When you’re arguing for custody in Texas, the judge might take several factors into consideration. Common factors include your current living situation, monthly income and relationship with the child as well as the child’s ability to adjust to a new environment. However, there’s one important factor that many people don’t think about: the number of children you already have living with you.
How does the number of children involved relate to child custody?
If you and your former spouse have multiple children together, that might affect the outcome of your custody dispute. For example, if you and your former spouse have three kids, the judge might expect each parent to have plenty of living space. If you live in a tiny one-bedroom apartment, it might be harder for you to get full or joint custody.
The judge might also take into consideration children from previous relationships. If you already have two children living at your house, the judge might not think it’s in this child’s best interests to grant you sole custody. Even if your other children don’t live with you permanently, the judge could still bring it up during the divorce proceedings.
Raising a child is a lot of responsibility, and if you’re dealing with multiple children at once, applying for full custody of all of them might not be in their best interests. Your attorney may provide further advice on this subject.
How can an attorney help you during a custody battle?
During the divorce proceedings, you might want to file for sole custody of your children. If your attorney believes that this is best for you and your child, they might help you present a strong case to the judge. However, if your attorney believes that joint custody is a better solution, they may help you look at the issue objectively and make the right choice.
