Non-parents Laws in Texas
The court considers the welfare of a child of paramount importance. To this end, it takes great care to ensure that if a child does not live with its natural parents that the entity who takes over such duties does so with the highest regard and concern for the health and safety of the child. Without a stable and supportive environment, many children face developmental, social, and emotion difficulties later in life.
Texas has established a number of laws concerning the rights of non-parent possessors. Because not even the best laws can foresee all of the possibilities of removing a child from their parents, non-parent possession rights are much more limited compared to parental possession rights. Limiting the role of non-parents was once envisioned to protect children from potential exploitation at the hands of unscrupulous institutions, but now these same laws prevent caring family members from becoming part of a child’s life.
A non-parent can be anything; a grandparent, aunt, uncle, institution, or any other entity with the legal right to a child. Parents generally have much greater input into who has access to their child, so short of a court order most parents will retain possession of the child over a non-parent. The State of Texas can sometimes elect to place the contested children into the care of a non-parent, but only when certain situations mandate it.
Just because you are not related to a child does not mean that you cannot be a part of their life. Non-parents can provide loving, caring, and nurturing relationships just as well as biological parents. If you have been denied possession of a child based merely on the desires of the child’s biological parents, you need to fight for your rights. The experienced and knowledgeable attorneys at Barlow, Jones, & Brust, LLP want what is best for you, and best for your child. Contact us today.
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