Child Custody Disputes in Killeen Texas

Killeen TX Child Custody Lawyers

Married couples enter into a partnership that can become deeply embedded over time, and when they have children together, that bond becomes even stronger. So when the possibility of divorce enters the picture, it may seem like a way to resolve one set of problems, but it is also going to present some new challenges. One of these is the matter of child custody. You can choose to divorce your partner, but when you do, you may be forced to live apart from your children, and that is something that can be very difficult for some people. Of course this is one of the reasons why married couples are counseled to think long and hard about all of the ramifications before filing for divorce.

The laws that govern child custody matters in the state of Texas can be found in Chapter 152 of the Texas Family Code, and the spirit behind the law is simple: the best interests of the children are what is important, and every effort should be made to minimize their exposure to trauma. Clearly, a child custody dispute between divorcing parents has the potential to be a traumatic experience for the children. So the very dispute in and of itself is dissonant with the intentions that underpin the law. People who decide to “take the matter to court” are creating what the court would like to avoid, for the sake of the children.

The couple involved understand the dynamics of the situation far better than the court can. This is why they will generally order third party mediation before even hearing a custody case. Another factor to consider is that once a child reaches 12 years-of-age, he or she can state a custody preference in writing and present it to the court, and this preference will be a major factor in the determination.

In the final analysis, child custody disputes are usually not going to be good for the children and they will invariably damage the ongoing relationship between the parents. If at all possible, it is best for everyone concerned if some kind of custody agreement can be voluntarily reached rather than depending on the court to decide.

If you are involved in a child custody dispute, contact a Killeen TX divorce lawyer to arrange for a free consultation.