These days, people are trying to save money. Some Texas parents who are divorcing may think they can cut corners by representing themselves in their child custody cases. True, it could possibly save money, but the end result may not be what the parent hoped for, which is custody of his or her children. In most cases, hiring an experienced lawyer for child custody cases is the wisest move a parent can make before going to court.
When to make the call
A lawyer can always be of help in any case, but especially when there are negative emotions, including hostility, between parents. A parent should definitely speak to a lawyer if any kind of danger or violence is suspected or if a former spouse begins to make false accusations. A family law attorney may be able to help a parent to protect the children as well as himself or herself. If the circumstances of a case start to change — for instance, if a former spouse initially agreed to joint custody and then back paddles and decides to fight for sole custody — see a lawyer as soon as possible.
Dealing with a child custody situation
There are no guarantees regarding the outcome of a child custody case. It could be that one parent might believe that things are going in his or her favor, but that usually is not the case. No one can make predictions. The best thing for a parent to do is to make a good impression in court, to show the judge time and effort was taken to prepare.
Many people are not familiar with the laws that govern child custody cases. A Texas attorney may be able to enlighten a parent about those laws and help him or her fight for custody of the children. There definitely are times that call for legal advice, and child custody cases are likely to be one of those times.