As a family law attorney practicing in Fort Worth, I have represented both men and women in divorce cases and in resolving issues of child custody. Some of the fathers who I have represented in these cases have asked me about the rights of fathers in Texas.

When I probe a little, I often find that the client asking this question is worried about whether he will be treated fairly.  Usually, he feels that it will be very difficult to convince the judge to award him primary custody and expects that the court will automatically require him to pay support because he is a man.

Based on stories of my more seasoned colleagues in Tarrant, 30 or 40 years ago, this most likely was the case.  Decades ago, I believe Texas judges tended to have a traditional view of gender roles and tended to give primary custody to mothers.