If you are facing a divorce that involves children, have a child custody case outside of divorce, or need a child custody modification, the matter of visitation, or parenting time, is key. The State of Texas bases all visitation determinations on the best interests of the involved children, and an experienced Waco visitation attorney can help you obtain favorable visitation terms. 

Understanding the State’s Position on Visitation

When Texas courts hand down orders that affect children, they are always guided by the children’s best interests. Texas finds that spending a significant amount of time with each parent serves children well – except in those instances when there is a serious reason for ruling otherwise. 

This means that both parents can generally expect to receive a generous parenting time schedule. However, one parent may fill the primary custodial role if the unique circumstances involved support this option, which means having the kids for the majority of their overnights.

Considering the Best Interest Factors

Some of the best interest factors that Texas courts carefully consider when making visitation determinations include the following:

• Each child’s age and developmental stage
• Each child needs, including any special needs
• Each parent’s ability to effectively address each of the children’s needs
• The suitability of the home each parent can offer the children 
• The reasonable preferences of those children who are considered mature enough to participate
• Each parent’s level of involvement in raising the children to date
• Each parent’s genuine commitment to effective co-parenting
• The distance the parents live from each other
• The children’s ties to their home, school, and community

Your Visitation Schedule

If you and your children’s other parent cannot negotiate visitation terms that you both find acceptable, the court is very likely to provide you with a standard visitation schedule. If you are able to reach a compromise on the matter, however, you can get as creative as necessary in your efforts to develop a parenting time schedule that works well for your unique family.

Protecting Your Parental Rights 

Visitation with your children is a key to maintaining a close, loving, and enduring relationship with them, which makes it important to do what you can to effect favorable terms. All the following can help:

• Consult with a knowledgeable visitation attorney early on.
• Recognize that your children need both of you in their lives and proceed in the spirit of compromise. This is not only the right thing to do, but can also improve your chances with the court.
• If your goal is to take on the primary custodial role, do not move out of the family home while your case is pending. The court will take the status quo, or the children’s current living situation, into careful consideration.

An Experienced Waco Visitation Lawyer Is Standing By to Help

Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard is a diligent Waco visitation attorney who knows how important your visitation terms are to you and will employ the full scope of his imposing legal skill and insight on your behalf. Learn more by contacting or calling us at 254-781-4222 today.