Protecting Your Role as a Parent, One Decision at a Time

A custody dispute rarely stays contained to the courtroom. It follows you into school pickups, holiday planning, and every conversation with your child. The Draper Law Firm represents parents throughout Addison, Texas, helping them secure custody arrangements that hold up in court and hold together at home. Our child custody attorneys handle conservatorship, possession schedules, relocation disputes, and enforcement matters for families across Dallas County.

Addison sits at the center of one of the busiest corners of North Texas, and its family courts move through a high volume of cases each year. That pace makes it easy for a self-represented parent to get lost in scheduling orders and paperwork deadlines. We built our practice around knowing exactly how Dallas County’s family courts operate, so your case moves forward instead of stalling.

If you’re weighing your options for a child custody matter in Addison, call 469-757-3345 to set up a call with our team and we’ll follow up directly.

Our Compassionate, Client-Centered Approach 

At The Draper Law Firm, “Integrity. Excellence. Compassion.” isn’t just a tagline—it’s our practice philosophy. We recognize that families need more than just legal representation; they need attorneys who understand the emotional toll of custody disputes and provide support throughout the process. 

We empower our clients through education, ensuring you understand your legal rights, options, and the potential outcomes of various decisions. Our balanced approach recognizes when aggressive advocacy is necessary and when collaborative resolution better serves your family’s interests. 

The families we’ve worked with appreciate our commitment to regular communication and transparency. We keep you informed at every stage of your case, explaining complex legal concepts in understandable terms, and providing honest assessments of your situation. Our attorneys take time to understand the unique dynamics of your family, recognizing that each custody case requires individualized attention and strategies. 

FAQs About Child Custody in Addison, TX 

What is the difference between custody and conservatorship in Texas?

Texas law doesn’t use the word custody in its statutes; the legal term is conservatorship. A conservatorship order names each parent as either a joint managing conservator or a sole managing conservator and spells out which parent makes decisions about school, medical care, and other major issues. Possession and access, sometimes called visitation, is a separate part of the same order that sets the actual schedule of time with each parent.

How does the Dallas County court system handle Addison custody cases?

Addison sits within Dallas County, so custody cases from Addison are filed and heard in the county’s Family District Courts, based at the George L. Allen, Sr. Courts Building in downtown Dallas. Several judges rotate through family law dockets there, and each court follows its own standing orders regarding scheduling, temporary restrictions, and required parenting classes, so local familiarity matters.

Can a child decide which parent to live with in Texas?

A child who is 12 or older can ask the judge to interview them privately about their custodial preference, and the judge has discretion to grant that request. The child’s stated preference is one factor among many the court weighs, not a binding decision, and judges also consider stability, each parent’s involvement, and the child’s overall wellbeing before making a final ruling.

What qualifies as a material change for a custody modification?

Texas courts require a material and substantial change in circumstances since the last order before they’ll consider modifying custody. Common examples include a parent relocating outside the area, a significant change in work schedule, a new relationship affecting the household, or safety concerns that have emerged since the original order. The change also has to make the requested modification in the child’s best interest, not just more convenient for a parent.

How long does a custody case in Addison typically take?

A straightforward, uncontested custody matter can sometimes resolve in a few months once both parents agree on terms. A contested case that requires temporary orders, discovery, and a trial setting often takes six months to a year, occasionally longer if the docket is backed up or the case involves an evaluation. Early legal guidance on temporary orders can shape how the rest of the case unfolds.

What happens if the other parent violates the custody order?

Violations, like withheld possession time or blocked communication, can be addressed through an enforcement action filed with the same court that issued the order. The court can award makeup time, require compliance going forward, and in more serious or repeated violations, hold the violating parent in contempt. Keeping a written record of missed exchanges and communication attempts strengthens an enforcement case significantly.

Do I need a lawyer for a custody case if we already agree on terms?

Even an amicable agreement needs to be drafted correctly to hold up as an enforceable court order, and small wording gaps around holidays, decision-making, or relocation can cause disputes years later. A lawyer can also confirm the agreement meets Texas’s best-interest standard before a judge signs off, which reduces the chance the order gets challenged or needs revisiting soon after it’s entered.

Does the Draper Law Firm handle appeals in custody cases?

Yes. Custody rulings can be appealed when a trial court makes a legal error or misapplies the best-interest standard, and appellate work requires a different skill set than trial litigation. Managing Partner Holly Draper has appellate experience at the highest level, including a case decided by the Texas Supreme Court, which gives Addison clients a rare option if a trial court ruling needs to be challenged.