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Dallas Child Custody Lawyers
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Dallas attorney, Michael Wald, established his practice in 1983 in Dallas, Texas, is a
full-service Dallas attorney representing and advising clients in all areas of
family law including, separation, divorce, collaborative divorce
solutions, post-divorce issues, custody, visitation, child support
arrearages and modifications, spousal support modifications /
terminations, grandparents' rights, interstate child support obligations, minor's counsel,
estate planning, adoption, and paternity. |
Dallas Child Custody Lawyer, Michael Wald and his team of associates
have successfully been representing the needs of clients in Dallas and the
surrounding areas since 1983.
Custody Issues:
When it comes to matter of a marriage dissolution, the most critical and
emotion-packed area is that of child custody. In any contest between two
parents, the outcome is always determined by what is in the best interest of the
child, whether primary residence is the best with the mother or father, and
what contact the child should have with the non-primary custodial parent.
Both parties are encouraged to find a solution that is in the best interests of
the child and the Court will generally first consider the status quo.
Both parties may establish times and methods of shared-parenting with the end
result for the child's best interest. The Court will generally assume that the
pattern of conduct and sharing entertained and practiced by the parents prior to
filing for divorce is at least a valid starting point.
Often, for good reason or bad, psychological evaluations and more in depth
studies are asked to be conducted. In the case of a psychological evaluation the
evaluator submits the parents and sometimes child(ren) to a series of
psychological tests and clinical observations. The initial determination is to
seek whether either parent suffers from any psychological dysfunction. The
psychologist will also look into the history of the child's life and the
parenting plan that has existed over time, again giving the most weight to the
more recent effective parenting plan. Only if there is a valid reason and a
substantial basis for dramatic change, will a psychologist recommend anything
other than the more recent successful parenting plan.
The Difference Between Physical and Legal Custody in Dallas:
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Physical custody refers to the parent, parents or grandparent(s) who have the
physical responsibility for the care of the child. Joint physical custody means
that each of the parents shall have significant periods of physical custody,
although parents can share joint custody even if the timeshares are
disproportionate, such as an alternate weekend schedule for one parent and the
other parent having the rest of the time. Sole legal custody means that one of
the parents has the child(ren) the majority of the time as well as all of the
responsibilities of raising that child. |
Legal Custody refers to the
parent(s) who will have the decision-making authority relating to all aspects of
the child(ren)'s lifeeducation, health and welfare, religion and any
other critical aspects in the raising of the child(ren). Joint legal custody
means that both parents have the authority to make decisions regarding the
child's education, health and welfare, religion, when the child(ren) get a
driver's license, etc.
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