McKinney Child Custody Lawyer for Fathers

Collin County Attorneys Representing Fathers in Custody Disputes

As a father, you have been involved in your child's life, and you should expect that to continue after a divorce or other changes in child custody arrangements. Laws have changed, and fathers are recognized to have more rights than they may have had in the past in these situations. However, it is sometimes necessary to have a legal advocate on your side to ensure that your rights as a father are respected and enforced as custody agreements are developed.

We will help you keep your close relationships with your children. Today, mothers are not automatically awarded custody of children during divorce proceedings. Even if you never married your child's mother, you still have custody rights as a father. Different situations require different solutions for child custody, and sometimes, that includes fighting for greater custody rights for fathers. The Ramage Law Group is here to help you understand your rights as a father and protect your children's best interests.

Fathers' Custody Issues in Texas

Children benefit from having both parents involved in their lives. During a divorce or the end of an unmarried relationship with children involved, the parties must come to an agreement on child custody. The parents can work together on an agreement, but it is ultimately best to have a formal court order in place.

Under Texas law, the court determines child custody based on what the best situation is for the child. This decision is not based on the gender of the caretaker, and the law acknowledges the importance of having both parents involved in the raising of a child, even in sometimes trying circumstances. Often, the decision results in a joint custody agreement. Under a typical joint custody agreement, both parents share decision-making about important issues, including their children's education and medical treatment. Each case is unique and should incorporate the circumstances of the children and the parents involved.

Fathers Facing Complex Cases or Changes to Custody Agreements

In more complex cases or in situations where circumstances have changed after a court order was issued, having an attorney can be beneficial to a father as they seek to retain or change the custody situation. The Ramage Law Group can assist fathers in cases where it is in the best interests of the child or children that the father have sole custody. These cases may be high-conflict custody cases with complicated and emotional issues to tackle, and we can be your ally.

If there have been changes to the circumstances of the other parent or the children after the initial custody agreement, we can help fathers in a custody modification case. Possible grounds for changing an agreement may include:

• Serious health changes to the children or a parent
• A change in the child's parental preference, if they are at least 12 years old
• Relocation of one of the parents
• One parent has alienated the child from the other parent, been abusive, or neglected the child

While developing a custody agreement after a divorce or end of a relationship or changing an existing custody agreement, we will represent your interests as a father and help you reach the outcome that will best provide for your children's needs. If you are a father who was already an involved parent, a divorce does not need to change your relationship with your children. Sharon Ramage is an adoptive parent and a former social worker who will put her personal and professional experience to work for you.

Contact our Denton County Child Custody Attorneys Today

If you are a father struggling with custody issues, or if you need help with other types of family law matters, please call The Ramage Law Group at 469-240-1371. We can also be reached using our online form. We serve the cities of Plano, McKinney, Allen, Frisco, and Prosper and all of Harris, Denton, Tarrant, and Collin Counties.