Spouses in Texas may want to file for divorce if they are unable to get along. If spouses cannot agree on child-related issues such as custody and visitation, a contested court hearing may be necessary. Presenting documents as evidence may be persuasive to a judge.

A visitation schedule may be the most important document presented in a child custody proceeding. A visitation schedule, even one informally agreed to between the parties prior to a hearing, can demonstrate a continuous and meaningful relationship with a child. If a parent doesn’t visit a child, this could indicate to a court that he or she is not invested in maintaining a close relationship.

Phone records may also be persuasive to a judge. They can show the level of contact between a parent and child, whether frequent or infrequent. In the event a parent has had infrequent contact with a child, they may argue that the lack of contact occurred through no fault of their own (i.e., interference from the other parent).

School and medical records may also be important in a child custody proceeding. These documents can indicate how well a child is doing in a parent’s care and demonstrate that a parent is caring for a child’s needs.

An experienced family law attorney may be of assistance to individuals who want to petition a court for child custody. A court may modify previous orders if there has been a change in a parent’s circumstances since the last order was entered. Courts may also revisit prior orders if a parent is refusing to abide by its provisions.

An attorney may assist people who want to obtain primary custody in presenting evidence that is favorable to their case. For example, an attorney may be able to introduce documents into evidence to show that placing custody with a client is in a child’s best interests.