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Texas Child Custody Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Texas on
Q: Cps wants to Terminate my right but I refuse to give them up. What is the next step!They have my kids n are place Family

What will happen with my kids if I refuse to give up my rights. CPS wants to Terminate my rights and I'm not going to give them up. What will the out cone.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Oct 2, 2024

The outcome depends on what evidence CPS and you introduce at trial. If you cannot afford an attorney in this type of proceeding, the court will appoint one. That being said, you should retain an experienced family law attorney who has handled CPS termination cases before, if you are able to do... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Family Law and Child Custody for Texas on
Q: Can a court order prevent me from bringing someone with me, who I am dating, to my children's activities?

Never has there been any sort of incident where someone accompanying me has caused a scene or issue. The only issue would be my ex wife being pissed off, and her attorney having too cozy of a relationship with the judge. This "issue" was never previously discussed in any litigation. This... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Sep 30, 2024

Yes, a court order can theoretically do that. Since you mention a "decision letter," that suggests you had a contested custody battle with your ex-wife. It would be surprising in post-divorce custody litigation for such an order to be made without a very good reason established by the... View More

3 Answers | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Civil Rights for Texas on
Q: How do I get my one year old back after 3 months away from me?

I was financially struggling and temporarily placed him with his father for his best interest and we agreed that once I was secure I would bring him home

John Cucci Jr.
John Cucci Jr. pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Sep 22, 2024

If you had your agreement with your son's father, and it was in-writing, you have a good chance of getting your baby back. If the agreement was not put in a written agreement, then you may be able to use emails, texts, or other communications to build your case for re-unification with your... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Civil Rights for Texas on
Q: How do I get my one year old back after 3 months away from me?

I was financially struggling and temporarily placed him with his father for his best interest and we agreed that once I was secure I would bring him home

John Cucci Jr.
John Cucci Jr. pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Sep 22, 2024

If you had your agreement with your son's father, and it was in-writing, you have a good chance of getting your baby back. If the agreement was not put in a written agreement, then you may be able to use emails, texts, or other communications to build your case for re-unification with your... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Texas on
Q: Custody of child is 50/50, can I have him put on 72 hour hold during my time without biodad being able to pull him out?

I have half custody of my child, everything is split in half including medical decisions. Can I have my child placed in an institution for a 72 hour hold during my time with him without bio-dad having any legal rights to pull him out since it would be during my week with him?My child is Autistic,... View More

Gratia "Grace" P. Schoemakers
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Gratia "Grace" P. Schoemakers pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Sep 18, 2024

Your custody / visitation order should tell you who has the rights to make these types of medical decisions, and whether or not the other parents must agree to it.

If you are not sure if your order has this information in it, contact your family law attorney for guidance. If need be, file a...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Texas on
Q: Spouse has a restraining order for beating his wife and he is undocumented, can the wife leave the state with her 3 kids

She has no family or friends to help in Texas

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Sep 12, 2024

Unless a court order has been entered preventing her from leaving the state with the kids, she is free to do so. If her spouse has court-ordered possession times, she needs to make sure that the kids are available for those times and are available at the location specified in the order for the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Child Custody and Family Law for Texas on
Q: Can 2 minors my mother has temp custody of come live with me and my wife while we are petitioning for adoption/guardian

My aunt was given power of attorney of two minors who are her nieces that were removed from their home by CPS. My aunt then gave my mother temporary custody. CPS is saying the case is closed, parental rights are severed, and my aunt no longer has POA since signing over temp custody. The question is... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Sep 6, 2024

Whoever has been appointed managing conservator of the children can consent, orally or in writing, for the children to live with you.

That consent will not, however, accomplish certain goals like enabling you to enroll the children in a public school, consent to medical treatment, consent...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Texas on
Q: Ncp has not followed court order since 2020 currently wants to follow the order. We start from the beginning of order

Non-custodial parent has been absent from child’s life since the child was six months old has a past with family, violence, harassment drugs, alcohol, etc what can managing conservator due as far as denying visitation due to social media pictures of non-custodial parent doing drugs while... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Aug 30, 2024

Your custody order should specify what days the non-custodial parent is entitled to visitation. While it is considered good parenting to mutually agree on alternate dates if there is something that interferes with a noncustodial parent’s specified days, in the absence of such an agreement, the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Texas on
Q: Ex breaking contract from mediation and hiding with my son, what can I do to enforce contract or get custody of my son?

Mom and myself have a final order in that we agreed to with mediation and she's constantly breaching contract. I don't have an address on file and there is barely any communication coming from her so I'm not able to have a relationship with our son. I want to start over and fight... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Aug 14, 2024

You need to make sure your address and other contact information is immediately updated with the court, with the mother, and with the state child support disbursement unit.

I strongly recommend that you make sure your child support payment history is accurate and shows that you have been...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce and Family Law for Texas on
Q: What are my options for a divorce?

My children are 11, 15, and 18 years old. My 18-year-old has autism, so he will continue living with me. I want my younger two to stay with me because their father is always working and can't be available to meet their needs. My husband has arranged for me to stay home and take care of the... View More

Christopher Michael Schmiedeke
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Christopher Michael Schmiedeke
answered on Aug 13, 2024

If you were to file for divorce, you could ask for temporary spousal support to help pay bills similar to what is going on now. I am not sure how long you have been married, so I am not sure if spousal maintenance after the divorce is on the table. If you have been married longer than 10 years,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Texas on
Q: How do I file a motion to dismiss a child custody case from Louisiana for modification in Texas?

I live in Texas with my daughter, but her Dad lives in Louisiana. Lately, he's become aggressive and can't stick to the orders. He recently filed a report with CPS with false allegations. I'm needing to enforce the orders and modify them in Texas. I understand there's a motion... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Aug 1, 2024

Under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, Texas becomes the "home state" of the child once the child has resided in Texas for six months. If your child has resided in Texas for at lease six months, you can simply file a motion to modify in a district court with family law... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Texas on
Q: How and what do I need to start a custody case?

No court orders. Not married. 3 children.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jul 23, 2024

Typically, you would need to locate an attorney who practices in the area of family law in or near the county where your children reside and a reasonable initial retainer of $15-25,000 if you and the other parent have not reached an agreement on child support and a parenting plan.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce and Family Law for Texas on
Q: in 2015 i was never served to go to divorce court. i have evidence to prove they never served.

it has caused me legal issues, and financial burdens with no legal merit, evidence of income, or any other burdens of proof.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jul 23, 2024

If a divorce was granted without proper service of process, you have only four years from the date of the divorce decree to file what is called a bill of review to challenge the decree. Particularly when you mention things like child custody and child support, most people would learn of the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Divorce and Family Law for Texas on
Q: My spouse filed an answer and majority of their answer they lied and also had a child during our marriage.

We don't have property but, a child together. They called Child Protection Services but, lied to them also. In their answer they said that my new lover is abusive but, the lover doesn’t even live with me. They’re not fighting for full custody but, is there a punishment if they lie in their answer.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jul 18, 2024

An answer contains allegations, not evidence. If they make an allegation in their answer which is not true, prove that it is not true at any hearing or trial using evidence.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Texas on
Q: How do I file for sole of primary custody? The father is homeless and has substance abuse issues as well as my mother-in

My husband and I are separated. I live in Texas. My spouse lives in Louisiana. We currently have joint custody. I don’t want to return my children to their father because the environment isn’t good for their well being and the father isn’t fit.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jul 9, 2024

You need to hire an attorney in or near the county where you live who practices in the area of family law or divorce to file a divorce proceeding in which you can seek full custody of your children. While cases seeking full custodial possession of children can be difficult and expensive, the facts... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Texas on
Q: Do 1,3,5 weekend visitations still happen during summer after NCP had their consecutive 30 days for summer?

We have a standard TX child support agreement. Written notice was given in time for summer dates (5/24-6/24). NCP was planning on 1,3,5 schedule visitation for July.

Does holiday vacation override weekend visitation for summer?

Is NCP entitled to weekend visitations?

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jul 5, 2024

For clarity, under the typical possession order, if CP timely designated July 19-21 as his/her summer possession, NCP would have weekend possession July 5-7 (the first weekend of July), and then would have possession of the child next August 2-4 (the first weekend of August).

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2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Texas on
Q: Do 1,3,5 weekend visitations still happen during summer after NCP had their consecutive 30 days for summer?

We have a standard TX child support agreement. Written notice was given in time for summer dates (5/24-6/24). NCP was planning on 1,3,5 schedule visitation for July.

Does holiday vacation override weekend visitation for summer?

Is NCP entitled to weekend visitations?

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jul 5, 2024

In a typical Texas possession order, the NCP continues to have weekend possession typically on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends during the summer subject to the CP's summer possession rights. Typically, the CP is entitled to designate one weekend of the NCP's during the summer as the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Texas on
Q: How to get legal help for Child custody when CPS is doing nothing?

Child is being neglected by the mother and CPS will not do anything. Child and mother live in Texas and the custody case is in Tarrant county.The mother's home is not clean we have pictures. The Child has reported to many family members that he only gets one meal a day and that laundry soap... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jul 1, 2024

You should retain an attorney who practices in the area of family law in or near Tarrant County to file a custody lawsuit. If reports of abuse or neglect have been made by someone other than you or your family members, you should subpoena records from CPS to use in your custody case and try to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Texas on
Q: I just got severed last Friday for Motion For Enforcement of Possession or Access. How do I response to it?

The dates go all the way back to 2018. But, what I don't get that we don't have police reports for any of the days he is claiming that I didn't let the kids go. Also I'll like to turn the case into I change in child custody because I don't feel like my children are safe at his place.

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jul 1, 2024

Police reports aren't required and are rarely offered into evidence in a post-decree enforcement proceeding for denial of possession or access.

You can file a motion to modify if you feel that your children are not safe at his place. While is is unlikely that a court would forbid...
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2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Divorce, Domestic Violence and Family Law for Texas on
Q: In Texas, can I remove my child from a dangerous environment (home of my ex-wife’s convicted felon BF)

During ex-wife’s periods of possession they stay at their home w/ BF overnight (not restricted in our div decree), or on weekends they stay with him at his home 250 miles away in DFW. My 10 y/o son just told me with certainty that the BF has been smoking marijuana around him in both homes and... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jun 21, 2024

Because you have an existing court order and a new case seeking primary custody, you need to file a motion for temporary orders or, if there is an imminent threat to your child, a motion for a TRO. The facts stated in your question do not justify your violation of an existing court order in my... View More

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