Fort Worth Family Law Attorneys

Texas doesn't use the term "custody" the way most people think of it. Instead, Texas law refers to conservatorship — who has the legal right to make decisions for the child and who the child lives with most of the time.

When parents can't agree on a parenting plan, a Tarrant County judge decides based on the best interest of the child standard under Texas Family Code Section 153.002. The court evaluates each parent's ability to meet the child's physical and emotional needs, any history of family violence or substance abuse, the child's relationship with each parent, stability of each home environment, and for older children, the child's own preferences.

Our attorneys know Tarrant County family judges — their tendencies, what they find persuasive, and how to present your case in a way that resonates in that specific courtroom. Partner Craig Jackson has practiced in these courts for years and brings that local familiarity to every case. That knowledge is not something you can purchase from a firm that handles cases across a dozen counties without deep roots in any of them.

Child support in Texas is calculated using a statutory formula tied to the paying parent's net monthly resources. The guidelines under Texas Family Code Chapter 154 set baseline percentages applied to the obligor's net resources: 20% for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, 35% for four, and 40% for five or more children. Courts can deviate from these guidelines based on a child's special needs, the parents' relative incomes, the time each parent spends with the child, and other factors. High-income cases require particularly careful advocacy because the formula has a statutory cap and doesn't automatically account for everything at stake.

Modifying child support is possible when there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances since the last order, or when three years have passed and the current amount differs by at least 20% or $100 from what the guidelines would produce today. Common triggers for modification include a significant income change for either parent, the child developing new medical needs, or a change in the child's living arrangements.

Enforcing child support when a parent isn't paying is equally important. Texas has serious enforcement tools available, including wage garnishment, license suspension, and contempt of court — which can result in jail time. We represent both parents seeking to enforce unpaid support obligations and parents facing enforcement actions they believe are based on inaccurate financial information.

Texas is one of the most restrictive states when it comes to court-ordered spousal support. Unlike many other states, Texas does not award maintenance simply because one spouse earned significantly more than the other. To receive spousal maintenance under Texas Family Code Chapter 8, a spouse must meet specific eligibility requirements: the marriage lasted 10 years or longer and the requesting spouse cannot earn enough to meet their minimum reasonable needs; the spouse seeking maintenance has a physical or mental disability that prevents self-support; the spouse is the primary caretaker of a disabled child requiring substantial care; or the other spouse was convicted of or received deferred adjudication for family violence within two years before filing.

Even when maintenance is appropriate, Texas caps the amount at $5,000 per month or 20% of the paying spouse's average gross monthly income, whichever is lower. Duration limits also apply based on the length of the marriage, and awards are intended to be rehabilitative — not permanent support. Whether you're seeking maintenance or contesting it, we'll give you an honest assessment of what Texas law actually allows, based on the specific facts of your case.

Adoption is one of the most joyful things our team gets to help families accomplish. It is also one of the most legally complex. A misstep in the adoption process can delay or derail what should be a moment of celebration. Our attorneys guide Fort Worth families through every type of adoption handled in Texas courts.

In every adoption, our goal is to move the process efficiently while protecting the legal integrity of the outcome. An adoption done right is permanent. One done incorrectly can be challenged.

In Texas, a child born outside of marriage has no legal father until paternity is established. Without established paternity, a father has no legal right to custody or visitation — and a mother cannot obtain a court-ordered child support obligation from the biological father. Establishing paternity creates legal rights and responsibilities for both parties and, most importantly, gives the child access to both parents' legal protections.

Paternity can be established through an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) — a voluntary form both parents sign, often at the hospital — or through a Suit to Establish Paternity filed in court, which may involve DNA testing. Paternity disputes arise in both directions. Fathers who want to be involved in their child's life may need to establish paternity against a reluctant mother. Conversely, men who have been listed on a birth certificate or named in a child support order may need to challenge paternity when DNA evidence indicates they are not the biological father. Texas law provides legal avenues for both situations, but timing and procedure matter — particularly when challenging an existing order.

Protective orders exist to keep people safe. If you are a victim of family violence, sexual assault, stalking, or trafficking by a family or household member, Texas law allows courts to issue orders that prohibit contact, remove an abuser from a shared residence, and grant temporary custody of children.

Our firm has a distinct advantage in protective order matters because of our criminal defense background. We understand both sides of these cases — representing victims who need protection and individuals who have been falsely accused and need aggressive defense against a protective order that could cost them their home, their children, and their professional licenses.

Family circumstances don't stay static. A custody arrangement that worked when your children were young may no longer serve them as teenagers. A child support order based on last year's income may be wildly unfair today. Texas courts can modify existing orders when there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances affecting the parties or the child since the order was entered.

Common reasons families seek modifications include a significant change in either parent's income or employment, one parent relocating or seeking to relocate with the children, evidence of a parent's substance abuse or changed living situation, a child's evolving needs academically or medically, an older child expressing a strong preference for a different living arrangement, or a parent consistently violating the existing order. Modification cases can be just as contested as original proceedings. The burden is on the party seeking the change to demonstrate why modification serves the child's best interest, and we build modification cases with the same preparation we bring to initial custody trials.

Texas law presumes that fit parents act in their children's best interests, which means courts start with a strong bias toward parental decision-making over grandparent preferences. But grandparent and third-party rights do exist in limited circumstances under Texas Family Code Section 153.433. A grandparent may petition for court-ordered visitation if at least one biological parent still has parental rights, the grandparent's access has been denied or significantly restricted, and denial of access would significantly impair the child's physical health or emotional well-being. The bar is deliberately high, but it is not impossible to meet.

In more extreme situations — such as when both parents are incapacitated, incarcerated, or unfit — grandparents and other relatives may seek managing conservatorship or even adoption. We handle both sides of these disputes, representing grandparents fighting for access and parents whose parenting decisions are being challenged by extended family members.

Few family law issues ignite conflict faster than one parent wanting to move away with the children. Under most Texas custody orders, the child's primary residence is restricted to a geographic area — often a single county or adjacent counties. If a parent wants to move outside that area, they must either obtain the other parent's agreement or seek a court modification of the existing order.

Courts evaluate relocation requests by weighing the reasons for the move against the impact on the child's relationship with the remaining parent. A legitimate career opportunity that genuinely improves the family's quality of life may be approved. A relocation designed primarily to interfere with the other parent's access will not be. If you're seeking to relocate or fighting to prevent a relocation, early legal action is critical — courts look unfavorably on parents who move first and ask permission later.

A prenuptial agreement is not a pessimistic document — it's a practical one. For business owners, professionals with significant assets, individuals with children from prior relationships, or anyone entering a second marriage, a well-drafted prenuptial agreement provides clarity and protection that benefits both parties. Under the Texas Uniform Premarital Agreement Act and Texas Family Code Chapter 4, couples can contractually agree on the classification of property brought into the marriage, how property acquired during the marriage will be treated, spousal maintenance rights, and how assets will be divided in the event of death or divorce.

Postnuptial agreements serve a similar function but are executed after the wedding. They can address property already acquired during the marriage and are particularly useful when circumstances change significantly — a new business venture, an inheritance, or a blended family situation that wasn't anticipated at the time of marriage. For prenuptial and postnuptial agreements to be enforceable in Texas, they must be in writing, voluntarily signed by both parties, and supported by full disclosure. We draft these agreements with precision and advise clients on both negotiating their own agreement and reviewing one proposed by the other party.