As the family unit in the United States evolves and changes from the non traditional family, the child custody laws are evolving as well. 
While the legal pendulum does occasionally swing to favor either the mother or the father; currently, child custody laws in the United States give each parent equal rights as long as they are both fit parents.  This kind of fairness generally results in some sort of joint custody arrangement that is more beneficial to the children than a sole custody agreement with visitation rights allowed by the parent who loses in court.

Child Custody Laws in the United States

The biggest advance in child custody laws in the United States occurred when all fifty states adopted the Uniform Child Custody Act (UCCA).  This act makes child custody laws more uniform from state to state, thus allowing states to recognize and enforce decisions from other states in case the family should move.  Without fewer conflicting laws in different parts of the US, child custody laws are much more effective.

Who do child custody laws favor?

With the passing of the Uniform Child Custody Act (UCCA), the child custody laws favor the welfare of the children more than anyone; and unless one parent is clearly not fit take care of the children, both parents will be seen as equal under the law.  In the case of children over 12, child custody laws allow the child to pick the parent they wish to live with; while the mother is usually granted the custody of infants and toddlers, even if this order is only temporary until the father can make suitable arrangements.  As well, child custody laws favor that the child be kept in their current residence so that they may attend their same school and so that their lives will be less interrupted.

Texas Child Custody Laws

Like most states, Texas child custody laws vary slightly, but because of the Uniform Child Custody Act (UCCA), the major child custody laws are almost the same as any other state.  However, it must be remembered that in family court, the judge must make a decision based on the evidence before them; so it is the interpretation of the law that may be different than in other parts of the country.  As well, the Texas child custody laws with regards to visitation rights and child support payments will vary slightly from other states.  The child custody laws for all individual states are online, as well as free child custody legal forms, which may be downloaded and used to petition the local family court.