Child Visitation Attorney in Stephenville

Protecting Your Time With Your Child

Your time with your child is irreplaceable. When visitation becomes uncertain because of a divorce, separation, or conflict with the other parent, it can feel like everything is at risk. You may be worried about what a court will decide and be unsure how to protect your relationship with your child.

At Law Offices of Brady L. Pendleton, we help parents understand their options and make a clear plan. As a child visitation attorney in Stephenville, we focus on personal service and steady guidance. Our goal is to make the legal process more understandable and less overwhelming, so you can focus on your child instead of just the paperwork.

We work closely with parents who are creating, enforcing, or changing visitation orders through Texas family courts that serve Stephenville and nearby communities. You can expect a hands-on approach, attention to detail, and a team that listens carefully to what matters most to you and your child.

Protect your bond with your child by calling a Stephenville child visitation lawyer immediately. Dial (888) 246-6869 or contact us through our online form to schedule your free consultation. Spanish-speaking staff are available to assist you.

Understanding Visitation Laws in Texas

In Texas, the law uses the term "Possession and Access" rather than "visitation." Under Texas Family Code Chapter 153, the court’s primary goal is to ensure that children have "frequent and continuing contact" with parents who act in their best interests. The law assumes that a Standard Possession Order (SPO) is the baseline for what is fair and healthy for a child over the age of three.

The Standard Possession Order (SPO)

For parents who live within 100 miles of each other, the SPO typically provides the non-custodial parent (the possessory conservator) with:

• Weekends: The 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends of every month.
• Thursdays: Weekday evening visits during the school term.
• Holidays: Alternating holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. In even-numbered years like 2026, the non-custodial parent typically has possession for Spring Break.
• Summer: 30 days of extended summer possession.

Expanded Standard Possession Order (ESPO)

Since a major legislative shift in 2021, Texas law now presumes that an Expanded Standard Possession Order is in the best interest of children when parents live within 50 miles of each other. This expanded schedule significantly increases the non-custodial parent's time by allowing weekend visits to begin when school lets out on Friday and end when school resumes on Monday morning, effectively creating a "long weekend" three times a month.

Common Visitation Challenges Parents Face

Many parents come to us after trying to manage visitation problems on their own for months or even years. A parent might not show up for visits, change plans at the last minute, or refuse to return the child on time. In other families, a job change, new relationship, or move makes an old schedule unworkable, but the written order has never been updated.

In and around Stephenville, busy workdays, longer drives between homes, and school activities can make exchanges more complicated. Parents often feel caught between following the court order and accommodating real-world demands. Children can feel pulled into adult disagreements, which is stressful for everyone. It is common for parents to worry about appearing unreasonable if they ask the court for help.

Some situations raise more serious concerns. A parent might be worried about alcohol or drug use, unsafe driving, or who is present during visits. Other times, there is no safety issue, but the communication between parents has broken down. In these cases, courts may look at enforcement requests, agreed changes, or structured schedules that reduce unnecessary contact between the adults.

Our firm provides a supportive place to talk through these issues. When you work with a visitation lawyer in Stephenville, we discuss what you are experiencing, what the current order says, and what legal tools might be available. We help you avoid informal fixes that never make it into a court order and may cause confusion later.

Supervised Visitation and Safety Concerns

If there is a history of family violence, substance abuse, or neglect, the court may order supervised visitation. Under Texas Family Code § 153.004, the court must consider evidence of domestic violence when determining access.

Supervised visitation can take several forms:

• Facility-Based: Visits occur at a professional monitoring center.
• Third-Party Supervised: A trusted family member or a court-appointed monitor is present at all times.
• Prohibitions on Alcohol/Drugs: Orders requiring a parent to abstain from substances for a specific period before and during their possession time.

We take these cases with the utmost seriousness. Whether you are seeking to protect your child from an unsafe parent or fighting against false allegations intended to keep you from your child, we provide the vigorous advocacy needed to ensure the court sees the full picture.

Modifying an Existing Visitation Order

Life changes, and a schedule that worked when your child was a toddler may no longer be practical as they enter school or as your work schedule shifts. To change a visitation order in Erath County, you must file a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR) for modification.

To succeed, you generally must prove:

• Material and Substantial Change: A significant change in the circumstances of the child or a parent (e.g., relocation, a change in work hours, or the child's evolving educational needs).
• Best Interest of the Child: That the proposed new schedule better serves the child’s physical and emotional well-being.

Attorney Brady L. Pendleton and our firm specialize in crafting "Step-Up Plans" for children under three or for parents re-entering a child's life after a long absence. These plans gradually increase visitation as the child becomes more comfortable, ensuring a safe and stable transition for the family.

How We Help With Visitation

When you are dealing with visitation, you do not just need information. You need a plan and a lawyer who will walk beside you. Our firm helps parents with first-time visitation orders, disputes under existing schedules, and modifications when life changes, such as a new job, a move, or a child’s changing needs.

We start by listening. During your initial conversation with our visitation attorney in Stephenville, parents can explain their situation in their own words. From there, we work with you to set clear goals, such as more predictable weekends, adjustments to holidays, or better-defined pickup and drop-off times.

Our history of handling many family law matters, including visitation and custody disputes, allows us to anticipate common issues and help you avoid missteps. Whether your case is resolved through agreement or requires hearings in a court that handles cases from Stephenville, we stay focused on clarity, preparation, and respectful advocacy.

If you are being denied time with your child, you need a child visitation attorney in Stephenville who will fight for your rights. Contact the Law Offices of Brady L. Pendleton at (888) 246-6869 or reach out online for a free consultation.