Joint Custody Attorney in Houston, TX

Divorce can be especially difficult for children, and custody decisions often shape family relationships for years to come. Texas law does not automatically favor one parent, but protecting your parental rights requires a clear strategy and informed advocacy.

At C. E. Schmidt & Associates PLLC, we focus on the specific facts of your situation and provide practical guidance aimed at preserving your role in your child’s life. Whenever possible, we work toward workable agreements outside the courtroom. When that is not an option, we are prepared to litigate and protect your rights through every stage of the case.

If you are facing a joint custody dispute in the greater Houston area, contact C. E. Schmidt & Associates PLLC at (281) 550-6650 to schedule a consultation with a joint custody attorney in Houston and discuss your next steps.

A Firm Built to Handle Complex Joint Custody Disputes

Our firm brings over 100 years of collective experience handling family law matters throughout Texas. We exclusively employ seasoned professionals, and even our least experienced team member has worked in family law for at least five years. You will find no beginners at our firm. 

Our depth of knowledge and hands-on experience enable us to handle even the most complex joint custody disputes in Harris County and the surrounding Houston metropolitan area. We have built our reputation on delivering results for parents who need strong advocates during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

How Texas Courts Decide on Child Custody Arrangements

When parents cannot agree on custody terms, judges make these decisions based on what they believe serves the child’s best interests. Texas law does not provide a single or specific list of factors courts must consider. However, judges typically examine:

• Each parent’s physical and emotional ability to care for the child
• The child’s current living situation and community ties
• Each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent
• The child’s own preferences, particularly for older children
• Each parent’s involvement in the child’s life before separation
• Any history of family violence or substance abuse
• The stability of each proposed living arrangement
• Geographic proximity of the parents’ homes

Our lawyers present evidence addressing these factors in a way that supports your position. We prepare witnesses, gather documentation, and develop compelling arguments that help judges see why your proposed custody arrangement best serves your children. Throughout the process, we keep you informed and prepared for each stage of litigation.

Full-Service Joint Custody Representation

Our firm provides comprehensive legal services covering every aspect of joint custody matters. Whether you face an initial custody determination or need to modify an existing order, we offer representation that addresses:

• Conservatorship disputes
• Temporary orders
• Parenting time and possession schedules
• Parent relocation matters
• Modifications to existing custody orders
• Enforcement of custody orders
• Cases involving family violence

Joint custody cases present issues that require case-specific planning. Our child custody attorneys evaluate the facts of your situation and develop an approach that reflects your goals while keeping your children’s best interests at the center of every decision.

Conservatorship Disputes

Texas law uses the term “conservatorship” instead of “custody” to define the legal rights and responsibilities parents have toward their children. Under Texas Family Code Section 153.131, courts generally presume that appointing both parents as joint managing conservators is in the child’s best interests. That presumption can be overcome by evidence showing that a joint conservatorship would be harmful to the child.

Our attorneys represent clients in disputes involving joint managing conservatorships, possessory conservatorships, and sole managing conservatorships. We present compelling evidence to courts about why your proposed conservatorship arrangement best serves your children, and we counter arguments from the opposing party that could limit your parental rights.

Temporary Orders

The time between filing for divorce and receiving a final decree can extend for many months. During this period, temporary orders set the rules for custody, visitation, child support, and other essential issues to preserve stability for children while the case moves forward. 

We work assertively to obtain temporary orders that safeguard your parenting time and position you favorably for the final custody determination, recognizing that judges often rely on temporary arrangements when issuing final rulings.

Parenting Time and Possession Schedules

Texas law refers to visitation time as “possession and access.” Courts establish schedules that determine when each parent has physical custody of the children. Our attorneys help clients obtain possession schedules that protect meaningful parenting time while remaining practical for the entire family.  The two primary schedule types include:

• Standard possession order (SPO): Texas Family Code Section 153.312 outlines a default schedule that provides the noncustodial parent with the first, third, and fifth weekends of each month, Thursday evenings, alternating holidays, and extended summer possession.
• Custom possession orders: When the SPO does not fit your family’s needs, courts can approve modified schedules that account for work schedules, the children’s activities, geographic distance between parents, and other relevant factors.

Regardless of which possession schedule applies to your case, our attorneys work to ensure that the arrangement reflects your children’s needs and preserves meaningful relationships with both parents. We negotiate assertively for schedules that allow you to remain actively involved in your children’s daily lives.

Parent Relocation Matters

A parent’s request to relocate with the children can substantially disrupt an existing custody arrangement. Texas family courts carefully examine relocation requests, especially when the proposed move would significantly increase the distance between the child and the other parent.

If you wish to relocate with your children, our attorneys help you present compelling reasons for the move that serve the children’s best interests. Conversely, if the other parent seeks to move your children away from you, we fight to protect your possession time and maintain your relationship with your sons and daughters. 

Judges consider factors including the reason for relocation, the quality of each parent’s relationship with the child, and how the move would affect the children’s education and social connections.

Modifications to Joint Custody Orders

Life circumstances change, and custody orders sometimes need to change with them. Parents can seek modifications when there are material and substantial changes in circumstances. Common reasons for modification requests include:

• A parent’s job change affecting their availability
• Relocation of one parent
• Changes in the child’s needs as they grow older
• Concerns about the child’s safety with the other parent
• One parent’s failure to follow the existing order
• Changes in either parent’s living situation

Successfully modifying a custody order requires clear proof of changed circumstances and a showing that the requested modification serves the child’s best interests.

Enforcement of Joint Custody Orders

When the other parent violates a custody order, Texas law provides legal remedies to enforce compliance. Courts take these violations seriously and may impose penalties on parents who disregard court orders. Common enforcement issues include:

• Denying court-ordered possession time
• Failing to return children at scheduled times
• Making unilateral decisions about matters requiring joint agreement
• Refusing to share information about the children
• Interfering with the other parent’s communication with the children
• Violating geographic restrictions

At C. E. Schmidt & Associates PLLC, our lawyers file enforcement motions when a parent violates a custody order. Texas courts can impose penalties such as contempt findings, fines, custody changes, or jail time in serious cases. We pursue enforcement actions to protect your rights and prevent repeat violations.

Family and Domestic Violence

When family violence affects a custody case, the stakes increase dramatically. Texas courts take allegations of domestic violence seriously and consider such evidence when making custody determinations. If you have experienced violence from the other parent, our attorneys assist with obtaining protective orders and presenting evidence to safeguard you and your children.

We advocate for custody arrangements that prioritize safety while also considering a child’s relationship with each parent, when appropriate. Alternatively, if you face false accusations of family violence, our team works to uncover the truth and prevent manufactured claims from destroying your relationship with your children.

Consult Our Joint Custody Attorney in Houston, TX

Protecting your parental rights demands highly experienced legal representation from lawyers who know Harris County courts and Texas family law. At C. E. Schmidt & Associates PLLC, we have helped countless parents throughout the Houston area secure favorable custody outcomes for their families. 

Whether you face an initial custody determination, need to modify an existing order, or must enforce your rights against a noncompliant parent, we provide the aggressive advocacy you deserve. Contact us at (281) 550-6650 or reach out online to schedule a consultation with an experienced joint custody attorney in Houston and take the first step toward protecting your relationship with your children.