The courts are moving swiftly into the twenty-first century where more and more women are fully employed in power jobs equal to men. The courts have made significant strides and are required in Texas to be gender neutral. More and more courts are awarding fathers custody of the children. No longer do the courts assume the mother is the best parent to raise the children. In Texas, it is presumed that it is in the best interest of the child(ren) for both parents to be joint managing conservators of the minor children. That means that each parent has an equal right to make decisions regarding the children’s doctors and education, for example. The amount of time a parent is given with the child depends on a number of factors and possession of the children can be divided many different ways depending on the individual needs of the children. We work with and encourage clients and their spouses and their spouse’s attorney to be creative in meeting the parents’ needs as well as the children’s needs when devising a possession plan. Possession is the Texas term which means that time which a parent spends with the children in his or her residence during the year.

Children of divorcing couples can be the victims of marital discord. The attorneys at the law office of Marilynn W. Landon work hard to ensure the children involvement in the divorce is minimal if at all. Court is not always the best solution and we attempt to resolve these issues amicably with the other side if at all possible. At times, custody issues require the expertise of experts such as psychologists or counselors. Marilynn W. Landon’s background in this area assists her in working with the experts on custody issues.

The issue of custody becomes even more complicated when neither parent is capable of raising the children for many different reasons. Then either a grandparent or another person must step in. The Law Office of Marilynn W. Landon has successfully handled numerous grandparent and third party issues with children.

The law has changed regarding paternity as well. The law in this area is complicated and many attorneys are not familiar with the changes. These laws can have a devastating forever effect on the child and yourself. There are strict time limits that if you do not comply with, you may lose your right to contest the other person’s paternity or your right to contest your own paternity. Once the court finds that you are the parent, you can not undo that. Protect your rights as a parent and as a person who might not be the parent (although someone says you are) by having a knowledgeable attorney represent you in that area.

Even after the custody issue has been decided, either the father or mother may seek to modify the custody arrangement. For example, with the number of divorces today, parents are more and more likely to have more than one marriage. In some cases, the parent that does not have primary custody of the children drops out of the children’s lives. You see stepparents frequently raising children. In those cases, the stepparent may want to adopt the child. Adults can be adopted too.

A parent’s relocation out of state or even in state but over a hundred miles away may be reason to seek a modification of the custody arrangement. Texas encourages both parents to remain in the same vicinity after the custody issue is resolved. Relocation is a major issue in Texas and it is imperative you have an experienced knowledgeable attorney in that situation. There are other numerous scenarios that arise in the area of custody. Marilynn W. Landon and her staff will work with you for the best outcome for your children to protect their futures.

Child support goes hand and hand with custody. The courts do not discriminate between genders when it comes to child support. Parents have a legal duty to provide child support for their children. Child support payments are based on two main factors in Texas: the ability of a parent to provide support and the child’s reasonable needs. The ultimate aim of a court by ordering child support is to ensure that the child’s needs are taken care of and as much as possible, to provide the child with the same standard of living as that of the child’s parents which the child would have enjoyed but for the parents’ separation. Child support can be modified as well. More importantly, if the obligor (the person ordered to pay the support for the child) fails to pay the support for the child as ordered, child support is enforceable and is one of the only debts for which the a person can be sent to jail in Texas.

The law office of Marilynn W. Landon represents families in other areas of support and custody as well. We can assist you in any of these areas. Please feel free to contact the Law office of Marilynn W. Landon with any questions you may have. We provide a free initial consultation for one hour and will listen and answer your concerns.