Travis County, TX · Free Consultation
Northwest Hills, TX Child Custody Lawyer
What Our Clients Say
Sometimes the adult raising or protecting a child is not a parent at all. When a grandparent or other relative needs custody or access to a child near Northwest Hills, SMB Law, PC explains the demanding rules on standing. A Northwest Hills child custody lawyer knows a grandparent or relative faces demanding standing rules before a court will even hear the case. Shane M. Boasberg has handled Central Texas custody for more than twenty years and personally handles these non-parent cases.
In Northwest Hills as anywhere, grandparents and other relatives sometimes step in to raise a child, and Texas law sets a high but navigable bar for them to seek custody or court-ordered access.
Where a Northwest Hills child custody case is handled
Northwest 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.
Grandparent and non-parent custody and access
Texas strongly presumes that a fit parent acts in a child’s best interest, so a non-parent — a grandparent, aunt, or other relative — faces a higher bar to gain custody or court-ordered access. To even file, a non-parent generally must have standing, which can come from having had actual care, control, and possession of the child for at least six months, or from facts showing the child’s present circumstances would significantly impair their physical health or emotional development. Grandparent access has its own narrow statute, usually requiring that at least one parent still has parental rights and that denying access would significantly harm the child. These cases are fact-intensive and begin with proving standing before the merits are ever reached. We help Northwest Hills grandparents and relatives honestly assess whether they have standing and, where they do, build the case that their custody or involvement genuinely serves the child.
Clearing the standing hurdle first
The hardest part of a Northwest Hills grandparent or non-parent case is often the threshold: proving you are entitled to be in court at all. We work with relatives to document the facts standing turns on — how long the child actually lived in their care, who handled the day-to-day parenting, and any circumstances showing the child’s current environment puts their health or development at risk. Because the fit-parent presumption is powerful, that record has to be genuine and specific, not merely a disagreement about parenting choices. Where standing exists, we build the best-interest case around it; where it does not, we give an honest assessment rather than a costly fight that cannot succeed. The goal throughout is the child’s stability and safety.
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 Northwest Hills
Our office is in downtown Austin, an easy reach from Northwest 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
Can grandparents get custody of a grandchild in Texas?
Sometimes, but they must first show standing — often six months of actual care of the child, or that the child’s circumstances are harmful.
What does ‘standing’ mean in a non-parent case?
It is the legal right to bring the suit at all, which a non-parent must establish before a court will consider the merits.
Can grandparents get visitation if the parents object?
Only in narrow circumstances. The grandparent access statute requires specific facts, such as significant harm to the child from denying access.
Do I have to travel to your office from Northwest Hills?
No. Our downtown Austin office is about 9 miles south via Loop 360 and Mopac, and we handle Northwest Hills custody matters by phone and video.