Dedicated Child Custody & Support Lawyer Focused on Your Child’s Best Interests

When families face transitions, parents often worry most about protecting their children’s well-being and future. Custody and child support matters in Georgetown, Williamson County, Travis County, Burnet County, and Austin require close attention to both legal requirements and your family’s unique needs.

At Severn Family Law, we bring a child-centered approach to every case, helping parents create solutions that serve their children’s best interests.

Understanding How Custody And Child Support Work Together

Texas family law treats child custody and visitation rights as connected parts of your family’s plan. Courts call custody “conservatorship” and look at multiple factors when making decisions.

Both parents typically share decision-making duties, though one parent may have primary physical custody. The time each parent spends with children can affect support amounts.

Addressing Common Family Law Challenges

Parents dealing with divorce or separation face several important decisions. These include:

• Parenting plans: Creating detailed agreements about schedules, holidays and decision-making
• Custody arrangements: Setting up living situations that provide stability for children
• Parental relocation: Handling legal steps when a parent needs to move
• Modification of court orders: Changing existing arrangements when circumstances shift
• Enforcement: Addressing situations when a parent fails to follow court orders

Each family’s circumstances differ. Solutions should reflect your children’s ages, needs and relationships with both parents.

Working Through The Support Process

Establishing or enforcing custody and child support requires knowing Texas law. For over a decade, our attorney, Jennifer Severn, served as the former Assistant Attorney General for Child Support. She brings 17 years of legal experience to help families through this support process.

The process typically involves several key steps:

• Determining income: Calculating both parents’ earnings and resources
• Applying guidelines: Using Texas formulas to establish fair support amounts
• Filing paperwork: Submitting proper documentation to the court
• Attending hearings: Presenting your case before a judge
• Establishing orders: Getting court-approved support and custody arrangements

Whether you need to establish initial orders or address non-compliance, we develop strategies for your family’s situation.

FAQ: Texas Child Custody And Support

It is natural to have concerns when navigating custody and support issues, especially when emotions and practical concerns overlap. The following questions and answers can help Texas families understand what to expect as they move forward.

What are the different types of custody arrangements?

In Texas, custody is referred to as conservatorship. State courts may assign joint managing conservatorship or sole managing conservatorship depending on the circumstances. Joint managing conservatorship allows both parents to share major decision-making authority, although one parent may still have the right to designate the child’s primary residence.

Sole managing conservatorship gives one parent primary authority when shared decision-making would not serve the child’s best interests. These arrangements are meant to support stability, safety and consistent involvement from each parent when appropriate.

What are temporary orders and when should they be used?

Temporary orders provide structure and protection while a case is pending, offering families immediate guidance on custody, visitation and support. They are commonly used when parents separate, a child’s routine needs to be stabilized or when safety concerns require swift court intervention.

These orders remain in place until a final order is issued, facilitating predictable schedules for children and parents. They help prevent conflict and maintain continuity for children during a period of transition.

How do courts handle custody when there are allegations of domestic violence, substance abuse or mental health concerns?

Texas courts take any allegation affecting a child’s safety seriously and evaluate evidence carefully before making any decisions. Judges may order supervised visitation, require evaluations or impose protective measures to help ensure that children are not placed at risk.

When concerns are substantiated, courts may limit a parent’s access or decision-making authority until they demonstrate progress or compliance with treatment or court requirements. The goal is always to protect the child while allowing appropriate parent-child relationships whenever possible.

What expenses does child support cover?

Child support is intended to meet a child’s basic needs. This includes housing, food, clothing and everyday care. It may also cover medical insurance, uninsured medical expenses, educational costs and other necessities that support a child’s well-being.

Courts expect both parents to contribute to these needs in proportion to their financial abilities. Child support gives children stability and access to essential resources regardless of changes in their parents’ relationship.

Can You Negotiate Child Support In Texas?

Parents can agree on support amounts, but courts must approve any agreement to make sure it meets children’s needs and follows state guidelines.

Does Mother’s Income Affect Child Support In Texas?

Texas considers both parents’ incomes when calculating support, along with factors like health insurance costs and the number of children.

We’re Here To Help

Protecting your children’s interests requires someone who understands the law and families’ needs. Call us at 737-977-8151 or use this online form to discuss your custody and child support needs in Georgetown.