Child Issues Attorney: Fierce, Child-Centered Advocacy In Houston For What Matters Most

I am Suzanne Schwab-Radcliffe. With over three decades of experience fighting for families, including 17 years on the bench as a Family Court Judge and 5 years as a family law prosecutor, I see family law from every angle.

I approach each family law case with the same unwavering focus: what truly serves the best interests of the child. I don’t make empty promises. Instead, my highly efficient team and I provide clear, candid communication to level-set expectations and build solid, personalized strategies that protect your family’s long-term well-being.

Crafting Custody Solutions That Prioritize Your Child’s Well-being

I understand that standard solutions don’t work for every family. I provide tailored, fierce representation for all types of custody matters, including:

• Fathers’ rights advocacy: I firmly believe that fathers play a crucial role in their children’s lives. If you are a father fighting for equal custody rights, I go to bat for you with determination and strategic advocacy to ensure your vital role is protected.
• Protecting children from family violence: Your children’s physical and emotional safety is paramount. If you are escaping family violence, I will move decisively to establish protective orders and custody arrangements that prioritize keeping you and your children out of harm’s way.
• Grandparent and extended family rights: Sometimes, grandparents are the most stable, nurturing presence in a child’s life, especially when parents struggle with addiction or neglect. Whether you are seeking visitation rights or guardianship to give your grandchildren the stability they desperately need, I understand the complex legal framework necessary to protect the bond you share.

No matter what your custody situation looks like, my goal is the same: a resolution that reflects your child’s real needs and protects your relationship with them for the long term.

Child Support Challenges: Securing Financial Stability

I can answer your questions and give you practical advice regarding child support, paternity and wage withholding. In most cases, the Texas Child Support Guidelines will apply, but there are exceptions – and I know exactly how to handle them.

• When the guidelines don’t apply: Families have complex financial lives. I handle nuanced situations where standard guidelines fall short, including high-income cases, complex self-employment income calculations and challenging scenarios involving support obligations to multiple families.
• Enforcement for receiving parents (obligees): Unfortunately, sometimes one parent must file an enforcement action against the other. If you need to collect back child support, I can help you file contempt actions and implement aggressive wage withholding strategies. You need to know that an agreement is unenforceable unless it is done via a court order, and money paid directly to you outside of a court order often does not count as official child support under the law.
• Defense for paying parents (obligor): If you are the paying parent and have experienced a decrease in pay or lost your job, keep in mind that your current child support obligation will continue to accumulate until changed by a court order. I can advise you on the best way to defend your position, whether that means filing for a job loss modification or addressing complexities like unemployment versus underemployment and medical support obligations.

Child support matters move quickly and the decisions made early in the process can be difficult to undo. Reaching out sooner rather than later gives us the best opportunity to protect your financial position and your children’s stability.

Modification As Your Family Evolves

Life rarely stays still after a court order is signed. What made sense for a 6-year-old might completely fail a 13-year-old with a demanding academic and athletic schedule. I think outside the judicial box to develop innovative modifications that evolve with your family’s changing needs over time.

If your child’s developmental needs have changed, or if the other parent gets a significant raise in pay, your child will not benefit until your order is modified. Please note that verbal agreements are not enforceable – you must modify the prior order with the court for changes to take effect. If you need an attorney who understands that families evolve and who will help you create a solution that works for where your kids are now, my team and I are here to help.

Experience You Can Rely On

You deserve to have an attorney you can trust. If you are ready to schedule your initial consultation, call 832-500-3975 or email me today.