7 Signs That You Need to Hire a Child Custody Lawyer in Texas
Some parents can settle the custody dispute by sitting down and talking it out. Others, however, cannot go about it civilly. It’s at this point that the case is taken to court and a judge decides which parent gets custody and which parent gets visitation.
There are many reasons why you should hire a lawyer who knows a thing or two about the child custody law system to help you get the answer that you are looking for from this custody battle. Continue reading to learn when you might need to hire a child custody lawyer.
1. Your Child’s Safety Is in Question
As a parent, your number one priority is keeping your child safe. If you feel that your child is in danger with the other parent, you will need an attorney who specializes in child custody cases to get through to the judge. Your child might be facing:
- Physical or sexual abuse
- Mental and emotional abuse
- Neglect and maltreatment
You must be able to recognize the signs of abuse in children. When you bring this to the attention of your lawyer, they will be able to present it to the judge in a way that will remove the children from the harmful situation.
The lawyer will be able to help you take the right steps to get a restraining order or a protective order placed over you and your children to protect them from further harm.
2. Your Child Is Being Kept From You
Before the court helps you to come to an agreement, both parents technically have a right to custody and visitation. Even if it is a simple verbal agreement, you still have to abide by it. The other parent has no right to interfere with the relationship between you and your child.
If you are in a situation where the other parent is preventing you from spending time with your children, you need to keep a detailed record of these behaviors. Keep a journal with the date and a description of what happened. Save a record of any form of communication including phone calls, text messages, and emails.
When you are dealing with this type of situation, you need to get in touch with a child custody lawyer as soon as humanly possible. Your legal counsel will be able to help you figure out a plan of action for getting these custody or visitation problems figured out.
3. The Other Parent Keeps Changing Their Mind
If the other parent accepted a verbal agreement last week, but won’t follow through on their half of the deal this week, you might need to hire a lawyer. One day they might want to share custody, but in the next, they want to show the judge that you are an unfit parent. It’s possible that when you decide to take them to court, they will try to flake again.
Your child custody lawyer will be able to portray you as a good parent. They can help you to prove that you are fit for parental duty.
4. The Case Crosses Into Other Jurisdictions
When your case crosses county, state, or even country lines, things can get complicated. It may be difficult to determine which laws apply to your case. The entire thing can be confusing.
A child custody attorney can help by knowing the local laws involving your case and tracking down the differences between the two areas. Attorneys tend to have more resources available to them than a parent might.
5. You Have No Experience in Family Law
Representing yourself in a child custody case requires a ton of research and planning. It can be confusing and intense. Adding this additional stress on top of your battle to keep custody or to claim custody of your child is not ideal. Your main focus should be on what you are going to say to the judge versus what legal matters are taking place.
With a child custody lawyer, you won’t have to worry about anything. Your attorney thoroughly understands the family law court processes. They will do everything in their power to file petitions, attend hearings, mediate meetings, advocate for you, and offer you legal advice.
6. There Are Extenuating Circumstances in Your Case
There are certain circumstances in which you will want to have a child custody attorney on your side during the battle for visitation. If you are fighting for custody, there is likely tension between you and your ex. There may be new living situations that just aren’t working out. You or the other parent may be trying to get remarried or move to a new area.
In more serious cases, you may have a child with a disability who needs additional care. You may be dealing with a parent who is neglecting your child’s needs making them an unfit parent. Maybe the other parent has gotten combative and won’t work with you.
Having child custody lawyers there to mediate between the parents is in your child’s best interest. Your lawyer will help figure out how to handle your case. You will even be able to get an opinion from your child on where they prefer living (if they are old enough).
7. The Other Parent Hired One
You may have been planning on representing yourself in your custody case until your ex decided to hire an attorney with experience in child custody laws. You may feel like your hand has been forced towards hiring an attorney of your own.
Hiring a child custody lawyer means that you have someone in your corner that can help improve your chances of getting custody of your children. It also helps to level the playing field between you and your ex.
Speak With A Child Custody Lawyer in TX Today
Sure you can get legal aid from an organization that offers free legal resources or a lawyer that offers free legal services to low-income families. However, your chances of winning custody increase when you work alongside someone who knows the ins and outs of the child custody legal system. Your best bet at winning your case is by hiring a child custody lawyer in Katy, TX.
Contact The Vendt Law Firm today to get started on your child custody case.
