In Texas, adoption of a child and termination of parental rights are closely linked processes that ensure the best interests of the child are met.  For an adoption of a child to take place, a biological parent of the child must have his or her parental rights to the child terminated so those rights may be transferred to the adoptive parent.  A biological parent may voluntarily relinquish their parental rights to a child.  A biological parent may also have their parental rights involuntarily terminated by the court under certain circumstances, such as neglect, abuse, or abandonment of the child by the biological parent, or a finding by the court that the biological parent is unfit.  For an involuntary termination of parental rights to occur, the court must determine if there are legal grounds for the termination and if the termination is in the best interest of the child. 

Whether it is a private adoption, a stepparent adoption, or an adoption through the Department of Family and Protective Services, adoption can be one of the greatest joys a family can experience.  Each adoption methodology has its nuances, but the general process is the same.  In Texas, before a court may approve an adoption, the adoptive parents must complete a criminal background check and a home study by an adoption evaluator to ensure the safety and well-being of the home environment.  The home study involves interviews of the adoptive parents, the children, and other members of the household. Sometimes the court will appoint an amicus attorney to aid the court in what is in the best interest of the children, or an attorney ad litem to represent the children during the adoption proceedings. Children who are 12 or older also need to consent to the adoption, unless the court finds the adoption is in the best interest of the child, regardless of the child’s desires.

If you are considering adoption or termination of parental rights, Crozier Family Law is here to help you navigate this process and determine what steps you have available given your unique circumstances.  Contact Crozier Family Law at (972) 665-8113 to discuss how our experience can help you navigate your legal matter involving adoption and termination.

In Texas, an annulment is a legal procedure that declares a marriage null and void, as if it never existed. Unlike a divorce, which dissolves a legally valid marriage, an annulment treats the marriage as though it were never valid from the start. There are specific circumstances under which an annulment may be granted in Texas, including situations where one party was underage, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, impotent, mentally incapacitated, or forced to marry by the other party. Additionally, marriages that involve fraud, duress, or concealment of significant facts may also be annulled.  It’s important to note that annulments are relatively rare compared to divorces, as the grounds for annulment are more specific and harder to prove. However, for those who meet the criteria, an annulment can provide a way to legally end a marriage that was never valid in the eyes of the law.  It is important to work with a skilled attorney when seeking an annulment to work with you and present the necessary evidence to support the grounds for annulment. 

Contact Crozier Family Law at (972) 665-8113 to discuss how our experience can help you navigate your legal matter involving an annulment.

Your children come first and protecting their best interests is always a top priority. The legal issues concerning child custody and conservatorship are present for parents who are divorcing and those parents who never married, however the legal process varies. If parents are not married then child custody and conservatorship, the legal process involves a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship. Issues concerning child custody and conservatorship can become highly contested, even if you and your co-parent are trying to be as amicable as possible.  At Crozier Family Law we understand how important it is to parents to protect the little hearts throughout the legal process and to put the best interests of your children first.  

Conservatorship of a child in Texas refers to the rights and duties each parent has to their child.  These rights and duties are related to the decision making involving the child when it comes to matters such as education, medical treatment, and the child’s residence.  Depending on you and your child’s circumstances the parties may be designated as joint managing conservators of a child, or one parent may be a sole managing conservator and the other parent a possessory conservator.  There are many factors that determine conservatorship and Crozier Family Law can help you navigate your unique circumstances.

Child custody in Texas refers to what possession and access each parent has to the child.  This is often the most important thing a parent or court will decide during a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship. Determining what possession and access schedule is best for your child is complex. While the Texas Family Code sets forth some guidance, many parents agree to deviate from the standard schedules depending on their unique circumstances and what is best for the child. Crozier Family Law works with you to develop solutions concerning what possession and access schedule is best for your child.

If parents cannot reach agreements regarding child custody and/or conservatorship, at a final trial the court will decide what is in the best interest of the child, and it may be contrary to the desires of a parent.  Joint custody and joint managing conservatorship are generally preferred by courts, as it allows both parents to remain actively involved in their child’s life. However, if the court determines that joint custody or joint conservatorship is not in the child’s best interests, it may deviate from this. Factors considered in child custody conservatorship decisions include the child’s age, physical and emotional needs, the parents’ ability to provide for the child, and any history of family violence or substance abuse. The court’s focus is on the best interest of the child and to ensure a stable and supportive environment for the child.

Your children are unique and at Crozier Family Law working with clients to create a tailored approach for their family is important. Protecting your child’s emotional well-being and your rights as a parent are at the forefront. 

Crozier Family Law is experienced in representing clients and keeping the focus on the best interest of the child to protect those little hearts affected by these legal proceedings.

Contact Crozier Family Law at (972) 665-8113 to discuss how our experience can help you navigate your legal matter involving child custody and conservatorship.

Child support in Texas is a financial obligation a parent pays to help support the costs of raising a child. The legal issues concerning child support are present regardless if the parents are married and divorcing, or if they were never married. The purpose of child support is to ensure that the child’s needs are met, including expenses for food, clothing, shelter, education, and healthcare. 

The amount of child support is typically determined based on a parent’s income and the number of children they are responsible for supporting. The Texas family Code provides guidance as to how to calculate child support payments, using a percentage-based formula to calculate child support, which considers the parent’s net resources and applies a specific percentage based on the number of children.  These standard guidelines do not consider each a child’s unique circumstances or the family’s complex financial situations. 

At Crozier Family Law we work with clients to evaluate if the standard child support calculation is appropriate for their circumstances, or if a customized approach is best for determining child support. 

Contact Crozier Family Law at (972) 665-8113 to discuss how our experience can help you navigate your legal matter involving child support.

When your former spouse or your co-parent fails to follow the terms of the final order, it may be necessary to pursue an enforcement to address their lack of compliance. When a party fails to comply with a court order, the other party can file a motion for enforcement with the court. The goal of enforcement actions is to ensure that court orders are followed and that the rights and interests of the affected parties, particularly children, are protected.  

Typically, enforcement actions are necessary when a party fails to timely pay child support, a party fails to adhere to the terms of a possession and access schedule with a child, a party refuses to turn over property awarded to the other party, or when a party fails to timely pay spousal maintenance.  An enforcement action requests the court to enforce the existing order and may include requests for remedies such as contempt of court, fines, wage garnishment, or even jail time for the non-compliant party.  

If you find yourself facing these circumstances, Crozier Family Law can assist in gathering evidence to demonstrate the other party’s non-compliance and presenting a compelling case. Additionally, an attorney can help negotiate resolutions to enforcement issues, aiming for a solution that minimizes conflict and promotes compliance with court orders. Having legal representation can make a significant difference in the outcome of enforcement actions and help ensure that your interests are upheld. 

Contact Crozier Family Law at (972) 665-8113 to discuss how our experience can help you determine if an enforcement action is the right next step for you.

Family law appeals in Texas involve challenging a trial court’s decision in a higher court. This process allows a party who is dissatisfied with the trial court’s ruling to seek a review and potentially overturn the decision. The appellate court reviews the trial court’s proceedings to determine if there were any legal errors that affected the outcome of the case. It’s important to note that an appeal is not a new trial; rather, it is a review of the trial court’s application of the law.

Typically, a party may seek an appeal of a judgment for child custody, conservatorship, child support, property division, characterization and valuation of property, spousal maintenance awards, and validity of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.  Should you decide you want to appeal the decision of the trial court you typically only have 30 days from the date the court signs the final order to file your notice of appeal, but depending on the circumstances the time period may be shorter or longer.

During the appeal process an attorney will work with you to determine the grounds for your appeal. The attorney will obtain the record and file the same and the brief outlining your argument on appeal for the appellate court to review.  Sometimes at the request of a party or the appellate court the attorney will present an oral argument before the appellate court, before the appellate court makes their decision.  If no oral argument is required, the appellate court will decide the outcome of your appeal by submission based on the briefs and record filed with the court of appeals. A decision from the appellate court can be a very long process, sometimes exceeding one year. 

Contact Crozier Family Law at (972) 665-8113 to discuss how our experience can help you determine if an appeal is the right next step for you in your legal matter.

Not only does Brandi L. Crozier represent clients in the mediation during their family law matters, she also serves as a mediator for family law cases throughout Texas.  If you would like to schedule a mediation with Brandi serving as the mediator please
click this link.  (Please know that if you are a client represented by Crozier Family Law in your divorce, SAPCR, or modification this link is NOT for you to schedule your mediation.)

Family law mediation in Texas is an alternative dispute resolution process designed to help parties resolve their issues outside of a courtroom setting. Mediation is a confidential process where a neutral third-party mediator facilitates communication and negotiation between the parties, aiming to reach mutually acceptable agreements regarding matters such as child custody, conservatorship, property division, and support. The mediator does not make decisions for the parties but helps them explore options and find common ground, encouraging cooperation and reducing conflict.

One of the key benefits of mediation in family law cases is that it allows parties to maintain greater control over the outcome of their case. Unlike a judge’s ruling after a final trial, which may not fully address the unique needs of each family, mediated settlement agreements can be tailored to fit the specific circumstances of the parties and children involved. Mediation is often less adversarial, more cost-effective, and quicker than traditional litigation. In many Texas counties, courts may even require parties to attempt to resolve their disputes in mediation before proceeding to trial, especially in contested cases involving children.

During mediation, parties are encouraged to communicate openly and honestly about their concerns and priorities, with the mediator guiding the conversation to ensure it remains productive. The process is confidential, meaning that discussions and offers made in mediation cannot be used against either party in court if mediation fails. Working with an experienced family law attorney during mediation can help individuals understand their rights, prepare effectively, and ensure that any agreements reached comply with Texas law. If you are considering mediation for your family law matter, consulting with a knowledgeable attorney can help you navigate the process and protect your interests. 

The goal and hope is that your final order in your divorce or suit affecting the parent child relationship will last you and your family’s needs forever.  The reality is that the only consistent thing in life is change.  When circumstances involving your child, you, or your co-parent materially and substantially change since the entry of your last order is often necessary to modify the terms of that order.  Often these circumstances are beyond your control due to the changing needs of your growing child, loss of a job, new employment, health issues, re-marriage, or concerning behaviors about your co-parent.  A change in any of these circumstances may be substantial reason why your current order no longer serves the needs of you and your family.

A modification may be done by reaching agreements with the other party, or it may be contested.  Ultimately, the goal of modifications involving children is to ensure that court orders continue to serve the best interests of the child and reflect the current situation of the parties involved.  Modification of a spousal maintenance award may also be necessary due to material and substantial changes in circumstances such as loss of a job, decrease in salary, or increase in salary.  Not all changes are material and substantial, so it is important to discuss your options with an attorney. 

Contact Crozier Family Law at (972) 665-8113 to discuss how our experience can help you determine if a modification is the right next step for you in your legal matter.

A growing number of modern couples are opting to live together without entering into marriage. To safeguard their financial interests and clarify financial expectations and responsibilities, many of these couples choose to formalize their arrangements through cohabitation agreements to avoid future disputes.  A cohabitation agreement outlines the rights and responsibilities of each person regarding their shared or individual assets, debts, and financial obligations. Many modern couples find that entering into a cohabitation agreement is an effective way to protect themselves should the couple decide to end their relationship, mutually or unilaterally, or should the relationship end due to death.

Unmarried couples do not have the same legal rights as married couples. In Texas, a house bought during marriage is owned equally by both spouses if community funds are used to purchase it, regardless of whose name is on the deed. For unmarried couples, this rule does not apply—paying part or all of the mortgage on a home that is only in your partner’s name gives you little to no claim to equity in that home.  Unmarried couples are often surprised to learn that if one of them supported the other financially during the relationship there is no obligation that support continues should the relationship end.  Entering into a cohabitation agreement can help to establish your rights contractually.

Many people believe that if you and your partner live together for a certain period of time, you establish a marriage by common law in Texas, but that is not true.  There are certain requirements that must be met in order to establish a common law marriage in Texas, and the length of time that you and your partner live together is not one of them.  Additionally, common law marriages are often disputed and can be difficult to prove.  Entering into a cohabitation agreement can help to establish your rights contractually.

Cohabitation agreements are similar to prenuptial agreements in that they outline how assets, debts, support, and other financial matters will be handled if the should the couple decide to end their relationship, mutually or unilaterally, or should the relationship end due to death.  They can also set forth that you and your partner are not married, do not intend to be common-law married, and should you marry, it will only be by a formal marriage ceremony.  Albeit a bit morose to think about, they can also set forth the terms of what property will remain with the living partner and what property will not in the event of the other partner’s death.  

Cohabitation agreements are valid, legal contracts that are enforceable under the law, assuming they are drafted properly.  Additionally, the each party must enter into the agreement voluntarily, the terms must be fair and not against public policy, the agreement should be in writing, and executed by both parties (in the presence of a notary is always best for enforceability purposes).

Living together as an unmarried couple may be the right choice for you and your partner, however, in order to best protect yourself should your relationship come to an end a cohabitation agreement can offer you peace of mind. 

Contact Crozier Family Law at (972) 665-8113 to discuss how our experience can help you navigate your cohabitation agreement questions.

Domestic violence remains a pervasive issue across the United States, including Texas, with alarming statistics highlighting its prevalence. According to the Texas Council on Family Violence, one in three Texans will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, and in 2023 alone, over 200,000 incidents were reported statewide, and over 200 Texans were killed by their intimate partners.  These figures underscore the urgent need for effective legal protection and intervention to prevent further harm to victims and their families. Domestic violence can take many forms, including physical, emotional, and financial abuse, and its impact often extends beyond the immediate victim to children and other loved ones in the household.  The long term effects of domestic violence can be significant, especially for children.  

It can be difficult to take the steps to break the cycle of abuse when you or your children have been victims of domestic violence. Depending on your circumstances there may be civil legal options to help protect you and your family long before there is any resolution pertaining to any associated criminal charges.

If you or your children are experiencing domestic violence, please contact Crozier Family Law at (972) 665-8113. Our firm provides experienced, dedicated, and compassionate legal assistance to help you secure protection for yourself and your family.