Buda Child Custody And Support Lawyers: Protecting Your Children’s Future
Last updated on June 30, 2025
Whenever a marriage dissolves, there will be fallout. Sometimes this fallout is rearranging schedules and moving to a new house in the area. Other times, a divorce can mean significant changes to the way you parent, the options your child has and your lifestyle as a family.
At Huckaby Hicks PLLC, our Buda child custody lawyers want to make this transition as smooth as possible. Above all else, we are warriors for the safety and well-being of your child. Turn to us for personal, compassionate and assertive legal representation in divorce, child custody and support matters.
Contact our Buda child custody attorneys today at CALL or by filling out our online form to schedule a confidential consultation to learn more about your parental rights.
Establishing Child Support And Paternity In Buda
Often, the beginning of child custody proceedings starts with establishing paternity. This happens most often with couples who were not married at the time their child was born. It can also happen if there were other relationships outside of the marriage or if there were breaks in the marital relationship. If a pregnancy happens during a separation or divorce, this may be a cause to determine paternity.
Paternity or biological fatherhood is an integral matter related to the best interest of the child. This is for three main reasons:
- A child needs to know their true medical history
- A child needs to know who their father is for identity and bonding purposes
- A child is entitled to financial support from both parents until the child graduates from high school or turns 18
Once a child’s biological parents are known to the court, the focus shifts to calculating net resources, medical support and ensuring procedures are established for a consistent and timely payment schedule.
Texas child support is based on a number of factors, including custody, income and ability to pay. There is a formula used by the court to determine how much child support will be paid and most courts will stick to this formula unless there is solid and convincing reason and evidence not to.
As child support lawyers experienced with many facets of Texas family law matters, we are prepared to assist in your child support calculations and ensure that each parent complies with the court orders, the Texas Office of the Attorney General procedures, as well as any local domestic relations office.
Factors Judges Consider In Texas Custody Cases
When determining custody arrangements, judges focus on the best interests of the child. They consider several important factors, including but not limited to:
- Emotional and physical needs: Assessing each parent’s ability to meet the child’s emotional and physical requirements effectively
- Parental stability: Evaluating the stability of each parent’s home environment and lifestyle to ensure a secure and nurturing setting for the child
- Child’s wishes: Taking into account the child’s preferences, especially if the child is of a certain age and maturity level, where their opinion can be considered
- Parental involvement: Looking at the extent of each parent’s involvement in the child’s life, including participating in educational or extracurricular activities
- Safety and health: Reviewing any history of abuse, neglect or substance abuse that may impact the child’s welfare and safety.
- Cooperation between parents: Considering the ability of the parents to communicate and cooperate in co-parenting effectively, which is crucial for the child’s development.
By focusing on these aspects, Texas judges aim to establish custody arrangements that best support the child’s growth, development and overall well-being. When you work with a knowledgeable Buda child custody lawyer, you can navigate the custody process with more confidence. Our firm will help you fight for an arrangement that makes the most sense for your family.
Child Support Calculations In Texas
Courts calculate child support using a specific formula, which is designed to ensure fair and adequate support for the child. The calculation considers several key factors:
- Net resources: This includes the noncustodial parent’s income after education, such as taxes, health insurance premiums and union dues.
- Percentage of income: Texas applies a guideline percentage based on the number of children needing support. For example, 20% of net resources is typically allocated for one child, 25% for two children and so on.
- Medical support: The costs associated with the child’s health care, including insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, are considered.
- Special circumstances: In cases where special needs or exceptional circumstances exist, the court may deviate from standard guidelines to address these needs.
Our Buda child support lawyers can assist in ensuring that child support calculations align with Texas guidelines and are tailored to meet your family’s specific needs.
Conservatorship And Custody Disputes
We always strive to avoid disagreements about parenting time. However, there are some cases where disagreements will arise. The first priority is always to do what is best for the child. The state takes the position, typically, that it is in the best interest of the child to have both parents involved in child rearing. Unless there are mitigating circumstances such as abuse, addiction, mental health or other risks, it is likely that both parents will be granted possession.
Our child custody lawyers are prepared to help you establish custody orders. We understand the different types of legal conservatorship available to facilitate a co-parenting relationship.
In Texas, the courts use these terms:
- Conservatorship means custody: This can be sole or joint between parents
- Possession means the right to control what the child does and where the child goes: Spending a day or weekend with one parent.
- Access means visitation or the right to approach and communicate with the child: Access may mean supervised visits.
The court will issue a Standard Possession Order (SPO) that details when, where, who and how possession and access will take place.
As skilled and experienced child custody lawyers, we understand the presumptions surrounding conservatorship, possession and access as well as the legal factors relating to the best interest of the child. We believe that successful co-parenting begins with a clear understanding of each parent’s rights and duties, and we can assist you in designing a legal plan that prioritizes the well-being of the children.
Understanding Sole Managing Conservatorship And Joint Managing Conservatorship
In sole managing conservatorship (sole custody), one parent has the exclusive right to make important decisions about the child’s upbringing. Courts typically grant this arrangement when it is in the best interests of the child, especially in cases where the other parent may pose a risk to the child’s well-being. The parent with sole custody has the right to:
- Determine where the child attends school and make educational decisions
- Make decisions regarding medical treatments and health care providers
- Authorize psychological or psychiatric treatment
- Represent the child in legal actions and decisions
- Decide the child’s primary residence
- Make decisions about the child’s religious practices and education
On the other hand, joint managing conservatorship (joint custody) is when both parents share the rights and responsibilities of raising their child. This arrangement encourages cooperation and involvement from both parents in important aspects of the child’s life. However, it does not necessarily mean equal time-sharing.
In this kind of setup, both parents:
- Contribute to decisions about the child’s schooling and educational needs
- Share responsibilities in making medical and health care decisions
- Have a say in the child’s moral and religious upbringing
- Make decisions about the child’s participation in extracurricular activities
- Contribute to the financial needs of the child
A parenting plan is often necessary to outline how you and your coparent will manage these responsibilities. This plan can help ensure both parents have clear guidelines for cooperation and communication.
With a child custody lawyer from Huckaby Hicks PLLC by your side, you can better navigate the challenges of custody and ensure that the arrangement you choose aligns with your child’s best interests. If you already have an existing arrangement, our experienced attorneys can help you change your custody order to better fit your family’s current needs.
Navigating Parenting Plans And How Our Attorneys Can Help
A parenting plan is a comprehensive agreement that outlines how parents will share responsibilities and make decisions regarding their child’s upbringing post-divorce or separation. It serves as a roadmap for coparenting, aiming to minimize conflicts and ensure the child’s well-being. Here’s how a parenting plan is typically structured:
- Custody and visitation schedules: Details on how parenting time is divided between parents, including regular weekdays, weekends, holidays and vacations.
- Decision-making protocols: Guidelines on how parents will make decisions regarding the child’s education, healthcare and religious upbringing.
- Communication methods: Establishing effective ways for parents to communicate regarding the child’s needs and schedule changes.
- Financial responsibilities: Outlining how parents will share expenses related to the child, including education, health care and extracurricular activities.
- Dispute resolution mechanisms: Procedures for resolving disagreements, which may include mediation or arbitration.
- Special considerations: Addressing unique family needs, such as summer camps, travel arrangements and special occasions.
In many cases, however, creating a parenting plan without legal help is easier said than done. At Huckaby Hicks PLLC, our experienced child custody attorneys can guide you through the process and help you create a plan that works well with both coparents’ current circumstances. We can:
- Provide legal guidance to ensure the parenting plan complies with state laws and serves the child’s best interests
- Help craft personalized plans that reflect the specific needs and dynamics of your family, taking into account unique circumstances.
- Facilitate discussions between parents to reach mutually agreeable terms, reducing conflict and fostering cooperation.
- If disputes arise, our attorneys can represent your interests in court to advocate for a fair and effective parenting plan.
- As circumstances change, attorneys can assist in modifying the parenting plan to address new needs or situations.
Our Buda child custody lawyers are equipped to help you develop a parenting plan that prioritizes your child’s well-being and supports a harmonious coparenting relationship. Whether addressing vacation schedules, school decisions or summer activities, we provide the guidance needed to create a successful plan for your family.
Get Experienced Guidance From Our Buda Child Custody And Support Lawyers
We know that major changes in life, such as a divorce, can be unnerving. We are here to offer guidance and support. We want you to understand the process and all your options. Call our experienced child custody lawyers at 737-309-2231 and arrange a consultation with us.
You can also reach our team by using our online contact form. In Buda, we serve family law clients throughout Central Texas, including Travis, Williamson, Hays, Caldwell, Comal, Burnet, Llano and Bastrop counties.