Child Custody And Support
Putting Children First
Child custody and support, guided by your child's best interests
Few matters carry more weight than the arrangements that shape your child's daily life. Conservatorship, possession schedules and child support orders define where your child lives, who makes major decisions, and how they are financially supported in the years ahead.
Vernier & Associates, PLLC represents parents throughout The Woodlands, Houston, Harris County and Montgomery County in custody and support matters — from initial parenting plans to enforcement and modification of existing orders. Our approach pairs steady, evidence-based advocacy with deep respect for what is at stake for your family.
- 40+
- Years of family law experience
- 100%
- Family law focus
- TX
- Statewide representation
- 5★
- Trusted by Texas parents
Comprehensive Representation
Steady advocacy for parents at every stage
Custody and support are rarely settled in a single moment. Families change — jobs shift, children grow, schedules evolve — and the legal framework around them must adapt. Our attorneys help parents navigate the full life cycle of these matters with clarity and care.
On the conservatorship side, we represent parents in the establishment of joint and sole managing conservatorships, possessory conservatorships, possession and access schedules (including standard and expanded standard), parenting plans for high-conflict families, and the right to make educational, medical and psychological decisions.
On the support side, we handle the calculation, establishment, modification and enforcement of child support and medical support obligations under the Texas Family Code — including matters involving self-employed parents, variable income, retroactive support, and arrearages.
Texas Family Code
How Texas approaches custody and support
Texas courts begin with a single guiding question: what is in the best interest of the child? Several legal concepts shape the answer in your case — and understanding them early helps you advocate effectively for your child.
Joint Managing Conservatorship
The most common arrangement in Texas, in which both parents share rights and duties — even when one parent has the primary residence.
Sole Managing Conservatorship
Awarded when the court finds it is in the child's best interest for one parent to hold exclusive rights, often in cases involving safety or absence.
Possessory Conservatorship
Defines the rights and duties of a parent who does not have primary conservatorship — including possession schedules and decision input.
Standard Possession Order
The default Texas schedule for parents living within 100 miles, with expanded options that maximize meaningful time with each parent.
Child Support Guidelines
Calculated as a percentage of net resources under the Texas Family Code, with adjustments for multiple children and other obligations.
Medical & Dental Support
Parents are required to provide health and dental coverage; courts allocate premiums and uninsured costs as part of the support order.
Areas of Focus
Every kind of custody matter, handled with the same standard of care
Initial Custody Orders
Establishing conservatorship, possession schedules and support in original divorce or SAPCR proceedings.
Modifications
Updating existing orders when circumstances have materially and substantially changed for either parent or the child.
Enforcement
Pursuing or defending enforcement actions when possession schedules, support obligations or specific orders are not being followed.
Relocation Disputes
Disputes over a parent's request to move with the child outside the geographic restriction set by the court.
High-Conflict Custody
Cases involving allegations of abuse, neglect, substance use, alienation or other concerns affecting the child's safety and well-being.
Grandparent & Third-Party Rights
Standing, conservatorship and possession claims by grandparents, stepparents and other significant figures in a child's life.
How It Works
A clear roadmap through Texas custody and support
Every family is unique, but most custody and support matters move through a recognizable sequence. Understanding what is coming makes hard decisions easier.
- 1
Confidential Consultation
We begin with a private conversation to understand your child, your concerns, your schedule, and the realistic path forward.
- 2
Filing & Temporary Orders
Where appropriate, we seek temporary orders to stabilize the parenting schedule, support and decision-making during the case.
- 3
Discovery & Investigation
We gather school, medical, and financial records, and — when needed — work with custody evaluators and other professionals.
- 4
Mediation & Negotiation
Most cases resolve through mediation. We prepare you to advocate clearly for terms that protect your child and your relationship.
- 5
Trial & Final Orders
When trial is required, we present a focused, well-prepared case so the court has what it needs to enter sound, durable orders.
What's Truly at Stake
Protecting what matters most for your child
Custody and support orders shape your child's daily life for years. Our work focuses on the four areas parents most often say they cannot afford to get wrong.
Your Child's Stability
Possession schedules and parenting plans built around your child's school, friends, activities and routine.
Your Parental Role
Clear, enforceable rights to be present in your child's education, healthcare and major life decisions.
Your Financial Picture
Support orders calculated correctly under Texas guidelines and structured to be sustainable on both sides.
Your Child's Safety
Where there are real concerns about safety, we move quickly and decisively to protect your child.
Why Vernier & Associates
Compassionate counsel with the resolve to fight when it counts
Custody work demands more than legal skill. It demands listening, judgment, and an unwavering focus on the child at the center. That is the standard our families rely on, in negotiation rooms and courtrooms alike.
Child-Centered Strategy
Every recommendation we make begins with your child — their stability, their needs, and their relationship with both parents.
Trial-Ready Advocacy
When the case requires it, we are ready and prepared. Strong preparation also produces stronger settlements.
Clear Communication
You will always understand where your case stands, what is happening next, and what your options are.
Responsive Service
Senior attorneys remain personally involved. You won't be passed off to junior staff during a critical moment.
Avoid Costly Missteps
Common mistakes parents make in custody matters
Small choices in the early weeks can echo for years. These are the missteps we most often help our clients avoid.
Speaking negatively about the other parent
Especially in front of your child. Courts pay close attention to how each parent supports the child's relationship with the other.
Withholding the child to gain leverage
Self-help denial of possession almost always backfires — and can quickly become an enforcement issue against you.
Ignoring a temporary order
Temporary orders are real orders. Treating them casually can cost you credibility — and possession time — at final trial.
Posting on social media
Photos, comments and check-ins routinely become exhibits. Pause public sharing the moment a custody dispute arises.
Skipping documentation
Pickups, drop-offs, missed exchanges, school events — a calm, factual record protects you when memories later conflict.
Trying to navigate it alone
Texas custody law is nuanced. Early counsel almost always saves time, money, and avoidable damage to your case.
Best Interest Standard
Texas courts weigh every custody decision against what is in the best interest of the child.
Geographic Restriction
Most orders restrict the child's primary residence to a specific county or surrounding counties.
Support Until 18
Texas child support generally continues until age 18 or graduation from high school, whichever is later.
Frequently Asked
Texas custody and support questions, answered
- Does Texas favor mothers in custody cases?
- No. Texas law is gender-neutral. Courts apply a 'best interest of the child' standard and consider many factors, including each parent's involvement, stability, and ability to meet the child's needs.
- How is child support calculated in Texas?
- Texas uses a percentage-of-net-resources formula in the Texas Family Code, with the percentage tied to the number of children before the court and adjusted for other support obligations.
- Can a custody or support order be changed later?
- Yes. Either order can be modified when circumstances have materially and substantially changed and the modification is in the child's best interest.
- What is a Standard Possession Order?
- It is the default Texas possession schedule for parents who live within 100 miles of each other. It can be expanded by election or agreement to maximize meaningful time with the non-primary parent.
Serving Harris & Montgomery County
Talk to a custody and support attorney today
To schedule a confidential consultation about your custody or support matter, call our office today or complete a short online form. From The Woodlands, we represent parents throughout the Houston region and across Texas.
Confidential Consultation
Begin with a clear, private conversation.
Contact Vernier & Associates to discuss your family law matter with experienced Texas counsel.