Understanding Parental Rights and Responsibilities in Texas

Parents in Texas have a number of important rights and responsibilities. If you are blessed to have a child, you should fight for your rights while being aware of your legal responsibilities. If you fail in either of these areas, you could face various consequences. Fail to exercise your rights, and your child may miss out on your involvement in their life. Fail to exercise your responsibilities, and you could face various penalties – including criminal charges. 

Consider a consultation with an experienced family law attorney in Texas to learn more about these parental rights and responsibilities. Garza Law Office, PLLC is an established family law firm in Texas – and we can help you tackle these important issues. After gaining her Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) in 2014, Dora Alicia went on to establish this family law firm and gain considerable experience. She has a keen understanding of parental rights in Texas, and this family lawyer can guide you toward a positive outcome. 

The Responsibility to Pay Child Support

Some parents in Texas have a legal responsibility to pay child support. If you have a child and you subsequently share custody with the other parent, you may still need to pay child support. However, this is only necessary if you earn more than the other parent. This is called an “offset in child support”  in Texas due to income disparity. 

In addition, you may not need to pay child support if you have sole physical custody of the child. This is because child support is meant to support parents who shoulder the majority of child-raising tasks. If the child lives with you and spends little time with the other parent, you should not have to pay child support – even if you earn more than your ex. 

If you fail to pay child support despite being ordered to do so by the court, you could face various consequences. These include the garnishment of your paychecks, the revocation of your driver’s license or professional license, and the interception of your tax return. You may even face jail time if you continuously refuse to pay child support. 

The Right to See Your Children 

If you do not have primary physical custody, you still have the right to see your children from time to time. All parents have visitation rights, and only the court can prevent you from seeing your child if you are a seriously dangerous person. Even then, you may still be able to visit your child under supervision from law enforcement. 

If the other parent is trying to prevent you from seeing your child, you can fight for your visitation rights alongside an experienced family law attorney. These legal professionals can help you spend more time with your young ones, and the court recognizes the importance of having two parents in a child’s life. 

The Responsibility to Treat Your Children Well

In Texas, you also have a legal responsibility to treat your children well. You will face serious legal consequences for any instances of child neglect, abuse, or endangerment. Examples of neglect include failing to provide your child with proper food, shelter, and clothing. If the relevant authorities find out about neglect, you could lose custody of your children. This may result in your ex gaining custody. If you are still together with the other parent, the state may take custody of your children. 

Abuse may include physical, psychological, or sexual harm. Courts take these incidents very seriously, and parents who are found guilty of these offenses face long prison sentences. That being said, parents in Texas have the right to carry out corporal punishment. In other words, you have the right to physically strike your child when disciplining them. However, you must not be too excessive – and some punishments could be illegal under certain circumstances. 

The Right to Opt-Out of Certain Education

Parents in Texas also have the right to control their child’s education. If you do not agree with certain aspects of your child’s classroom teachings, you can “opt-out.” For example, you may not agree with sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) classes. 

Contact Garza Law Office, PLLC, to Learn More About Parental Rights and Responsibilities

If you are serious about working with an established family law firm in Texas, choose Garza Law Office, PLLC. Over the years, our experienced family law attorney has helped many parents fight for their rights. We can also help those who have been accused of various offenses, including child abuse or child neglect. These issues can be especially problematic during divorce. To get started with our experienced family lawyer, contact us at (956) 329-1304 today.

Dora Alicia Garza

Dora Alicia Garza is a seasoned attorney based in Texas and the Founder of Garza Law Office, PLLC. She has built a respected practice across multiple areas of law, including criminal defense, family law, personal injury, guardianships & wills, estate planning & probate, immigration, debt defense and juvenile law. Learn more here.