child-custody

Modification of a Child Custody Order

Modification-of-a-Child-Custody-OrderA question people ask when they come into my Round Rock Law Office is when can they change or alter a child custody order already entered by the court? The answer is custody, visitation and child support may be changed or modified after a court order has been entered by the Judge.

While an order from the court may be altered, there are certain requirements that must be followed.

Requirement A: The motion to modify the previously entered order should be filed in the same court that rendered the order to be modified. If the children have resided in a different jurisdiction for 6 months prior to the filing of the motion to modify then a motion should be transferred to the new county once it has been filed. For instance, if an order in a suit affecting parent-child relationship was issued in Gatesville, Texas — which is the county seat of Coryell County — and the parent having the right to designate the primary residence of the children moves to Round Rock, Texas, it might not be convenient for the parent to travel from Round Rock to deal with the child custody case in Coryell County.

Requirement B: Another condition that must be met to modify a Texas child custody or visitation order is that the circumstances of the child, or one or both parents, have materially and substantially changed — or the current order has become unworkable or inappropriate.

  • Furthermore, if a modification that is filed before the passing of one year from the time the order was entered, it must be accompanied by an affidavit.

A child support order may be changed at any time there is a showing of substantial change in circumstances.

Requirement C: Another situation where a child support order may be modified is if 3 years have passed since the rendition of the order to be modified and the child support would change by $100 a month or 20 percent.

A Recent Procedural Hurdle 

Starting September 1, 2015 if a party wants to set a modification for temporary orders the party must submit an affidavit and obtain approval from the judge. Temporary orders on a modification is a very complex and difficult road for a person seeking a change. The bar is set really high. If you want to change the parent with the right to determine the primary residence of the child you will have to meet the procedural hurdles. I will devote a full blog post to temporary orders on a modification of a child custody order.

Do You Need Child Support/Have a Case Filed Against You?

If you are in need child support or have a child support case currently filed against you then you should seek the advice of an experienced lawyer practicing in Williamson County. If you have any questions about child support please call The Law Office of Clifford Alan Swayze located in Round Rock, Texas at 512-335-5245.


We serve the following communities and zip codes in Williamson County Texas:

Cedar Park, Round Rock, Leander, Georgetown, Liberty Hill, Hutto, Taylor and Austin.  The following zip codes are served: 75409, 78608, 78611, 78613, 78615, 75032, 78621, 78620, 97116, 78665, 78626, 78633, 78628, 78627, 78634, 78642, 78641, 78646, 78645, 79836, 78653, 78660, 76511, 78664, 78663, 78669, 76526, 78674, 76527, 78673, 76530, 64093, 77327, 76537, 78681, 78947, 78704, 76543, 78266, 76857, 76549, 78717, 76567, 89801, 78726, 76573, 76577, 78728, 78727, 76574, 78730, 77853, 78729, 76578, 78732, 78734,l 78737, 47122, 78745, 78748, 78750, 77388, 78759, 78605.

protective-orders

Protective Orders in Williamson County

1-IMG_6890There is a new Texas law that amends the protective orders provision of the Texas Family Code. The new law creates a presumption that family violence has been committed if the respondent has a previous conviction for family violence or has received deferred adjudication for family violence.

The Texas protective orders statute requires the court to issue a protective order if the court finds that family violence has occurred and is likely to occur in the future.

The new law allows the Texas Court hearing the protective orders application to presume that family violence has occurred and is likely to occur in the future if:

  • The respondent has been convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for any of the following offenses against the child for whom the petition has been filed:
    • An offense under Title 5, of the Texas Penal Code, for which the court has made an affirmative finding that the offense involved family violence under Article 42.013, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
    • An offense under Title 6, of the Texas Penal Code;
  • The respondent’s parental rights with respect to the child have been terminated; and
  • The respondent to the protective order is seeking or attempting to seek contact with the child.

Need More Information?

To speak with Clifford Alan Swayze at his Round Rock Law Office, please give him a call at 512-335-5245.


Clifford Alan Swayze represents parties for child support matters in Williamson County including Cedar Park, Round Rock, Leander, Georgetown, Liberty Hill, Hutto, Taylor and Austin.  The following zip codes are served: 75409, 78608, 78611, 78613, 78615, 75032, 78621, 78620, 97116, 78665, 78626, 78633, 78628, 78627, 78634, 78642, 78641, 78646, 78645, 79836, 78653, 78660, 76511, 78664, 78663, 78669, 76526, 78674, 76527, 78673, 76530, 64093, 77327, 76537, 78681, 78947, 78704, 76543, 78266, 76857, 76549, 78717, 76567, 89801, 78726, 76573, 76577, 78728, 78727, 76574, 78730, 77853, 78729, 76578, 78732, 78734,l 78737, 47122, 78745, 78748, 78750, 77388, 78759, 78605.

williamson-county-child-support

Williamson County Child Support

Williamson-county-child-supportIn Texas one or both parents may be obligated to pay Williamson County child support. The obligation to pay, the amount, and the party reasonable for the child support is determined by the court. Your Williamson County child support case may be heard in front of a district judge, county court judge or the associate judge in charge of the Attorney General child support case load.

One of the first questions people have when they come into my Round Rock Law Office is how much Williamson County child support they will owe and/or how much they will be obligated to pay to the other parent for the benefit of the children.

How Much Williamson County Child Support Will You Pay/Get?

Numerous factors play a role into how much child support a party will be obligated to pay. The major issue will be the amount of income each parent receives before and after income taxes. The next issue will be the expenses of both the parents and the children. For instance, if a child is suffering from a disability, the Williamson County child support may be more if there are increased expenses.

The laws regarding Williamson County child support obligations are flexible to meet the facts of your family’s situation. While there are guidelines as to how much a person should pay, the best interest of the child may influence the final amount of child support.

The parties may have an agreement to pay a certain amount of money for each month the payment is not a legally enforceable obligation. The agreement will only become enforceable when a judge has ruled on the issue or approved an agreement.

Williamson County child support is required until:

  • The child turns 18, or
  • Graduated from high school,
  • Is emancipated through marriage or another legal action;
  • The child is deceased; or
  • If the child has a disability the obligation may continue even after the above one of the above conditions have occurred.

Do You Need Williamson County Child Support or Divorce Counsel?

When parties are getting divorced or separating into households, the expenses to both parties will increase. It is important to consult with an experienced child support lawyer to discuss these issues.

My Round Rock Law Office will assess your financial situation and attempt to help you understand how the laws of the State of Texas apply to your child support case and your unique situation.

If you are in need of child support, or have a child support case currently filed against you, then you should seek the advice of an experienced lawyer practicing in Williamson County. If you have any questions about child support, please call The Law Office of Clifford Alan Swayze located in Round Rock, Texas at 512-335-5245.

We serve the following communities and zip codes in Williamson County Texas:

Cedar Park, Round Rock, Leander, Georgetown, Liberty Hill, Hutto, Taylor and Austin.  The following zip codes are served: 75409, 78608, 78611, 78613, 78615, 75032, 78621, 78620, 97116, 78665, 78626, 78633, 78628, 78627, 78634, 78642, 78641, 78646, 78645, 79836, 78653, 78660, 76511, 78664, 78663, 78669, 76526, 78674, 76527, 78673, 76530, 64093, 77327, 76537, 78681, 78947, 78704, 76543, 78266, 76857, 76549, 78717, 76567, 89801, 78726, 76573, 76577, 78728, 78727, 76574, 78730, 77853, 78729, 76578, 78732, 78734,l 78737, 47122, 78745, 78748, 78750, 77388, 78759, 78605.