18 verified resources.
About Custody & Visitation for Fathers
Custody and visitation cases are handled at the state and county level, typically through each state's family court or unified family division. Every state follows some version of the 'best interest of the child' standard, but the specifics — how judges weigh parental fitness, how parenting time is structured, how modifications are granted — vary widely. Most states have free self-help centers inside their main courthouses where fathers can get forms, file paperwork, and receive guidance without hiring an attorney. National organizations like the ABA, Cordell & Cordell, and various fathers' rights groups supplement local resources. This directory combines official state court self-help portals, county-level family law facilitators, private family law firms that represent fathers, and fatherhood advocacy organizations — all verified and up to date.
18 Resources
1. TexasLawHelp.org — Family Law & Custody — Free
Official free legal information website for Texans, operated by Texas Legal Services Center. Covers SAPCR (Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship) filings, custody guides, visitation orders, and downloadable court-approved forms. Use the site to research your rights, download fill-in forms, and find local legal aid by county. Available in English and Spanish with a live chat feature during business hours for quick legal questions.
Online 24/7; live chat available during business hours · Visit Website
2. Texas Access & Visitation Hotline — Free
Free hotline funded by the Texas OAG and operated by the Texas Legal Services Center. Parenting time specialists provide legal information on custody, visitation, paternity, and child support in English and Spanish. Callers can ask about court orders, enforcement options, modifications, and access to supervised visitation programs. Call 1-866-292-4636 Monday through Friday 1:00–5:00 PM CST. No income requirement — all Texas parents are eligible.
1-866-292-4636 · Mon-Fri 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM CST · Visit Website
3. Texas OAG — Standard Possession Order — Free
Official breakdown of the Standard Possession Order (SPO), the default custody schedule Texas courts use when parents live within 50 miles of each other. Covers weekend, holiday, and extended summer schedules. The SPO gives the noncustodial parent the 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends, Thursday evenings, alternating holidays, and 30 days in summer. Call the OAG at 1-800-252-8014 or visit the site to understand your rights under the default order.
1-800-252-8014 · Online 24/7; phone Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website
4. Texas State Law Library — Family Law Self-Help — Free
Public law library operated by the Texas Supreme Court. Provides in-person legal research help, family law forms, SAPCR guides, and curated research guides for child custody and support. Located in Austin at 205 W. 14th Street. Open to the public Monday through Friday 8 AM–5 PM. Staff can assist you finding statutes, case law, and official court forms. Call (512) 463-1722 before visiting to confirm hours and available resources.
(512) 463-1722 · 205 W. 14th Street, Room G01, Austin, TX 78701 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website
5. Travis County (Austin) Self-Help Center — Free
Walk-in self-help center inside the Travis County courthouse assisting self-represented parents with SAPCR filings, custody petitions, and family law forms. Reference attorney available for walk-in form review. Located at 314 W. 11th Street, Suite 140, Austin. Open Monday through Friday 8 AM–5 PM. Bring photo ID and any existing court orders. Call (512) 854-1631 before visiting to confirm services and current wait times.
(512) 854-1631 · 314 W. 11th Street, Suite 140, Austin, TX 78701 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website
6. Harris County (Houston) Domestic Relations Office — Free
Official county agency supporting parents in Harris County Family District Courts. Offers mediation services, co-parenting resources, and self-help links for self-represented litigants in Houston. Located at 1310 Prairie St, Suite 700. Call (713) 274-7300 to inquire about mediation scheduling, supervised visitation referrals, and co-parenting classes. Open Monday through Friday 8 AM–5 PM. Bring your case number when calling.
(713) 274-7300 · 1310 Prairie St, Suite 700, Houston, TX 77002 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website
7. Dallas County Family District Courts — Domestic Relations — Free
Dallas County Domestic Relations Office supporting parents in family district court proceedings including custody, conservatorship, and visitation matters. Located at 600 Commerce St, Suite 201, Dallas. Call (214) 653-6971 for information on mediation, supervised visitation, and co-parenting resources. Open Monday through Friday 8 AM–4:30 PM. Bring your court case number and any existing orders when contacting for assistance.
(214) 653-6971 · 600 Commerce St, Suite 201, Dallas, TX 75202 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM · Visit Website
8. Bexar County (San Antonio) Domestic Relations Office — Free
Court-connected social and mental health services, supervised visitation, neutral exchanges, and cooperative parenting classes for parents in Bexar County Family Courts. Located at 100 Dolorosa, 3rd Floor, San Antonio. Call (210) 335-1242 for referrals and scheduling. Services are court-ordered or voluntary. Open Monday through Friday 8 AM–5 PM. Bring your case number and any custody orders to appointments.
(210) 335-1242 · 100 Dolorosa, 3rd Floor, San Antonio, TX 78205 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website
9. Tarrant County (Fort Worth) Family Court Services — Free
Mediation, supervised visitation, co-parenting tools, and legal support for self-represented parents at the Family Law Center in Fort Worth. Supervised Visitation: (817) 212-7296. Located at 200 E. Weatherford St, 2nd Floor West. Call (817) 884-1616 to schedule mediation or ask about co-parenting resources. Open Monday through Friday 8 AM–4:30 PM. Bring photo ID and court case documentation to all appointments.
(817) 884-1616 · 200 E. Weatherford St, 2nd Floor West, Fort Worth, TX 76196 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM · Visit Website
10. Lone Star Legal Aid — Family Law — Free
Nonprofit legal aid serving 72 counties across east, southeast, and northeast Texas including Houston. Free legal representation in custody, visitation, child support, and SAPCR cases for low-income fathers. Call 1-800-733-8394 for intake — family law intake is Monday 8:30 AM–12:30 PM. Income and legal merit requirements apply. Bring income documentation, prior court orders, and case details when you call.
1-800-733-8394 · Multiple offices across East/Southeast Texas · Family law intake: Mon 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM · Visit Website
11. Fathers for Equal Rights — Dallas/Fort Worth — Paid
Nonprofit founded in 1974 serving fathers, mothers, and grandparents in DFW. Education on family law, volunteer attorney consultations, mediation, and DNA paternity testing referrals.
00/year membership. Located at 701 Commerce St, Suite 302, Dallas. Call (214) 953-2233 Monday through Friday 8 AM–4 PM. Weekly workshops cover Texas custody law, SPO schedules, and how to represent yourself in family court.
(214) 953-2233 · 701 Commerce St, Suite 302, Dallas, TX 75202 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM · Visit Website
12. Cordell & Cordell — Texas Offices — Paid
Nationwide family law firm with multiple Texas offices devoted to representing men and fathers in divorce, custody, and child support. Free initial consultations available. Offices in Houston, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and The Woodlands. Call 1-866-323-7529 to schedule a consultation. Attorneys specialize in custody modifications, paternity, relocation cases, and enforcing possession orders. Sliding-scale retainer options may be available.
1-866-323-7529 · 1330 Post Oak Blvd, Suite 1800, Houston, TX 77056 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website
13. El Paso County Domestic Relations Office — Free
Court-connected family services for parents in El Paso County. Mediation, supervised visitation, and self-help resources for custody and conservatorship cases. Located at 500 E San Antonio Ave, El Paso. Call (915) 546-2059 Monday through Friday 8 AM–5 PM. Services assist both custodial and noncustodial parents navigating family court proceedings. Bring your court case number, photo ID, and any existing custody orders when visiting.
(915) 546-2059 · 500 E San Antonio Ave, El Paso, TX 79901 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
14. Hidalgo County Family District Courts (McAllen) — Free
Family court services for the Rio Grande Valley area. Handles custody, conservatorship, and SAPCR cases for Hidalgo County. Located at 100 E Cano St, Edinburg, TX 78539. Call (956) 318-2200 for case inquiries, hearing schedules, and filing procedures. Open Monday through Friday 8 AM–5 PM. Self-represented fathers can request self-help forms and guidance for filing or responding to custody petitions in the Rio Grande Valley region.
(956) 318-2200 · 100 E Cano St, Edinburg, TX 78539 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
15. Collin County (Plano) Family Court Self-Help — Free
Self-help resources and forms for parents filing custody and SAPCR cases in Collin County. Walk-in assistance available at the courthouse located at 2100 Bloomdale Rd, McKinney, TX 75071. Call (972) 548-4100 for form availability and walk-in hours. Open Monday through Friday 8 AM–5 PM. Staff can direct self-represented fathers to the correct forms, filing windows, and court departments for custody and conservatorship cases.
(972) 548-4100 · 2100 Bloomdale Rd, McKinney, TX 75071 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
16. Nueces County (Corpus Christi) Family Courts — Free
Family district courts handling custody, conservatorship, and SAPCR cases for the Corpus Christi area. Located at 901 Leopard St, Corpus Christi, TX 78401. Call (361) 888-0256 for case inquiries and filing information. Open Monday through Friday 8 AM–5 PM. Self-represented fathers can file SAPCR petitions, respond to existing orders, and request hearing dates. Bring photo ID and all relevant documentation when visiting the courthouse.
(361) 888-0256 · 901 Leopard St, Corpus Christi, TX 78401 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
17. Texas Guardian ad Litem & Amicus Attorney Program — Free
Courts may appoint a guardian ad litem or amicus attorney to represent the child's best interest in contested custody cases. Information on how the process works and when to request one. Either parent or the court can request an appointment. The appointed attorney independently investigates the child's circumstances and makes recommendations. Visit texaslawhelp.org or call your county family court for details on requesting appointment in your case.
Statewide — appointed by local courts · Contact your local family court · Visit Website
18. Texas Supervised Visitation Programs — Free
Network of supervised visitation centers across Texas where court-ordered monitored visits occur in a safe, neutral setting. Contact your county domestic relations office for locations. Centers are staffed by trained monitors who document visits and ensure safety. Exchange services allow parents to drop off and pick up children without direct contact. Fees are typically sliding scale. Search txaccess.org for a directory of programs by county statewide.
Statewide — multiple county locations · Varies by location · Visit Website
Custody & Visitation — Common Questions
- Do I need a lawyer to file for custody?
- No. Every state has self-represented (pro se) filing options, and most county courthouses have a Family Law Facilitator or Self-Help Center that provides forms and guidance at no cost. A lawyer is strongly recommended if the case is contested, involves abuse allegations, or requires relocation or interstate issues.
- How is 'best interest of the child' actually decided?
- Judges weigh factors including each parent's ability to provide stability, the child's relationship with each parent, any history of violence or substance abuse, the child's preference (usually after a certain age), work schedules, and each parent's willingness to support the other's relationship with the child. Specific factors are listed in each state's custody statute.
- Can I get 50/50 custody as a father?
- Yes. Most states now have a presumption of — or strong preference for — joint legal and joint physical custody when both parents are fit and engaged. Fathers who show consistent involvement, stable housing, and willingness to coordinate with the mother have strong odds of receiving substantial parenting time, up to 50/50.
- What if my ex violates the custody order?
- File a Motion for Contempt or a Motion to Enforce with the court. Document every missed exchange, refused visit, or violation with dates, times, messages, and witnesses. Most courts treat repeated violations seriously, with remedies ranging from make-up time to modification of custody to sanctions.