success differently. We measure it through obtaining parenting plans that work, custody orders that protect children, and clients who walk out of court with relief knowing their family’s future is secured.
Recognized Standing in the Legal Community
Brandy is a member of the Trial Law Institute and the Diversity Law Institute. She has received the 10 Best Client Satisfaction designation from the American Institute of Legal Counsel. She was also named a Top 10 Attorney Under 40 by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys. These credentials and accolades reflect a consistent standard of advocacy that clients in North Richland Hills and across Tarrant County have come to rely on.
A Firm Built Around You
Brandy started this firm specifically because she saw the need for a family-friendly environment, one where clients could get real answers and feel supported through difficult legal processes. The firm has grown significantly since 2013, but that founding principle hasn’t changed.
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“Brandy Austin Law Firm is amazing. The whole staff is amazing and are always there when I need them. They are handling my family child support and they are working hard. Emily and Samantha are always there responding to emails. Even if it is the next day. I always get a reply back.” — Demi Richardson
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Types of Child Custody Cases We Handle in North Richland Hills
Child custody disputes come in many forms, as some are straightforward and others have complicated variables. We work with families across the full range of situations that arise under Texas family law.
- Child custody. We handle initial custody determinations, including contested and uncontested arrangements. Whether you are filing for the first time or responding to a petition, we work to establish an arrangement that reflects your child’s best interests and your parental rights.
- Divorce. Custody is often the most contested issue in a divorce. We handle the full divorce process, including the division of parenting rights, and work to keep proceedings as focused and productive as possible.
- Custody modifications. Life changes, as a parent may relocate, a job may change, and a child’s needs could evolve. Texas courts will modify a custody order when there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances. We handle custody modifications and help clients understand the threshold they need to meet.
- Parental relocation. When one parent wants to move with a child, whether across Tarrant County or out of state, the legal requirements are significant. We represent both the relocating parent and the parent seeking to prevent relocation, depending on what outcome is best for the child.
- Parental alienation. Courts take interference with the parent-child relationship seriously. So if the other parent is undermining your relationship with your child, we can help you document it and pursue appropriate relief.
- Child visitation. Visitation rights in Texas involve both standard possession schedules and customized arrangements. We help parents navigate disputes over access, joint custody dynamics, enforcement of existing orders, and modifications to visitation schedules.
Texas Legal Requirements for Child Custody
Texas does not use the term “custody” the way most people expect. Under the Texas Family Code, the court allocates conservatorship, either sole managing conservatorship or joint managing conservatorship, and separately addresses possession and access. This governs when each parent has the child physically.
Joint managing conservatorship is the default presumption in Texas. That means both parents are presumed to share in decision-making for major life matters, such as education, healthcare, and religion. But joint conservatorship does not automatically mean equal time. Possession schedules are determined separately.
Standard possession order under Texas Family Code § 153.312 gives the non-primary parent alternating weekends, certain weekday evenings, and expanded holiday time. Courts can deviate from this when circumstances warrant, particularly when the parents live more than 100 miles apart or when a child’s needs require a different arrangement.
In all custody determinations, the court’s guiding standard is the best interest of the child. Under § 153.002, judges weigh factors including the child’s emotional and physical needs, each parent’s ability to meet those needs, stability of the home environment, and the child’s own preferences (if the child is 12 or older and asks to address the court).
If domestic violence is a factor, Texas courts must consider its impact on the child and may limit or restrict a parent’s access accordingly. Understanding how these statutes apply to your specific situation is what a child custody attorney in North Richland Hills can help you work through, with compassion and protection.
Important Aspects of a North Richland Hills Child Custody Case
The Best Interest Standard
Every custody decision in Texas is filtered through one question, which is what outcome serves the child’s best interests. Courts in Tarrant County do not default to either parent, as they look at the full picture of stability, parenting history, the child’s existing relationships, and each parent’s willingness to support the other’s role. Judges have broad discretion, which is why how you present your case can influence the verdict one way or another.
Conservatorship vs. Physical Possession
These two things are often confused, as conservatorship is about legal decision-making authority and physical possession is about where the child lives and when. A parent can have joint conservatorship, meaning they share in major decisions, while still having less day-to-day physical time. Understanding how these interact is critical before you agree to any proposed arrangement.
Documentation and Evidence
The court wants to see evidence, not a story of accusations. If you are asserting that the other parent is unfit or that circumstances have changed enough to warrant modification, you need documentation. Texts, emails, school records, medical records, and witness statements can be used. Starting to gather and preserve relevant documentation early in the process significantly strengthens your position.
Modification After a Final Order
A final custody order is not necessarily permanent. Texas courts will revisit custody if a parent can show a material and substantial change in circumstances since the last order was entered. Common factors include a parent’s remarriage, a significant move, a change in the child’s school-age needs, or documented concerns about safety. Courts don’t want repeat litigation over minor disagreements, but it can be met with the right facts and legal support.
Holiday and Summer Custody Schedules
Standard possession orders in Texas include specific provisions for holidays, spring break, and summer. These schedules can become points of conflict, particularly after relationships deteriorate. We work with clients to clarify their rights under existing orders and, where appropriate, pursue modifications that better reflect the child’s current schedule and the family’s actual circumstances. Texas law on holiday custody is detailed, and it helps to know exactly where you stand before disputes arise.
The Child’s Voice
Once a child reaches age 12 in Texas, they may express a preference to the court regarding which parent they want to live with primarily. This is done in chambers rather than open court. The judge is not bound by the child’s preference, but it is a factor the court considers. Knowing how to appropriately address this aspect of a case, without putting the child in the middle, is something we help parents navigate carefully.
Contact Brandy Austin Law Firm
If you are dealing with a child custody matter in North Richland Hills, TX, do not wait until a hearing is imminent to get legal help. The earlier you involve an attorney, the better positioned you are. We offer consultations where we listen to your situation, explain what Texas law means for your specific circumstances, and walk you through your options. Contact us to schedule your consultation with a member of our team.