Father’s Rights Attorney

Texas attitudes regarding the role of fathers in the parenting of their children have changed in recent years. Fortunately for Texas’ dads, this change has begun to be reflected in the decisions of Texas’ courts. Fatherhood entitles you to many rights relating to the parenting of your children but also obligates you to many duties to your children. Courts are more receptive than ever to single dads raising their children and are awarding primary conservatorship to dads more frequently, especially when those dads are involved in their children’s daily activities and care.
 

Unless a dad has problems or contact would somehow not be in the best interest of his children, non-custodial fathers generally have the same rights to their children as mothers. The sharing of joint parenting rights ensures that dads will continue to be fully informed and involved in all aspects of their children’s lives, including education and medical care. For example, a dad should be able to contact his children’s teachers for conference or simply to discuss concerns with the child’s academic performance.

Dads should also be advised of all extra-curricular activities, and not only given an opportunity to attend such activities, but these extra-curricular activities must not interfere with the dad’s scheduled visitation. Moreover, dads should be listed as an emergency contact for the child at all times. Similarly, in the context of medical care, dads should be able to consent to medical treatment for their children and to obtain the child’s confidential health information without restriction.

With little pushing, courts are very receptive to imposing residency restrictions limiting the geographical boundaries in which children can live to ensure a close physical proximity between dads and their children to foster his parental relationships. This allows active and involved dads to not be deterred or hindered by physical distance from their children. Once these residency restrictions are in place, it is difficult to have these restrictions lifted ensuring that moms are unable to unilaterally move the children so as to avoid the presence and/or involvement of the children’s father.

Under the expanded standard possession order, dads are entitled to in excess of 40% of the total time with their children. This time arguably includes more quality time since a significant amount of this time occurs on weekends, holidays, and during the summer.

Even if you have not been involved in the daily care and lives of your children, courts are willing to allow you to start an independent relationship with your children so long as you act before your children are too old and before too much time has passed. In regard to children under the age of three, courts even allow dads with no experience with infants and/or toddlers independent access to their children.

While these attitude changes have positively impacted dads’ contact and access to their children, child support continues to be a frequent area of frustration for dads. It is important to remember that child support is a dad’s most important duty to his children. With that in mind, it is easier to understand why courts take child support and actual payment of child support very seriously.