Fort Worth Child Custody
Protecting Your Children’s Best Interests
When divorce or separation involves children, protecting their well-being is the top priority. At Goranson Bain Ausley, we understand the unique challenges families in Fort Worth face during custody disputes. Our focus is on reducing conflict, preserving stability, and ensuring decisions are made with your children’s best interests at heart.
Our Fort Worth child custody team brings deep legal knowledge and a compassionate approach to every case. We help parents develop solutions that safeguard their children while providing clarity and confidence throughout the legal process.
Child Custody in Fort Worth: What to Expect
Under Texas law, custody arrangements, known legally as conservatorship and possession and access, must reflect the best interests of the child. How custody is determined depends on:
- Whether the case is part of a divorce or a stand-alone custody matter.
- Whether parents can agree on a parenting plan or require court involvement.
- Circumstances such as relocation, safety concerns, or complex family dynamics.
In every situation, our Fort Worth custody lawyers guide parents step by step, prepare the necessary documentation, and advocate for fair, practical arrangements that support long-term co-parenting.
Areas of Focus in Fort Worth Custody Cases
- Visitation & Parenting Time: We help families design workable schedules that reflect children’s needs, school calendars, and each parent’s availability.
- LGBTQ+ Parenting Rights: Our attorneys provide skilled representation in cases involving marital status, who the biological parent is, and how the child was conceived, helping same-sex parents establish and protect their rights.
- Paternity: For unmarried parents, establishing paternity is essential for defining rights and responsibilities. We assist with testing, recognition of paternity, and related support issues.
- Custom Parenting Plans: While the Texas Family Code provides a Standard Possession Order, it may not fit every family. We help parents in Fort Worth create tailored plans that minimize disruption and meet their children’s unique needs.
- Grandparent Rights: Texas law allows grandparents to petition for visitation or custody in specific circumstances. Our team guides grandparents through these complex legal processes with care and precision.
Standard Possession in Texas
The Texas Family Code outlines a Standard Possession Order (SPO), which typically grants non-custodial parents possession on the first, third, and fifth weekends of each month, Thursday evenings during the school year, alternating holidays, and up to 30 days during summer vacation.
For parents living more than 100 miles apart, adjustments apply, including longer summer possession and modified weekend schedules. If safety is a concern, supervised visitation may be ordered.
Our Fort Worth child custody lawyers explain these rules clearly and advocate for arrangements that prioritize your child’s well-being.
How Our Fort Worth Team Helps Families
Custody disputes are among the most emotionally difficult parts of family law. At GBA, we provide both strong advocacy and compassionate guidance. Our Fort Worth attorneys:
- Deliver clear, practical advice tailored to your family’s circumstances.
- Work to resolve disputes efficiently, minimizing the need for litigation.
- Prepare thoroughly for negotiations and hearings to protect your parental rights.
- Promote respectful, sustainable solutions that support long-term co-parenting.
Our goal is to help you through the legal process while giving you confidence in your family’s future.
Fort Worth Child Custody Lawyers
If you are facing a custody matter in Fort Worth, you don’t have to go through it alone. The child custody team at Goranson Bain Ausley is here to help you build a parenting plan, protect your rights, and support your child’s future.
When you need a trusted family lawyer in Fort Worth, our attorneys are ready to provide strong advocacy and compassionate guidance.
Our Fort Worth Location
Fort Worth Office:
1200 Summit Ave.
Suite 800
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: 817-735-4000
Fort Worth Client Reviews
Awards & Credentials
- Thomas P. Goranson 1997
- Thomas L. Ausley 1997
- Diana S. Friedman 1998
- Thomas A. Greenwald 2003
- Kathryn J. Murphy 2004
- Eric Robertson 2007
- Kelly Ausley-Flores 2009
- Cindy V. Tisdale 2010
- Kristal Thomson 2014
- Aimee Pingenot Key 2015
- Kristen A. Algert 2017
- P. Lindley Bain 2020
- Ryan R. Bauerle 2022
- Lindsey Obenhaus 2023
- Charla Davies 2024
- John J. Kappel 2024
- Chris Nickelson 2024
- Gary L. Nickelson 2024
- Cassidy Pearson 2024
- Cindy V. Tisdale 2024
- Thomas L. Ausley 1980
- Thomas P. Goranson 1980
- Gary L. Nickelson 1984
- Kathryn J. Murphy 1995
- Diana S. Friedman 1996
- Kristen A. Algert 1997
- Thomas A. Greenwald 1997
- Eric Robertson 1997
- Kelly Ausley-Flores 2000
- Curtis W. Harrison 2002
- Cindy V. Tisdale 2003
- Jeff Shore 2006
- Clint Westhoff 2006
- Jeff Domen 2009
- Kristal Thomson 2009
- Angel J. Berbarie 2010
- P. Lindley Bain 2012
- Aimee Pingenot Key 2012
- Kevin Davidson 2017
- Charla Davies 2017
- Rob Frazer 2018
- Ryan R. Bauerle 2018
- Hayley Collins Blair 2019
- Lindsey Obenhaus 2019
- Katie Flowers Samler 2019
- Jonathan James 2020
- John J. Kappel 2020
- Chris Nickelson 2021
- Chandler Rice Winslow 2023
- Kristiana Butler 2024
- Cassidy Pearson 2024
- Angelica Rolong Cormier 2024