When your child’s future is on the line, nothing else matters.
Custody battles tear families apart—emotionally, financially, and mentally. You’re scared, overwhelmed, and unsure who to trust. And while the legal system may feel cold, your love for your child is anything but.
At McConathy Law, we don’t just fight for custody—we fight for you.
With over 35 years of combined experience, our Dallas family law team delivers fierce advocacy and clear, compassionate guidance to protect what matters most: your relationship with your child.
Need guidance beyond custody? Explore how our Dallas family lawyer will support every aspect of your case—from divorce to post-decree modifications.
Why You Need our Child Custody Attorney in Dallas
Managing child custody matters in Dallas requires knowledge of Texas family law, court procedures, and emotional complexities.
Our experienced Dallas family law attorneys provide the expertise and support necessary to achieve favorable outcomes in family law cases.
💼 Local representation in Dallas ensures that custody decisions align with both Texas law and the unique procedures of Dallas County family courts.
Child custody disputes create significant emotional stress for Dallas families. The uncertainty of not knowing where your child will live, how custody decisions will be made, or when you’ll see them can be overwhelming.
These disputes involve complex legal processes, extensive documentation, and family court appearances that feel intimidating without proper legal representation.
Our Dallas child custody lawyers provide three main advantages:
- Expertise in Texas child custody laws and court processes: We understand Dallas County family court requirements and go through the legal process efficiently.
- Guidance in custody arrangements: Whether pursuing sole or joint custody (known as conservatorship in Texas), we help you understand options and work toward arrangements serving your child’s best interest.
- Advocacy for visitation and child support agreements: Our law firm ensures fair custody and visitation arrangements and appropriate child support calculations reflecting Texas law.
Mothers seeking guidance on how to strengthen their custody position should review our article on how to win child custody for mothers in Texas.
Legal representation becomes essential in these situations:
- High-conflict divorce cases: When parents cannot communicate effectively or agree on basic custody decisions requiring family court intervention.
- Disagreements over conservatorship: When parents have fundamentally different views on education, religion, medical care, or daily routines during divorce or separation.
- Changes in custody arrangements: Life changes such as job transfers, remarriage, or shifts in a child’s needs may require custody modifications.
How Does the Court Decide on Joint or Sole Physical or Legal Custody?
The court’s decision depends on multiple factors that Texas courts carefully evaluate to determine what conservatorship arrangement best serves the child’s welfare.
Texas family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization considers these key factors when making custody decisions:
- Employment status and work schedules of both parents – including full-time, part-time, or flexible arrangements
- Average daily work hours and travel requirements – particularly jobs involving frequent travel or extended absences
- Availability for child care responsibilities – ability to personally attend doctor visits, school activities, and emergencies
- Level of conflict between parents – whether parents demonstrate cooperation or engage in high-conflict behavior during divorce
- History of substance abuse – current or past struggles with drugs or alcohol that could affect parenting
- Physical and mental health conditions – any serious health issues that might impact parenting ability
- Domestic violence history – any documented incidents of abuse toward the child or other parent
- Child neglect or abuse incidents – previous CPS involvement or documented neglect
- Communication ability between parents – the capacity to discuss and coordinate parenting decisions
- Impact on the child’s daily routine – whether proposed arrangements minimize disruption to the child’s life
- Child’s special needs – any physical, emotional, or developmental requirements
- Child’s age and school status – considerations for very young children or school-age children
- Primary caretaker role – which parent served as the main caregiver before the divorce
Types of Child Custody Arrangements in Dallas
Knowing different custody arrangements helps Dallas families make informed decisions about their future. Each conservatorship arrangement serves different situations and can be tailored to meet specific needs.
💡 Joint conservatorship works best when parents commit to consistent, child-focused communication—even if their personal relationship is strained.
Joint managing conservatorship allows both parents to share decision-making responsibilities and physical time with their child. This arrangement works best when parents can communicate effectively and live reasonably close to each other in the Dallas area.
Our Dallas family law firm helps facilitate joint custody by drafting detailed parenting plans that address scheduling, decision-making authority, and conflict resolution procedures. We ensure agreements are comprehensive and enforceable while promoting the child’s stability.
For a deeper dive into how joint managing conservatorship differs from joint custody, read our detailed guide on joint managing conservatorship vs joint custody in Texas.
Sole managing conservatorship grants one parent full decision-making authority and primary physical care of the child. This arrangement may be appropriate when the other parent has issues such as substance abuse, domestic violence, or inability to provide adequate care.
We advocate for sole custody when it serves the child’s best interests and help present compelling evidence to support our clients’ cases. Our attorneys work diligently to protect children from potentially harmful situations while preserving appropriate parent-child relationships when possible.
In urgent situations where your child’s safety is at risk, our guide on how to file for emergency custody in Texas provides essential steps and considerations.
Legal conservatorship refers to the authority to make important decisions about the child’s upbringing, including education, medical care, and religious training. Parents can share legal conservatorship even when physical custody arrangements differ.
Our experienced family law attorney helps clients understand conservatorship implications and negotiate arrangements that preserve both parents’ roles in important decisions. We draft clear agreements that specify how decisions will be made and what happens when parents disagree.
Physical custody determines where the child primarily resides and which parent provides day-to-day care. This arrangement directly affects the child’s living situation, school district, and daily routine.
We help clients pursue custody arrangements that promote stability while maintaining meaningful relationships with both parents. Our attorneys consider factors such as school districts, proximity to extended family, and the child’s existing support network.
Call 197-230-38867 or reach out online for a free consultation. Let’s protect your parental rights—together.
Visitation Rights
Visitation rights ensure that non-custodial parents maintain meaningful relationships with their children. These arrangements are carefully structured to serve the best interest of the child while accommodating both parents’ schedules.
Dallas family court may establish several types of visitation arrangements:
- Standard Visitation Schedule: Regularly scheduled time, such as alternating weekends, specific weekdays, and holiday arrangements.
- Supervised Visitation: Required when safety concerns exist due to substance abuse, domestic violence, or other risk factors.
- Flexible Visitation: Arrangements that allow parents to modify schedules by mutual agreement while maintaining minimum guaranteed time periods.
- Virtual Visitation: Video calls and electronic communication that supplement in-person visits, especially beneficial for long-distance situations.
Why Cooperation Matters in a Joint Custody Case
Successful joint managing conservatorship requires parents to prioritize their child’s welfare over personal differences. When parents can work together effectively during and after divorce, children benefit from stability, consistency, and maintained relationships with both parents.
Cooperation becomes especially important when making decisions about changing the child’s school, resolving disputes over religious practices, or handling unexpected situations such as medical emergencies or scheduling conflicts.
Effective co-parenting involves considering the child’s preferences when appropriate and finding solutions that support the child’s emotional and developmental needs. Our Dallas child custody attorney helps parents develop communication strategies and conflict resolution mechanisms that promote successful joint custody arrangements.
✔️ Getting started with our trusted attorney ensures every decision from day one supports your child’s long-term well-being.
How Our Dallas Child Custody Attorney Can Help You
Our family lawyer works with clients to develop detailed parenting plans that address critical aspects of conservatorship. These comprehensive plans include schedules for physical custody, visitation arrangements, holiday and vacation time, and decision-making responsibilities.
For high-conflict custody disputes or cases requiring judicial intervention, our attorneys provide robust representation. We advocate for your rights and present compelling arguments in Dallas County family court.
Many custody disputes are resolved through negotiation rather than trial. Our lawyers are skilled at collaborative law and mediating between parties to reach amicable agreements on custody, visitation, and child support arrangements.
Life circumstances change, and child support orders and custody arrangements often need adjustments. We help clients modify existing arrangements due to relocation, job changes, or evolving needs of the child. We also handle enforcement actions when one parent violates court orders.
If you believe the other parent is preventing your visitation or not complying with custody orders, learn about your legal options in our post on interference with child custody.
Understanding Texas Child Custody Laws
Texas family law differs from other states in several important ways. What other states call “custody” is known as conservatorship in Texas, and getting to know these distinctions is essential for your custody case.
Rights and duties under Texas law include both decision-making authority and physical care responsibilities. Our experienced Dallas family law attorney ensures you understand how Texas divorce laws may influence child custody decisions and what aspects of a divorce will affect your conservatorship arrangement.
⚖️ Texas uses its own language and standards—like conservatorship instead of custody—so don’t rely on general advice from other jurisdictions.
Contact Our Dallas Child Custody Lawyers for Help
At McConathy Law, we understand that family law matters are among the most important legal issues Dallas families face.
Our extensive experience in Dallas’ family courts, combined with our commitment to protecting children’s welfare, makes us the right choice for your child custody case. Your child’s future depends on the decisions made today.
Contact our skilled Dallas attorneys at 197-230-38867 or schedule your initial consultation online. We’re here to protect your parental rights and help secure the best possible outcome for your family.