At Hargrave Family Law, we help Texas families resolve child custody matters with a steady focus on the future, always keeping your child’s best interest at the heart of it.
In Texas, child custody is called conservatorship and covers decision-making rights, where the child primarily lives, possession schedules, parental access, and child support. Courts decide these matters based on the child’s best interest, including each parent’s involvement, the stability of both homes, safety concerns, and more.
Texas courts saw 18,434 new unmarried parent-child cases and 13,359 custody modification filings in fiscal year 2024, showing how important it is for families to have formal, workable custody orders.
Since 2013, Hargrave Family Law has guided parents through these issues using collaborative, non-adversarial strategies that protect your children, your relationship with your child, the coparenting relationship, and your child’s long-term stability and ability to thrive.
Our Child Custody Services in Texas
- Conservatorship
- Possession and Access
- Parenting Plans
- Custody Modifications
- Emergency Custody Orders
- Temporary Custody Orders
- Parental Rights and Duties
- Primary Custody Disputes
- Joint Managing Conservatorship
- Sole Managing Conservatorship
- Geographic Restrictions
- Relocation Cases
- Enforcement of Custody Orders
- Custody Mediation
WE WILL SPEAK FOR YOUR RIGHTS
Contact us for a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your options. You may find that you are entitled to payment if your claim was denied or underpaid.
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Why Choose Hargrave Family Law
Hargrave Family Law is built for that balance. We provide strong legal advocacy, practical guidance, and a steady focus on resolution. We empower you with the information you need to protect your relationship with your child and build a future that allows them to thrive.
We have attorneys and paralegals that are Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential that reflects tested experience and recognized specialty in Texas family law. That matters in custody cases, where courts use Texas law to determine what is in your child’s best interests.
Our clients also choose Hargrave Family Law for its collaborative approach, especially in family matters where protecting your child’s safety and future matters. With nationally recognized honors and a reputation for compassionate yet strong advocacy, we will help you make informed decisions instead of reactive ones.
How Texas Courts Decide Custody
Texas courts decide custody based on the child’s best interests. Period.
Common factors include:
- Each parent’s ability to meet your child’s physical and emotional needs
- Your child’s routine, schooling, and stability in both homes
- Any history of family violence, neglect, substance abuse, or unsafe behavior
- Each parent’s ability to support the child’s relationship with the other parent
- Each parent’s ability to coparent and maintain a focus on the child’s best interests
- Occasionally the child’s preferences may be considered
Courts may review school records, medical records, witness testimony, custody evaluations, and other relevant or professional input. In some cases, the court may appoint an Amicus Attorney or Guardian ad Litem to help it assess the child’s best interests.
Types of Custody Arrangements in Texas
In Texas, “custody” is generally divided into conservatorship, possession, and access. Conservatorship covers decision-making rights, while possession and access determine the parenting schedule.
Common arrangements include:
- Joint Managing Conservatorship: Both parents share major rights and duties (such as medical or education decisions), though usually only one may decide the child’s primary residence.
- Sole Managing Conservatorship: One parent has most decision-making authority, often due to safety, family violence, substance abuse, or instability concerns.
- Primary Residence: The court dictates who may decide where the child primarily lives, and may limit relocation to a specific county or region (such as Dallas and contiguous counties).
- Possession Schedule: This sets each parent’s time with the child, often using a Standard Possession Order unless another schedule better fits the child or one parent has a non-standard work schedule, such as a healthcare worker or first responder. It contemplates possession during the school year as well as holiday and summer schedules.
Understanding Complex Custody Disputes
Some custody cases may include relocation outside of the county, state or country; mental health concerns; substance abuse claims; family violence; high-conflict co-parenting; or disputes over major decisions for the child, such as schooling.
When safety concerns arise, courts take these claims seriously. DFPS reported 293,950 child abuse and neglect intakes in fiscal year 2024 and 77 confirmed abuse-and neglect-related near fatalities, showing why diligence, evidencedocumentation, and careful case preparation are vital to protecting your child.
At Hargrave Family Law, we handle complex custody disputes with strategy, intention, and a focus on your child’s long-term stability. We build solutions that fit your family, work with qualified professionals and therapists when needed, and pursue options that protect both your child and your family’s future peace.
Get to Know Hargrave Family Law
Hargrave Family Law was founded in 2013 to help people move through divorce and custody matters with less unnecessary conflict and more control over the outcome. We are known across Texas for a respectful, compassionate, resolution-focused approach that protects your family’s peace and your long-term parent-child relationship.
Our team gives clients broad support throughout your custody matter, empowering you to gain clarity about your right next steps. Together, our attorneys bring over 230 years of combined experience to provide fierce legal advocacy in family law matters across Texas. Out entire team is focused on supporting you every step of the way.
Trust matters in cases this personal. Our firm includes lawyers and paralegals who are Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and our team has earned peer recognition from Best Lawyers in America®, Best Firms in America®, AVVO, and Texas Super Lawyers®. Our core mission is to protect your children and help you write your family’s next chapter with clarity and hope.
Our Process for Texas Residents
- Reach Out to Our Team
You contact our firm and speak with a Client Care Coordinator, who gathers the basic details about your custody concerns and schedules you for the right next step.
- Initial Case Evaluation
You meet with our Client Intake Specialist, a non-attorney specially trained member of our team, for a complimentary case evaluation. This confidential conversation focuses on your child, your concerns, your parenting goals, and the options available to your family.
- Review Your Options
Depending on your situation, your next step may involve exploring counseling, moving forward with representation by our firm, or scheduling a paid attorney consultation for legal guidance.
- Meet With an Attorney If Needed
If additional information or legal advice is appropriate, you can have a paid consultation with one of our attorneys to discuss your custody questions, Texas conservatorship and possession issues, the court process, and a possible strategy that supports your child’s best interests.
- Retain the Firm and Begin Your Case
Once you hire Hargrave Family Law, your legal team begins building a resolution-focused strategy designed to protect your child, preserve stability, and support your long-term parenting goals.
- Support That Continues During and After the Case
Our Client Care Coordinators continue checking in with you during your case and stay in touch after it ends to help connect you with any needed support and family-focused resources.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Custody in Texas
How hard is it to change a custody order in Texas if my child is older now and the schedule that worked before clearly is not working anymore?
It may be possible. Life happens, and new seasons bring new circumstances. The courts require a “material and substantial change” in circumstances for the court to modify the order. A child getting older with different needs, more rigorous school demands, busy extracurricular activity schedules, or ongoing conflict around possession exchanges can all matter if they affect the child’s best interests and mental and emotional health.
My co-parent is threatening to move out of DFW with the kids. Can they do that if we already have a custody order?
It depends.Many Texas custody orders include a geographic restriction that limits where the child’s primary residence can be. If your order ties residence to Dallas County, Collin County,, or nearby contiguous counties, a move outside of that area may require the a modification to the Court’s order.
Do Texas judges actually care if one parent is more difficult, controlling, or constantly picking fights, or do they only care about obvious safety issues?
Judges do care about parental conduct that negatively affects the child, even when it does not rise to the level of abuse. A parent who refuses to communicate with the other parent or the child, undermines or alienates the other parent, or creates constant conflict in front of or involving the child may be hurting the child’s stability and mental and emotional health. Track the conduct that is causing conflict in case you want to go back to the judge, and consult an experienced attorney to explore your options.
If I have been the parent doing most of the school pickups, doctor visits, and day-to-day care, how do I actually prove that in a custody case?
Use specific records, not general statements or hearsay. School communications and records, medical visit records, calendars, pickup logs, report cards, therapist records, and text/email messages showing who handled daily responsibilities can all help.
Is it a bad idea to try mediation in a custody dispute if the other parent is high-conflict and I am worried they will steamroll me?
Not necessarily. Mediation is commonly required by judges before trial in many Texas family courts, and it can still be successful if you prepare properly and have strong legal guidance. Parties are kept in separate rooms during mediation, and you utilize a mediator to facilitate negotiations and communications. A skilled attorney can help you develop a strategy for mediation that stays focused on what’s best for your child, and keeps you focused on what matters during negotiations: your family’s peace.
If my ex keeps violating our custody order but it is not bad enough for an emergency, do I just keep documenting it or is it worth going back to court?
Keep documenting it, but do not assume you have to wait forever. In Texas, repeated violations of a possession order can justify a modification or an enforcement action even if the situation is not an emergency. Save texts, missed exchange details, school records, and any pattern showing the order is not being followed.
What Customers Say About Hargrave Family Law
“Jennifer and her team are top notch.”- B.H.
This kind of feedback speaks to the level of care and professionalism clients want on their side in a custody matter. It reflects a skilled, respected, and experienced team that clients feel confident trusting during a stressful family life transition.
“They truly care about their clients and their families.”- K.K.
Families dealing with custody issues need more than someone to manage paperwork and court dates. This review shows the firm’s focus on you, not just the legal process. We walk with you every step of the way, providing resources for you and your children as needed.
“I always felt informed and supported.”- A.W.
Clear communication matters when you are making decisions that affect your children and your future. This shows the firm is dedicated to keeping you informed, educated, prepared, and involved throughout the process.
“Professional, compassionate, and effective.”- S.M.
That balance matters in Texas custody cases, where strong advocacy and practical solutions both count. Clients value a legal advocate that protects their future without adding unnecessary conflict, staying focused on your goals for your family.
“They helped me navigate a very difficult time with dignity.”- J.M.
This reflects what many of our clients are looking for: steady guidance, compassion, respect, clarity, and a hopeful path forward. It is the kind of experience that builds trust and confidence from beginning to end, and it’s a hallmark of our firm’s mission.
Local Resources in Texas for Child Custody Cases
- Texas Courts Self-Help Family Law Resources
- Texas Law Help Child Custody and Visitation Resources
- Texas State Law Library Custody and Parenting Time Guides
- Texas Family Code
- Texas Judicial Branch Court Directory
- Texas Office of Court Administration
- Texas Attorney General Child Support Division
- Texas Attorney General Parenting Time Resources
- Texas Access and Visitation Hotline
- Texas Child Support Interactive
- Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
- Texas Abuse Hotline
- Texas Family Violence Program
- Texas Advocacy Project
- State Bar of Texas
- State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral & Information Service
- Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Texas Office of Court Administration Court Activity Reporting
- Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics
- Texas Parent to Parent
- Texas Education Agency Parent Resources
Schedule a Consultation
If you are facing a custody issue, the steps you take now can affect your child’s ability to thrive, your parenting time with your child, and how you handle your family’s path forward.. A complimentary case evaluation can help you understand your options and empower you to make decisions that protect what matters most: your children and your peace.
At Hargrave Family Law, we help clients approach difficult family matters with clarity, discretion, and a focus on resolution. To schedule a confidential case evaluation, reach out to our team to talk about the next right step for your family. We’re here to help.
