In Texas, the legal word for child custody is “conservatorship.” This article tells you about child custody/conservatorship in Texas, including how to file or respond to a custody case. LINKS TO FORMS INCLUDED.
In Texas, the legal word for custody is “conservatorship.” Custody/conservatorship describes your relationship with a child when there is a court order.
Legal custody can only be created by a court order. Without a court order, there is nothing for a judge to enforce. Each parent is free to take the child at any time.
A person with court ordered custody of a child is called a “conservator.”
There are three types of conservators:
Texas law says that parents should usually be named Joint Managing Conservators. A joint conservatorship order means the parents share decision making about most issues. It does not mean the child’s time is split equally between the parents. A possession order will say when each parent has the right to time with the child. Read this short article to learn more about possession orders: Child Visitation & Possession Orders [1].
In most joint conservatorship orders, one parent will have the exclusive right to decide where the child lives (usually within a certain geographic area). This parent is called the “custodial parent” and the child usually lives primarily with this parent. The other parent is called the “non-custodial parent.”
In some joint conservatorship orders, neither parent will have the exclusive right to decide where the child lives but the child’s residence will be restricted to a certain geographic area, like a school attendance zone or county.
The law says that parents should not be named Joint Managing Conservators if there is a history or pattern of violence by one parent against the other parent.
When there is a good reason to do so, one parent (or sometimes a non-parent) can be named Sole Managing Conservator. A Sole Managing Conservator has the exclusive right to make most decisions about the child.
Reasons a judge might name a parent (or nonparent) Sole Managing Conservator include:
If one parent is named the Sole Managing Conservator, the other parent is usually named the Possessory Conservator. If a nonparent is named the Sole Managing Conservator, both parents will usually be named Possessory Conservators. A Possessory Conservator still has the rights of a parent, but will not have the final say on most decisions.
Yes. Texas judges must consider evidence of family violence when making decisions about custody and visitation. See Texas Family Code section 153.004 [2] and section 153.005 [3].
If the other parent has been violent or abusive, it’s important to talk with a lawyer about your case. You may be able to get free legal help. Call one of the organizations listed below for more information:
In an emergency, call 911. Find out more in the Protection from Violence or Abuse [4] section of this website.
Custody/conservatorship can be ordered by a judge as part of a:
TexasLawHelp.org has toolkits with instructions and do-it-yourself forms that can be used to ask for a custody order.
If you need help choosing the correct toolkit, use Ask a Question [10] to chat with a law student or lawyer online.
If you need a family violence protective order call the National Domestic Violence 24 Hour Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). They can refer you to help in your community.
NOTE: The TexasLawHelp.org instructions are written for uncontested cases (agreed or default). If your case is contested, it’s best to hire a lawyer or open a case with the Texas Attorney General Child Support Division [11].
If there is already an existing court order, custody/conservatorship can be changed by a judge in a modification case.
Get instructions and do-it-yourself modification forms here: I need to change a custody, visitation or support order. [12]
NOTE: The TexasLawHelp.org instructions are written for uncontested cases (agreed or default). If your case is contested, it’s best to hire a lawyer.
TexasLawHelp.org has do-it-yourself answer forms. Get the forms here: How to File an Answer in a Family Law Case [13].
You do not have to have to a lawyer to file or respond to a custody case. However, custody cases can be complicated. It’s a good idea to talk with a lawyer about your situation (even if you decide not to hire one). A lawyer can explain your rights and options.
It’s really important to talk to a lawyer if any of the following are true.
If you need help finding a lawyer, you can:
Yes! You can hire a family law lawyer just to give you legal advice, review your forms, draft a document, or help you prepare for a hearing. You may then be able to handle the other parts of your case yourself. Hiring a lawyer for a limited purpose is called “limited scope representation [16].”
Maybe. To learn when the OAG can help and how to apply for services, visit their website: Office of the Attorney General Child Support Division [11] or call 1-800-252-8014.
Read the law about custody (conservatorship) and visitation (possession) in Chapter 153 of the Texas Family Code [17].
The federal Two-Parent Consent Law requires that both parents consent to the issuance of U.S. passports for children under the age of 16 unless the applying parent or legal guardian can establish that the consent of both parents or legal guardians are not required.
Texas courts can order that a particular parent or legal guardian has the exclusive right to apply for, renew or maintain passports for children. This could give parents the legal authority to show that the consent of the other parent or legal guardian is not required for the issuance of a particular passport.
If a party is declared to be a sole managing conservator and the Court does not otherwise limit the sole managing conservator’s rights with respect to issuance of passports, then the sole managing conservator has the exclusive right to apply for, renew and maintain passports for the children.
The SAPCR custody orders and Final Decrees of Divorce on TexasLawHelp.org have provisions through which Texas courts can express their decision with respect to which party or parties should have the right to consent with respect to passports for the children involved in the case at hand.
© TexasLawHelp.org - Source URL: https://texaslawhelp.org/article/child-custody-conservatorship
Links
[1] https://texaslawhelp.org/article/child-visitation-possession-orders
[2] http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/FA/htm/FA.153.htm#153.004
[3] http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/FA/htm/FA.153.htm#153.005
[4] https://texaslawhelp.org/protection-from-violence-or-abuse
[5] https://texaslawhelp.org/family-divorce-children/divorce/toolkit/i-need-divorce-we-have-minor-children
[6] https://texaslawhelp.org/family-divorce-children/toolkit/i-need-sapcr-custody-order-i-am-childs-parent
[7] https://texaslawhelp.org/family-divorce-children/paternity/toolkit/i-need-paternity-order
[8] https://texaslawhelp.org/family-divorce-children/child-custody-visitation/toolkit/i-need-custody-order-i-am-not-childs-parent
[9] https://texaslawhelp.org/family-divorce-children/child-custody-visitation/toolkit/i-need-change-custody-visitation-or-child-support-order
[10] https://texaslawhelp.org/ask-question
[11] https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/cs/welcome-to-the-child-support-division
[12] https://texaslawhelp.org/family-divorce-children/toolkit/i-need-change-custody-visitation-or-support-order
[13] https://texaslawhelp.org/article/how-file-answer-family-law-case
[14] https://texaslawhelp.org/legal-help/legal-help-finder
[15] https://texaslawhelp.org/legal-clinic-calendar
[16] https://texaslawhelp.org/article/limited-scope-representation
[17] http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/FA/htm/FA.153.htm