Child custody is often one of the most complex elements of a divorce, and this is especially true for parents serving in the military. The prospect of being away from your child during deployment is difficult enough. Not knowing how deployment could affect your visitation rights is even more difficult.

Fortunately, Texas law contains provisions for deployed military parents that can help make their deployment’s effect on custody more straightforward, saving military members time and stress. As always, working with an experienced attorney is one of the best ways to ensure you have the time with your child to which you are entitled.

Who Does My Child Stay With When I am Deployed?

Texas law stipulates that a custodial parent who is deployed can ask the court to appoint another person as the child’s temporary custodial caregiver. The court will generally designate temporary custody to the noncustodial parent unless it is not in the child’s best interests.