Children are the primary concern of many parents when facing divorce or the end of a relationship in which the parties have a child together. The emotional toll of litigation is often directly related to the anxiety over how it will affect the parent's relationship with his or her child.

At Mackoy, Hernandez, Jones and Woods LLP, our lawyers understand parents' desire to resolve issues regarding their children as efficiently as possible. We work to reach agreement through negotiation or other alternatives to litigation whenever possible. Doing so typically produces a solution more quickly and cost-effectively than litigating. It also gives both parents more control over the outcome rather than putting these critical decisions in the hands of a judge who does not know your child or you.

We Help Our Clients Set Realistic Goals

We always speak candidly with our clients in an attempt to help them set realistic objectives. Texas family law statutes attempt to encourage continuing contact between a child and both parents. Unless there is evidence that a parent is unfit or unable to provide a safe and stable environment for their child, the court likely will award ample parenting time to both parents. In fact, in an era in which both parents often have full-time careers, it is not uncommon for fathers to be named the primary caregiver or share parenting time equally.

We assist clients in a broad range of children's issues, including:

• Custody and parenting time — Child custody refers to the right to make decisions regarding a child's education, health care and other matters. Parenting time determines where a child will spend his days and nights.
• Child support — The amount of child support that is paid by a parent who is not a primary caregiver to the other parent is determined by a formula in the Texas child support guidelines. However, it is possible to deviate from this formula when circumstances warrant.
• Modifying and enforcing existing orders — It is possible to petition for a modification to an existing parenting plan or child support order if circumstances warrant.  It is also possible to enforce your existing order.
• Termination and Adoption - If you are considering adopting a child, we can assist you in navigating the legal requirements.

Reach Agreement On Key Parenting Issues

We invite you to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced family law attorneys who can answer your questions and recommend an effective course of action. Call 469-269-0134 or use our online contact form to schedule a meeting.