Revenge and inconvenience are not legal reasons for modifying a child custody order from a Woodlands Divorce. Your Woodlands Divorce Attorney must prove the modification is in the best interests of the child as well as the existence of a material and substantial change since the previous order was issued. Exactly what a “material and substantial” change means is what judges interpret on a daily basis, but a recent case reminds us that revenge and inconvenience are not material and substantial. Speak with a Woodlands Divorce Attorney today at (832) 426-3913 if you need assistance with your child custody modification.

Background

On November 6, 2007, Mother filed a petition to modify the child custody arrangement. Mother’s petition to modify followed Father’s earlier petition for enforcement and access after Mother denied him access to their child. The judge ruled for Father on his petition for enforcement and access.

In her later petition, Mother alleged that K.T.W.’s circumstances had materially and substantially changed since the entry of the previous order. She requested that Father’s “terms and conditions for access to and possession of the child be modified… to reflect visitation in regard to the over 100 mile visitation,” and that, since Father resided in Houston, he should “be responsible for pickup and return for visitation of the child.” Mother further pleaded that Father’s “change of address had caused [her] to incur increased costs.” Father answered and denied that there had been any “change of circumstances which would be grounds for any modification of the present Orders regarding access and possession.”

Discussion

At the trial court level Mother won her case and the judge modified custody to restrict Father’s access to his child. The Father appealed the ruling.

On appeal, Read more…

At the end of your divorce case in Montgomery County you and your ex-spouse will have very specific parental rights and responsibilities spelled out in your divorce decree. Most parents end up being appointed as either a managing conservator or at least a possessory conservator of their child or children. What are your rights and duties as a conservator during the time when you are the parent in possession of the child or children? What are the rights and duties of your ex-spouse when he or she has possession of your child or children?

Unless limited by court order, each parent appointed as a conservator of a child has the following rights and duties during the time that the parent has possession of the child:

1. The duty of Read more…

Today we will review the standard possession order as it applies when the possessory conservator resides more than 100 miles from the residence of the child. There are some significant differences from the possession order that is used if you are within 100 miles of the child’s residence so review it carefully with your Woodlands, TX Divorce Attorney before your Montgomery County Divorce is finalized.

If the possessory conservator resides more than 100 miles from the residence of the child, the possessory conservator shall have the right to possession of the child as follows:

(1) either regular weekend possession beginning on the first, third, and fifth Friday as provided under the terms applicable to parents who reside 100 miles or less apart or not more than one weekend Read more…