A child custody battle can quickly become intense and end with a solution that doesn’t work well for anyone involved. But what leads to that outcome?
Child custody issues are somewhat contentious by their very nature. If problems between you and the child’s other parent have reached the point of this discussion, there’s a good chance the issue could end up in front of a judge. At that point, the outcome is largely out of the parents’ hands.
The best way to defend your custody claim over your child is to retain the services of a skilled San Antonio child custody lawyer. If you’ve found yourself in any of the situations listed below, contact the legal team at Tess House Law as soon as possible to find out how we can help you.
You and the other parent can’t find a solution
Not all custody battles are decided in the courtroom. Before the issue is presented to a judge, the solution is entirely in the hands of the parents.
There are a few ways custody can be determined at this point. It’s possible for the parents to simply come to a custody agreement on their own, whether it’s a shared alternating schedule or entirely given to one parent. This agreement is, however, informal, and if you’re going through a separation or divorce at the same time, this can leave either parent vulnerable to an even worse legal battle.
Mediation does help mitigate this risk as an out-of-court solution. With the help of a skilled mediator, the parents may come to a legally recognized agreement without having rules forced on them by a judge.
If that doesn’t work, it will most likely become a court battle. Either way, though, it’s worthwhile to have a child custody lawyer on your side to take the most legally defensible steps possible to protect your place in your child’s life.
You have a history of drug or alcohol usage
If a custody battle goes to court, you need to be prepared for any habit to potentially be used against you by the other parent. Even if you don’t have a history of abusing drugs or alcohol, using them with some level of frequency can be used to paint you in a negative light.
An experienced lawyer on your side is your best chance at creating a compelling case for yourself, showing that these habits aren’t self-destructive ones that make you an unfit parent to your child.
You’re in an abusive situation
An unbalanced, abusive relationship with the child’s other parent may make it worth your while to look for a child custody lawyer before you even make your intentions of leaving the relationship known. This may be an important step for getting both yourself and your child out of a dangerous, or at best unhealthy, living situation.
It’s especially important to get a lawyer involved at this early stage when taking Texas courts’ preference for a joint custody agreement into consideration. If the other parent is a threat to your safety or your child’s, you need an attorney on your side to make sure you’re getting sole custody and keeping your child out of harm’s way.
Talk to an experienced San Antonio child custody lawyer now
There’s nothing more important than the best interests of your child. The best way to ensure a solution is reached that secures those best interests is to get the help of an experienced child custody lawyer as soon as you can. You’ll find the right legal team for the task at Tess House Law. Contact us now to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help.
