HOUSTON PARENTAL RELOCATION LAWYERS

Relocating a Child Requires Permission of the Court

Few issues cause as much friction as when one parent seeks to move away with the children. Outside very limited circumstances, only the family court that has jurisdiction over the original custody decree can grant a parent the right to relocate with his or her child. As one might imagine, the matter is often hotly contested.

You want an attorney from the law firm of Bill De La Garza & Associates, P.C. on your side during a hearing over custodial parent relocation. With more than 80 years of combined legal experience, our legal team has successfully represented mothers and fathers on either side of the issue — to gain approval for relocating children or to prevent a custodial parent from doing so.

The Houston law firm of Bill De La Garza & Associates, P.C. handles all child custody matters in Harris County, Galveston County and adjoining jurisdictions in Texas. Call today at (281) 486-7007 for the skilled advocacy you will need.

Texas Parental Move-Away Lawyers

Most custody agreements contain a residency restriction that limits how far away a parent can move without court approval. A primary conservator parent in Houston would typically be limited to residing within Harris County and contiguous counties. The courts in Texas are required to either state what the geographical residence of the child will be OR that there is no geographical restriction on the residence of the child. The current trend in the nation, and in Texas, is to keep children close to both parents when at all possible.

Overcoming a residency restriction is a tall order. The burden is on the relocating parent to prove that the move is in the best interests of the child and will not unduly affect the bond between the child and the parent left behind. The farther away the move, the more skeptical the judge will be.

Our lawyers have prevailed both ways in litigation. We have represented the move-away parent, demonstrating that the child would benefit from better schools, the parent’s better job or a family support network. We have also represented the non-primary parent, arguing that the child would be isolated or have fewer opportunities, or that the real reason for the move is to deprive our client of the parental relationship.

HOUSTON PARENTAL RELOCATION LAWYERS