Skip to content 
Navigating a child custody case is undoubtedly challenging. It will test your determination, your relationships, and likely your finances. Given the long-term impacts of a child custody decision, the accompanying stress is understandable. In Texas, child custody cases can bring unexpected challenges. It’s crucial to be prepared for the unforeseen.
Currently, you might be delaying the inevitable child custody dispute. Communication with your son’s father has been strained. His irregular working hours complicate your attempts to discuss important matters like child support or visitation schedules. Although his visits — bringing money and diapers — provide some support, they fall short of ideal for your son.
With your son’s first birthday approaching, it feels like the right time to initiate the child custody case you’ve been considering. However, your role as a receptionist in a law firm doesn’t equip you with knowledge about family law. Upon consulting a senior partner, you learn that the Law Office of Bryan Fagan is highly respected among Houston-area attorneys for handling such cases.
You decide to contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan and easily connect with one of their seasoned family law attorneys. Our firm strives for accessibility, whether you’re a current or potential client seeking information about your case. We offer free consultations over the phone, via video, or in person at our various locations across Houston and Texas. Meeting an attorney for the first time can be daunting, and we understand that.
Preparing for a family law case involves addressing current and future issues that affect your family. The weight of the responsibility can feel overwhelming as you watch your son grow and wish to support his success. With this in mind, you take an extended lunch break to meet with a Bryan Fagan attorney and learn what to expect in your child custody case.
#1: Find out how you are going to pay for your case
Mapping out a financial plan for your child custody case is crucial for your success and your son’s future. Unfortunately, many people rush into their cases without considering the financial implications. Every family law case, including child custody, involves costs that you must be prepared for.
It’s wise to organize your finances when aiming to achieve significant outcomes for yourself and your child. Starting this process without a financial strategy places you in a risky position. You need a long-term financial plan to successfully complete your case. Our attorneys recommend several key points to consider before diving into a child challenge.
Family law attorneys typically bill by the hour, unlike other legal areas. Before hiring, ask about the hourly rates for both the attorney and their staff. Rates can vary based on experience and other factors. It’s beneficial to consult several attorneys to understand the average fees and gain context for your case.
You should also inquire about the expected total cost of your family law case. It’s reasonable to ask about expenses upfront, just as you would for a home renovation or a vacation. Knowing the potential costs upfront can alleviate some uncertainty.
Most attorneys will hesitate to quote an exact figure for the total costs due to the many variables in child custody cases. Instead, they might offer a range, from a lower to a higher estimate, which gives you a general idea of potential expenses.
Having a payment plan is essential, regardless of whether your case is high or moderate in cost. Paying with cash is ideal as it avoids debt and ensures financial peace. However, if saving in advance wasn’t possible, consider other options such as using a credit card, seeking financial help from family, or utilizing legal funding services.
Each payment method has its merits, and a combination might be necessary. Whatever your choice, ensure it is well thought out and intentional.
#2: Develop goals associated with the case
Many people start a family law case without clear goals, much like setting out on a long walk without a destination. Planning your objectives, especially in a child custody case, can save both time and effort.
When you meet with one of our attorneys, we emphasize the importance of having defined goals before initiating a child custody case. Without clear aims, you might simply rely on your co-parent to make decisions that could impact you and your child favorably, but this is a risky approach.
If you’re the filing parent, take the time to consider what you truly need from the child custody arrangement. Reflect on your child’s needs and what would serve their best interests. For instance, let’s revisit the earlier issues you faced with inconsistent child support and unpredictable visits from the co-parent. This scenario underscores the need for clear, enforceable agreements.
Understanding child support is crucial. Raising a child is costly, and it’s reasonable to expect financial contributions from your co-parent. However, the willingness of parents to contribute financially can vary significantly. If there is no court order, your co-parent isn’t obligated to provide support, though any contributions made voluntarily are appreciated. This is why initiating a child custody case can be crucial to securing the necessary financial support.
Establishing a child support order adds predictability to your budget and ensures that your child has a stable provision for essentials. By setting specific goals and documenting them, you can greatly enhance your child’s well-being.
Another important goal in a child custody case is establishing a predictable schedule for visitation and possession. While it’s beneficial that your co-parent is involved, knowing the schedule of visits in advance can help you plan better. Depending on your child’s age and needs, you might start with short, manageable visits to help both your child and co-parent adjust to the new arrangement. Gradually, you could consider a stair-step approach to increase visitation duration as both adapt.
In conclusion, setting clear goals in a child custody case is not just beneficial—it’s necessary. It helps ensure that all parties, especially your child, have their needs met predictably and fairly.
#3: Learn about the benefits of hiring an experienced family law attorney
Finally, you and your child can stand to benefit a great deal when you decide to work with an experienced family law attorney with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan. When you are going through a child custody case there is too much at stake for you to risk not hiring an attorney. We recommend seeking out the perspective of multiple attorneys before deciding to hire one. This way you can get a feel for how different attorneys look at a child custody case.
However, we are confident that whether you meet just with our attorneys or with half the family law attorneys in Houston you will end up hiring the Law Office of Bryan Fagan. Our attorneys not only know the law, the process, and the courts of Texas but we also possess the heart of a teacher. This means that we will seek to provide you with information that you can use to make decisions for your child that are in his best interests. Having the heart of a teacher means that we will not try to dictate to you what you should do in the case. Rather, we will help you to understand the context, the law, and your case so that you can make informed decisions.
Thank you for spending time with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan on our blog today. No matter where you stand in a family law case, we would like you to know that you have options when it comes to legal representation. We are confident that our attorneys are what you need to secure the best results possible for your child.
Questions about the material contained in today’s blog post? Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan
If you have any questions about the material contained in today’s blog post, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan. Our licensed family law attorneys offer free-of-charge consultations six days a week in person, over the phone, and via video. These consultations are a great way for you to learn more about the world of Texas family law as well as how your family’s circumstances may be impacted by the filing of a divorce or child custody case.
Other Related Articles:
- Child Protective Services in Texas: Safeguarding Childhood and Shaping the Future
- Child Protective Services (CPS) in Texas and Marijuana Use: What Parents Need to Know
- Child Protective Services (CPS) and Marijuana: A Comprehensive Guide to Texas Law
- Understanding CPS Authority: Can Child Protective Services Require Drug Testing in Texas?
- Confidentiality in your Texas Child Protective Services case
- Drug Offenses and Child Protective Services (CPS)
- CPS Navigator Your Guide to Conquering Child Protective Services with Confidence!
- Here is what you should do when Child Protective Services knocks at your door
- Refusing Entry to Child Protective Services
- Child Protective Services Investigations in Texas
