Travis County, TX · Free Consultation
Great Hills, TX Child Custody Lawyer
In a harder custody case, the judge may bring in a neutral professional to look closely at the family. If that happens in your Great Hills case, SMB Law, PC makes sure your side is fairly and fully presented. A Great Hills child custody lawyer knows how to work with a court-appointed evaluator or amicus so your side is heard fully. Shane has been licensed since 2003 and personally makes sure a Central Texas parent is fairly presented.
When a Great Hills custody dispute is contested enough, a court may appoint an outside professional — and understanding that person’s role can change how a parent approaches the entire case.
Where a Great Hills child custody case is handled
Great Hills is in Travis County, so a custody case is filed with the Travis County District Clerk at the Civil and Family Courthouse on Guadalupe Street in Austin. Many issues are resolved by agreement first.
Custody evaluations, amicus attorneys, and guardians ad litem
In contested custody cases, a Texas court may appoint neutral professionals to help it decide what is best for the child. A custody evaluation (formerly a social study) has a trained evaluator interview the parents and child, visit each home, review records, and recommend a possession arrangement — and judges give real weight to those recommendations. An amicus attorney advocates for the child’s best interest to the court rather than simply voicing the child’s wishes, while a guardian ad litem investigates and reports on best interest. Parents often misunderstand these roles or, worse, treat an evaluator as an adversary to be won over or resisted. How you engage — honestly, cooperatively, and prepared — can shape the outcome. We help Great Hills parents understand who these professionals are, prepare for interviews and home visits, and respond effectively to a report, whether it helps their position or challenges it.
Working with the court’s expert, not against them
When a custody evaluator, amicus attorney, or guardian ad litem enters a Great Hills case, how a parent handles that relationship often matters as much as the underlying facts. We prepare parents for what an evaluator is looking for — a stable home, a child-centered attitude, and an ability to support the child’s relationship with the other parent — and for the home visit and interviews that shape the report. If a report comes back unfavorable, it is not the end of the case; we know how to probe an evaluation’s methods, present countervailing evidence, and cross-examine at trial. Engaging these professionals with honesty and preparation, rather than defensiveness, is consistently the better path to an outcome that reflects the child’s real best interest.
Central Texas family-law experience you can rely on
Custody decisions shape your child’s life for years, and they reward a lawyer who has handled them many times. You work directly with attorney Shane M. Boasberg, who has represented Texans for more than two decades and has been licensed by the State of Texas since 2003. He explains things in plain English, keeps the case centered on what is best for your child, and gives you a clear plan instead of more stress — keeping you informed from your first confidential consultation through final resolution.
Working with us from Great Hills
Our office is in downtown Austin, an easy reach from Great Hills. We handle most consultations and case updates by phone and video, and your first consultation is confidential. If travel is difficult, we can also come to you.
Why parents choose SMB Law, PC
- Direct attorney access — you talk to Shane, licensed since 2003, not a call center.
- Child-focused strategy — we keep the case centered on your child’s best interest.
- Honest advice and transparent fees explained before you commit.
What working with us looks like
- Confidential consultation to understand your goals and the law that applies.
- Strategy and records tailored to your family’s situation.
- Negotiation or court — we settle when we can and litigate when we must.
- Resolution implemented correctly so you can move on.
Frequently asked questions
What is a custody evaluation?
A court-appointed evaluator interviews the family, visits each home, reviews records, and recommends a custody arrangement the judge weighs heavily.
What does an amicus attorney do?
An amicus attorney represents the child’s best interest to the court, which is not always the same as what the child says they want.
Who pays for a custody evaluator or amicus?
The court usually allocates the cost between the parents, often based on their circumstances, and sets it in an order.
Do I have to travel to your office from Great Hills?
No. Our downtown Austin office is about 11 miles south via US-183 and Mopac, and we handle Great Hills custody matters by phone and video.