Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

custody of my 14 yr. old daughter

My 14 yr. old daughter wants to live with me. Her and her older siblings, (22 and 19), have been tormented by their mother with emotional abuse for years. They are all willing to testify on the younger siblings behalf. The mother is married to one man, but has been seeing another man for about 4 years now. It is always a battle to even see any the kids now, with the youngest one, and in the past even with the other two. She even called the cops on us when they came to our house for the summer and claimed that we had sexually abused them in the past and that she feared for their lives. This woman had serious mental issues. My main questions are, what chances do we have of getting custody, and does it go mainly that the child is now 14 and can decide or is it going to be a long, drawnout procedure in proving all of the abuse that my ex has done to these kids?


Asked on 8/20/08, 10:06 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Bruce Zivley Bruce C. Zivley, Attorney at Law

Re: custody of my 14 yr. old daughter

Under Texas law, a child 12 years and older can indicate a preference for the parent they desire to reside with. While the Court can ignore the child's choice, more often than not they will grant the child's wishes. The years of abuse etc. are not as important, in my opinion, as the choice of the child. I can assist you in this matter if you live anywhere near the Houston area. Contact me if you care do discuss the matter in greater detail.

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Answered on 8/20/08, 10:30 am


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