When Can One Parent Get Sole Custody in Texas?

 Posted on January 08, 2025 in Child Custody

Courts often try to avoid sole custody arrangements where only one parent has an opportunity to spend time with the child. Even if a parent is far from perfect, courts usually find that it is in the best interests of the children to maintain a relationship with both parents wherever possible. Courts will normally only consider sole custody arrangements when having visitation with one parent would be harmful to the child. While many parents in the heat of a child custody battle threaten to "go for full custody," cases where one parent is left without court-ordered visitation time are very rare. If your child’s other parent is demanding sole custody and there is nothing to suggest that you are a danger to your children, you likely do not need to worry. However, you should be represented by an experienced Palo Pinto, TX child custody lawyer who can stand up for your rights as a parent in court.

Sole Custody When One Parent is Disinterested 

If one parent requests sole custody and the other parent does not object in any way, the court is fairly likely to grant the request. When one parent is entirely uninterested in being a parent or spending time with the child, forcing the child to spend time with him anyway could be damaging to the child’s mental health. Disinterested parents rarely take advantage of any visitation they are given, which can lead to a lot of disappointment for the child involved.

Unfortunately, it is common for a parent who has never been involved in the child’s life before to suddenly demand visitation simply to spite the parent who has been caring for the child during a custody battle. These situations are often transparent, but the previously uninvolved parent may still be able to secure some visitation.

Protecting a Child From an Unsafe Parent 

Supervised visitation is more common than sole custody. Courts often order supervised visitation when they are not confident in a parent’s ability to safely care for the children alone, such as when the parent is battling a drug addiction or has placed the children in unsafe situations in the past.

Sole custody is more likely when a parent has been outright abusive toward the children. If one parent has a history of serious child abuse, the court is far more likely to agree that the other parent should have sole custody.

Contact a Parker County, TX Child Custody Lawyer 

The Law Offices of Kary L. Key is committed to helping parents who are experiencing high-conflict child custody cases. Experienced Palo Pinto, TX child custody attorney Kary Key will do all she can to protect your relationship with your child. Contact us at 817-599-6969 for a complimentary consultation.