The relationship between parents and children has many facets. The custody of the child is only one of those facets, although it is an extremely important one. “Custody” and “visitation” are conceptually the same in all 50 states in the United States, but the terminology varies from state to state. For example, in Texas, they are referred to as “conservatorship,” “possession” and “access.”
From a legal, administrative perspective, a possession order will be issued in a child custody case. A possession order is a group of documents that states exactly when each parent will be with the child. The documents generally accompany a SAPCR, which is a type of case whose purpose is to request initial custody, visitation, child support, medical support, and dental support. Typically, the court will intervene and enforce the SAPCR if either one of the parents is not doing what they have been ordered to do.
The child’s desires
According to the laws in Texas, in a child custody suit, if requested, the court will need to speak with the child (provided that the child is at least 12 years old) to determine what the child wants as far as custody is concerned. However, even after speaking with the child, the court will still make a final decision based on what the court deems is in the best interest of the child. However, the child will still have a chance to express their custody and visitation preferences.
Child custody when the parents are in different states or different countries
In the event that the parents are living in different states or different countries, as soon as they return to Texas, they will be able to register with the correct Texas court. At that point, the custody order will be enforced by the court.
Getting effective legal support
Whether you have shared custody of your child or primary custody, sound legal advice from a lawyer with expertise in child custody will probably help you a great deal. No matter what you are going through, your child’s best interest should be at the top of your priority list. You may find that your child custody case is not so simple. Sound legal advice from someone who truly understands what you are going through and who can help you to navigate the process may make all of the difference to the outcome of your case.