Military families around Fort Cavazos face challenges that many civilian families never encounter. Frequent moves, training cycles, and deployments can strain even strong relationships.
When a military divorce in Killeen arises, concerns about child custody and time-sharing become even more pressing. Deployed parents often worry they will lose contact with their children or that the court will hold their military service against them.
Fortunately, Texas law acknowledges these concerns and provides specific rules for custody during military service. State laws on conservatorship and possession, combined with federal protections, help deployed parents protect their rights and maintain stability for their children.
A Killeen divorce lawyer at the Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard understands military culture near Fort Cavazos and can explain how Texas law applies to your situation.
How Child Custody Works in Military Families
In Texas, custody is referred to as "conservatorship," and parenting time is known as "possession and access." Typically, parents become joint managing conservators, meaning they share in major decisions about the child's life.
Military service can complicate these arrangements. When a parent receives deployment or transfer orders, the existing parenting plan may become unworkable.
Texas law addresses these situations in Chapter 153 of the Texas Family Code, which includes provisions specifically for military parents. These rules allow courts to avoid punishing deployed parents when modifying possession and access if a parent’s service materially affects their ability to follow the existing order.
A knowledgeable military divorce attorney in Killeen can help you understand how these rules apply. Clear orders reduce conflict between co-parents and help children adjust to the unique stresses of military life. If you need help navigating custody while serving, speak with a family lawyer who regularly handles military divorces in Bell County.
Temporary Custody Orders During Deployment
Temporary custody orders are a key protection for service members. Texas law allows either parent to request temporary changes when deployment or mobilization disrupts the existing parenting schedule. The court may temporarily modify custody, visitation, and child support during the deployment period—without needing to show a broader change in circumstances.
These temporary arrangements may shift school-week care to the non-deploying parent, adjust holidays, and outline communication methods between the child and the deployed parent. If the deploying parent is the primary conservator, courts may temporarily assign primary custody to the other parent or a suitable adult, always based on the child’s best interest.
Temporary orders often include plans for video calls, phone time, and other electronic communication so the child can stay connected with the deployed parent. Judges may also require both parents to share deployment updates that affect the child’s schedule, such as return dates or changes in duty location.
These tools help preserve bonds and reduce stress for children. Contact a Killeen child custody lawyer to draft realistic orders that balance your military duties and parenting responsibilities.
A Killeen military divorce attorney can help you request temporary orders that reflect your family’s reality and protect your relationship with your child during deployment.
Can a Deployed Parent Assign Visitation Rights?
In certain situations, a deploying parent may designate someone else—such as a spouse, grandparent, or other trusted adult—to use their parenting time. This option is available when the deploying parent is not the primary conservator but has scheduled possession. If the court finds that this arrangement benefits the child, it may approve the substitution.
Modifying Custody After Deployment
Many parents fear that deployment will result in permanently losing custody or visitation rights. However, Texas law and federal protections make clear that military service alone cannot justify a permanent change in custody.
Temporary orders related to deployment typically end when the parent returns home. If either parent requests a long-term custody modification, the court must examine whether the change serves the child’s best interest—not simply rely on past deployment as justification.
To pursue or prevent a permanent change after deployment, work with a Killeen divorce attorney who understands how to present evidence that highlights your ongoing involvement in your child’s life.
Protecting the Parent-Child Relationship During Deployment
Maintaining contact during deployment helps reassure children and strengthen relationships. Texas law allows courts to order reasonable phone, video, or internet-based communication when in-person time isn’t possible due to military service.
Our attorneys often help parents propose detailed communication plans, including weekly video calls, voice messages, or other contact methods that suit mission demands and time zone differences. Courts typically approve plans that support consistency and avoid exposing children to conflict.
Parents may also be ordered to share updates about the child’s education, medical care, and activities during the deployment. This keeps the deployed parent engaged and informed, reinforcing that military service does not reduce parental commitment.
If you need help building a communication strategy that works during deployment, speak with a Killeen family lawyer who understands how to tailor custody plans to military families.
Planning Ahead for Deployment During Divorce
Early planning is crucial in military divorces. If you are in the middle of a divorce or custody case and anticipate deployment, notify your attorney and the court as soon as possible. Texas law allows for expedited hearings and remote participation, so you can obtain temporary orders before you leave or stay involved from afar.
Military parents near Fort Cavazos often rely on tools such as family care plans, powers of attorney, and medical authorizations. These tools support caregivers at home and help avoid confusion. Be sure to coordinate these documents with your court orders to prevent conflicting instructions.
A Killeen divorce lawyer can help you draft deployment plans that align with legal requirements and support your child’s routine. It’s also important to consider financial planning, including child support. Temporary orders may adjust payment amounts based on deployment income, but support obligations generally continue during service.
Federal Protections: The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
Military parents also benefit from federal law. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) allows courts to pause family law proceedings when military duty prevents a parent from participating. If deployment affects your ability to attend hearings, you can request a 90-day stay and provide documentation.
This delay protects your rights while allowing the court to address urgent issues, such as where the child will live during deployment or how the child will communicate with the deployed parent.
If you are concerned about how deployment affects your custody case, talk to a Killeen military divorce attorney about requesting a stay under the SCRA and planning for temporary orders that protect your child’s well-being.
Balancing Military Service and the Child’s Best Interest
Judges in Texas are instructed to focus on the child’s best interest, not penalize parents for serving in the military. While deployment may justify temporary changes, courts must consider the full picture when deciding whether to modify custody permanently.
Parents should seek orders that respect the challenges of military life while preserving strong parent-child relationships. A custody plan that accounts for deployments, training, and communication helps children thrive and supports both parents in their roles.
How the Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard Supports Military Families
At the Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard, we understand the unique legal challenges military families face. Whether you're stationed at Fort Cavazos or dealing with a long-distance deployment, our legal team offers tailored support to help you through divorce, custody, and modification cases.
We recognize that a standard parenting plan often doesn't account for the realities of military life, such as duty rotations, field exercises, and last-minute deployment orders. As such, it is our priority to help service members meet their personalized needs in all of these ways:
Develop custody plans that remain flexible during temporary duty assignments.
Coordinate communication schedules that accommodate different time zones.
Draft temporary orders that reflect the realities of military operations.
Prepare family care plans that comply with Texas court orders.
Participate remotely in hearings through secure, court-approved channels.
We also offer secure and flexible communication with our legal team, allowing deployed service members to stay informed and involved no matter where they are stationed.
Our attorneys are deeply familiar with both Texas family law and the federal protections afforded to military parents. If you're a service member, veteran, or military spouse facing a family law issue, we’re here to help you protect your rights and preserve your relationship with your children. Thoughtful legal planning and strong advocacy can give your family the stability it deserves during challenging transitions.
Talk to a Killeen Military Divorce Lawyer Today
If you are facing divorce or custody issues while serving near Fort Cavazos, you need a lawyer who understands the military lifestyle and Texas family law. The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard works with service members, spouses, and veterans throughout Bell County to develop parenting plans that work during deployment and beyond.
Call us at (254) 781-4222 or contact us online to schedule a FREE consultation with a Killeen divorce attorney who supports military families.