Child Custody Tips for Texas Parents

When deciding child custody arrangement, it is important to understand that the court will always decide custody disputes based on the "best interest of the child" standard.

2010-09-18

September 18, 2010 (Press-News.org) When deciding child custody arrangement, it is important to understand that the court will always decide custody disputes based on the "best interest of the child" standard. With this in mind, remember that there are ways to prepare for custody hearings that may increase your chances of achieving your desired result.

It is important to understand the terminology and presumptions that are used by the court. In Texas, custody is referred to as "conservatorship." There is a presumption that the parents should serve as "joint managing conservators," however, this does not mean that the parents will have the children an equal amount of time. It just means that parental duties will be split amongst the parents.

Texas requires that divorcing parents attempt to reach an agreement on custody through mediation prior to going to trial. This process gives the parents the opportunity to find a mutually workable solution that puts their children first; parents know and understand their children's needs the best, so they should seek to work together before relying on the court to order the custody arrangement.

Here are a few tips to help you seek the best possible custody arrangement.
- Seek the guidance of an experienced family law attorney -- an attorney understands the Texas laws governing custody and divorce and can help you better understand them. Do not try to interpret the laws yourself, as this may only hurt you in the end.
- Do your own research -- while it is best to seek counsel from an attorney, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't take the initiative to do research on your own. This will help you better understand the laws, the process, and help you better communicate your needs and questions to your attorney.
- Use the Internet -- the Internet puts massive amounts of information at our fingertips. Use your favorite search engine, social network or forum to discuss the custody topics with your peers. They could offer practical, non-legal advice to help you achieve your goal -- custody of your child.
- Be open to working with your former spouse -- if you are going to have joint custody of your children, you will need to work together to make important decisions about how best to raise the children.
- Put your children's interests above your own -- doing this will show the court and your spouse that you want to be an important part of your children's lives and that you take your responsibilities as a parent seriously.

For questions and legal guidance relating to child custody, always seek the counsel of an experienced attorney.

Article provided by Richard Bell & Associates PC
Visit us at www.rtbell-law.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Spikes in Auto Recalls: Is the Auto Industry Growing More Cautious?

2010-09-18

Automakers have recalled nearly 20 million vehicles in the past year, including some recalls involving marginal safety risks. The spike in recalls prompts industry observers to wonder if manufacturers have become more concerned with safety, whether they're under pressure from an energized federal watchdog or whether they're simply doing all they can to avoid the damaging publicity Toyota endured during its massive recalls late in 2009 and early this year. In the first half of 2010, carmakers recalled 10.2 million vehicles, according to the Detroit News. That's about ...

FDA Warns Use of Reglan Can Lead to Uncontrollable Facial Movements

2010-09-18

Of all the various rules, regulations and warnings issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the most serious is a black box warning. The name refers to text that must appear in a black box on the drug package insert, warning users of very serious side effects. In February 2009 the FDA released a black box warning for metoclopramide, better known in the U.S. by its trade name of Reglan. Prolonged use of Reglan has been associated with tardive dyskinesia, a muscular disorder in which the patient has frequent uncontrollable movements of the face and mouth, ...

Toyota Issues Yet Another Recall

2010-09-18

In the wake more than 1,000 complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Toyota is recalling more than 1.1 million Corolla and Matrix vehicles, model years 2005-2008. The recall centers on a faulty electronic control module (ECM), which is a circuit board that helps control the engine's operation. A faulty ECM can lead to vehicle stalling without warning and at any speed, and then not restarting. One NHTSA complaint states: "I was driving 60 mph on the freeway and was almost hit from behind [when the engine stalled]. Another time I was ...

Michigan's Specialty Drug Teams Target College Students

2010-09-18

A 2009 incident involving a Grand Valley State University student who was shot by a specialty-drug-team officer highlights the fact that Michigan State Police target college students through drug busts in dorms and campus apartments. Accordingly, it is important for students to know their rights and options regarding police interaction and drug charges. The Specialty-Drug-Team Shooting Derek Copp, a GVSU student, said he was studying with his roommate at their Campus View apartment when he heard a knock at their sliding glass door in March 2009. Deputy Ryan Huizenga ...

Texas Cities Cracking Down on Overdue Child Support

2010-09-18

In 2009, the top 10 child support evaders in Texas owed more than $500,000 in collective back payments and interest to their children. One parent alone owed over $130,000 in support for his two children. In March of this year, an ABC report noted that the most wanted list of child support evaders, published by the Office of the Attorney General, owed over $1 million in delinquent payments, with the top offender owing more than $160,000. According to the Office of the Attorney General's Child Support Division, Texas law requires the Office of the Attorney General to develop ...

A Spate of Motorcycle Accidents Highlights the Risks of Hitting the Road

2010-09-18

The winding roads of western North Carolina are a haven for motorcycle enthusiasts around the south. With the increase in bike traffic, however, comes a higher risk of accidental injury or death. The recent death of former police officer Gerald Droze proves that even the most experienced riders are vulnerable when sharing the road with larger vehicles. The freedom and sense of liberation associated with motorcycling -- the wind in your hair, the sun on your face, the speed and joy of passing cars by -- can prove to be a distraction. Many people, particularly novice operators, ...

Proposed Motor Vehicle Safety Act Holds Automakers Accountable

2010-09-18

For the most part, motor vehicles hitting the roads in the United States are some of the safest in the world due to diligent efforts of government oversight agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As this year's massive recall of millions of Toyota-brand cars, trucks and SUVs reminds us, however, there is always room for improvement. In addition to ensuring the safety of millions of drivers operating potentially dangerous vehicles, the recall served another very important purpose - it brought to light gaps in the regulatory system that, ...

New Credit Card Rules Designed to Protect Consumers

2010-09-18

In May of 2009, President Obama signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 into law. The goal of this legislation was to provide consumers with protection against unfair practices by credit card companies and to put an end to unreasonable interest rate hikes and hidden fees. According to White House statistics, nearly 80 percent of American families have a credit card and nearly half of those cards carry a balance from month to month. With the current economic conditions, more and more families are having trouble paying their ...

South Carolina Legislature Takes on Teacher-Student Relationships

2010-09-18

According to the State Department of Education, there are over 50,000 public school teachers in South Carolina. Most are inspiring professionals who do their best to educate their students and help them develop. However, the state has experienced several incidents over the past few years in which teachers have sexually abused or had inappropriate relationships with students. In May, a South Aiken teacher was required to give up his teaching license as punishment for having an inappropriate relationship with a 15 year-old student. In June, a seventh grade teacher was ...

Motorcycle Safety Tips

2010-09-18

The Governor's Highway Safety Administration reports that there were over 4,700 motorcycle accident fatalities in 2009, noting the first time in 12 years that the number of fatalities has declined. In Colorado, the number of deaths decreased as well, down over 10 percent from the 2008 high of 98. A recent report by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) states that there are nearly 175,000 registered motorcycles in the state. With more and more motorcyclist on the road, it is important for riders and drivers of other vehicles alike to take notice and help the ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Puzzling link between depression and cardiovascular disease explained at last: they partly develop from the same gene module

Synthetic droplets cause a stir in the primordial soup

Future parents more likely to get RSV vaccine when pregnant if aware that RSV can be a serious illness in infants

Microbiota enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis-secreted BFT-1 promotes breast cancer cell stemness and chemoresistance through its functional receptor NOD1