Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Child Custody, Divorce
A common misconception in the arena of Texas family law is that conservatorship and custody are the same thing. In the state of Texas, conservatorship is the designation as to which parent has the right to make certain decisions and exercise certain duties. A parent designated as sole managing conservator has all exclusive rights regarding
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Child Custody, Divorce, Visitation and Access
This is a difficult position for both parties involved. As the custodial parent, it’s your responsibility to foster a relationship between your child and their father, even if your relationship with their father is strained. But as you surely know, it can be difficult to convince a teenager to do anything they do not want to do. But it will be you, the parent, who faces repercussions for your child’s refusal to visit with their father.
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Child Custody, Divorce
Under Section 153.001, the Texas Family Code sets out that it is the public policy of the State of Texas to: (1) assure that children will have frequent and continuing contact with parents who have shown the ability to act in the best interest of the child; (2) provide a safe, stable, and nonviolent environment for the child; and (3) encourage parents to share in the rights and duties of raising their child after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage.
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Child Custody, Divorce
If you and the other parent of your child are in agreement to change your current custody arrangement due to your child’s preference, you can do a simple agreed modification which will involve minimal court involvement.
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, Visitation and Access
Under the Texas Family Code, the right to receive child support and the right to visitation are two independent rights that do not have any weight on the other right. The ability to visit with your children is not dependent on your ability to pay child support. The obligation to pay child support does not disappear if the responsible parent is denied visitation or chooses to no longer possess the child during their periods of visitation.
Posted by Mary E. Ramos | Adoption, Child Custody, Divorce
The termination of parental rights is referred to as the “civil death penalty” because there is nothing worse a Court can do to a person than to legally and permanently remove that person’s parental rights. Because of the severity of termination, it can be difficult to have one’s rights terminated. There must be good cause for a Court to legally remove a child’s parent from its life and there is a process to completing a termination suit.
