Child Custody

Proven Child Custody Lawyer in Northwest Houston and Tomball

At the Law Offices of Holli M. Palmer, we recognize the importance of protecting your children's immediate and future well-being. Texas courts are concerned only with the best interests of the child when making custody and visitation decisions, and we build our cases with that important standard in mind.

Attorney Holli Palmer practices exclusively in family law, representing mothers and fathers in the emotional and complicated issues of divorce involving children. She works to ensure that your perspective is properly heard and pursues your parental goals with energy and creativity.

Contact us today to arrange a low-cost, confidential consultation. We serve greater Houston, Harris County, Montgomery County and statewide Texas.

Practical Counsel, Creative Solutions and Determined Representation in Houston and Tomball Child Custody

From cases involving two well-adjusted but incompatible parents to those involving domestic abuse or estrangement, we target productive solutions. We offer realistic advice that considers your personal and financial priorities. When your goal is obtaining physical child custody or otherwise maintaining a major role in your children's lives, we make this our goal as well.

Holli Palmer is your skilled and devoted advocate who takes the time to address all your concerns:

• Who gets custody in contested proceedings?
• What is joint custody?
• Can shared custody or split custody work?
• Can I get sole custody?
• How is visitation determined?
• Can the custodial parent relocate with the kids?

We represent divorcing parents in custody disputes, as well as unmarried parents in paternity actions for access or child support. Much of our work involves child custody modifications months or years after divorce. We also represent parents whose children are being taken away by Child Protective Services.

Our favorable custody outcomes on behalf of moms and dads include:

• Winning custody for a parent despite his or her inability to see the kids for several years by substantiating serious problems in the custodial parent's home
• Securing appropriate child support orders when children have special needs or when deviations from guidelines are justified for other reasons
• Developing workable, court-approved shared physical custody arrangements when the parents are able to agree on terms

Let's Discuss Custody Law, Your Goals and Your Children's Best Interests

 

Houston and Tomball Child Custody Lawyer Representing Mothers and Fathers

Not so long ago, Texas courts almost always awarded child custody rights to the mother. As the realities of parenting have changed, judges have come around too. A mom cannot automatically presume she will get the kids. And a dad who is actively involved in the lives of his kids has a fair shot at primary custody.

The Law Offices of Holli M. Palmer, in northwest Houston, brings skilled legal advocacy and a dose of reality to custody considerations. Experienced family law attorney Holli Palmer represents both fathers and mothers in custody negotiations or contested custody proceedings.

If you are seeking primary custody or worry that you will be cut out of the picture, contact us today for a low-cost consultation.

Who Gets Custody?

If you are the mom, you do start out ahead of the game. But you can't be complacent. Bad-mouthing the father or interfering with temporary visitation may come back to haunt you. The court wants to know that you will foster cooperation and act in the best interests of your child.

If you are the dad, our goal is to overcome any tendency to automatically place children with the mother. Whether you are fighting for physical custody or for maximum visitation rights, our lawyer is skilled at demonstrating the important role that fathers play and when it makes sense to award primary custody.

A father who has been actively involved with his children will fare better in court than the dad who makes a lot of money but rarely interacts with the kids. Who takes the child to school, or the doctor, or sports practice? Who helps with homework? Does your work schedule allow you to "be there" as the primary

Custody Fights and Custody Agreements

Holli Palmer believes that the best solution is a parenting plan worked out between the parents, and helps you find the practical middle ground without compromising what is best for your child. She explains joint custody, shared or split custody and sole custody, and offers realistic advice so you can decide how to proceed.

Sometimes there is no alternative but to try the case and let a court determine child custody rights. This may involve evaluations of both parents by social workers and the recommendation of an amicus attorney (child advocate). Our role is to support or counter those findings with other evidence to secure a favorable ruling.

Contact Us

We assert mothers' and fathers' rights in greater Houston, Harris County, Montgomery County and statewide.
Call us at 281-866-9200 to schedule a confidential consultation with Holli Palmer about your child custody rights and all aspects of Texas divorce.
Our office is conveniently located at Champion Forest Drive and FM 1960 West in northwest Houston.

CUSTODY

Joint Conservatorship in Texas Child Custody

The term "joint custody" is often misunderstood by parents. It does not mean equal parenting time. It means that both parents have an equal say in how the child is raised, no matter which parent the child lives with.

At the Law Offices of Holli M. Palmer in northwest Houston, we take the time to educate clients about their child custody rights and responsibilities under Texas law. Our lawyer also takes joint custody a step farther by defining what it means in your custody agreement.

We represent mothers or fathers in custody determination in greater Houston, Harris and Montgomery counties and throughout Texas. Arrange a low-cost consultation with our knowledgeable family law attorney.

What Is Joint Custody?

The courts assume that joint conservatorship (joint custody) is best for the child. It means that the mother and father share equally in decisions about the child's upbringing, such as:

• Choice of schools and other education issues
• Medical matters (e.g., psychological counseling, ADHD medication)
• Religious instruction, customs and church attendance
• Joining the military before age 18
• Extracurricular activities, curfews and other decisions

Joint custody is not tied to parenting time. If one parent has primary physical custody and the other has standard visitation, the non-custodial parent still must be consulted on important decisions. The courts will award joint custody unless you can show good reason otherwise, such as abusive behavior, drug addiction or mental illness that clouds the other parent's judgment and cooperation.

Making Joint Custody Work

It's not always feasible or reasonable to consult the co-parent on the issues that arise on a daily basis. In custody proceedings, we try to address specific issues and scenarios requiring joint approval. We often put in a "tiebreaker" clause to have disagreements decided by a third party such as a school counselor.

Attorney Holli Palmer emphasizes practical solutions over litigation. However, if you truly believe the other parent should not have joint custody, or if the other parent repeatedly makes big decisions about your child without consulting you first, you have a fierce courtroom advocate on your side.

Contested proceedings for sole child custody are highly charged and hard-fought cases. If you truly believe that the other parent should not be allowed near your child, or if you are fighting to remain part of your child's life, you will need a strong courtroom advocate.

The Law Offices of Holli M. Palmer can argue for either parent in sole custody disputes. We have represented mothers and fathers in greater Houston, Harris County, Montgomery County and statewide Texas, including military personnel.

Contact us today for a low-cost consultation about your rights and the realities of sole custody.

Understanding Sole Custody

Many parents don't realize what they are asking the court to do when petitioning for sole custody. True sole conservatorship means that one parent has 100 percent control and responsibility for the child — it DOES NOT MEAN that the non-custodial parent gets no visitation..

Judges are extremely reluctant to award sole custody without compelling evidence that the other parent is seriously deficient:

• Physical, sexual or emotional abuse of the child
• Drug addiction or alcohol abuse
• Serious mental illness
• Recent criminal activity
• Recent domestic violence

In other words, sole custody is not about who the "better" parent is or who can provide a higher standard of living for the child. The court can order psychological evaluations, a social study, or can appoint a legal advocate for the child who will also give a recommendation to the court.

What's Best for the Child?

If there is a clear danger to the safety or well-being of the child, the court may award sole physical custody to one parent, with restricted or supervised visitation. The court may or may not continue joint legal custody (shared decision-making).

— If you are seeking sole custody out of genuine fear that your child would be harmed, we will document the detrimental behavior and vigorously press your petition.

— If you have been active in your child's life and risk being cut off because of personal problems or a vindictive ex-spouse, Holli Palmer is an experienced family law attorney with the courtroom skills to fight for your continued access.

SHARED AND SPLIT CUSTODY

It takes cooperation, communication and flexibility to make shared custody work. Some children thrive under the arrangement while other kids find it too chaotic.

At the Law Offices of Holli M. Palmer, we can help you decide if shared child custody or split custody is right for you and is in the best interests of your child. We represent mothers or fathers in greater Houston and the surrounding counties of Texas. Contact us today to explore a workable custody arrangement.

Shared Custody

In a shared custody arrangement, each parent has approximately equal time with the child. It could be one week at a time, two weeks at a time, or even a three day/four day split.

Most parents enter shared custody out of a genuine belief that equal time with mom and dad is necessary and healthy. But switching between households can be hard on young kids, especially if the two environments are very different or they are isolated from friends. HOWEVER, you should keep in mind that the Courts will not always approve a shared custody arrangement if they do not believe it is in the best interest of the child or children involved.

Holli Palmer is a knowledgeable and compassionate family law attorney who enjoys helping families find balance and peace in the aftermath of divorce. She will help you discover if shared custody can work by probing the conditions for success:

• Do you get along with the other parent and have similar parenting styles?
• Does your child adapt easily or need more structure and stability?
• Are your work schedules conducive to the alternating duties?
• Does the child have a strong preference for living with mom or dad?

We have helped many clients work out the practical details for a happy shared custody life. But it doesn't work for every family or every child. Let's sit down to really discuss it.

Split Custody

In split custody, one child lives primarily with one parent and the other child or children live with the other. The courts favor keeping siblings together, especially young children. Split custody is most common with older kids, such as a teenager who is having trouble at school or in trouble with the law, or expresses a strong desire to live with dad or mom.

Call us, and we can discuss your particular custody situation, and the options that might best work for you.  281-866-9200.

Paternity and Un-wed Parents

Unwed parents have all the rights and obligations of married parents in matters of child custody, visitation and child support. But it may be necessary to go to court to establish and enforce those rights.

The Law Offices of Holli M. Palmer, in northwest Houston, represents fathers and mothers in paternity actions and related parentage issues under Texas law. We take cases in Harris County, Montgomery County and statewide, including military personnel stationed in Texas or serving anywhere in the world.

Contact us today for a low-cost consultation to explore your options.

Paternity Tests, Custody Rights and Child Support

Experienced family law attorney Holli Palmer has handled every scenario relating to parentage:

• If you are the father, we can petition the court to enter orders for visitation or co-custody of your baby or young child.
• If you are not sure the child is yours, we can ask the court for genetic testing to prove one way or the other.
• If you are the mother, we can petition for appropriate child support, including unpaid support up to four years back.
• If you are the mother and have good reason why the father should not have visitation (drug use or violent behavior), we can represent you in fighting for sole custody or supervised visitation.

Whether you had a long-term relationship or a very brief one does not affect custody rights or child support obligations, in the eyes of the law. But when unmarried parents are forced to pay support or share custody against their will, it can be a constant source of friction.

Holli Palmer is a knowledgeable and compassionate lawyer who is skilled at negotiating parenting roles in paternity cases. If a parent has not been in the child's life (because he or she abandoned his or her duties), it is common to start with supervised visitation and gradually expand his or her role to normal custody and visitation.

Contact an Experienced Paternity Lawyer

We always approach cases from the perspective of the best interests of the child. If you are a dad who wants to be involved, you have our full support in establishing access and working out terms with the mother. If you are a mom seeking financial support for raising the child — or are strongly opposed to the father's presence — we are here to advocate for you.