How do we go about getting custody/how old does a child have to be in Texas to choose

Hello....first off I live in Texas. I have stepchildren living with me while there mother is getting back on her feet after a terrible break up she had with her internet boyfriend. We took the children in and she is still receiving child support from my husband. The children have settled into our home and I am particularly worried about our 9 year old stepson. In the past he was running away from home and throwing tempter tantrums at his mother. Since he has been with us there have been no problems...he has settled in and is doing excellent in school. His mother has notified us that she has gotten a good paying job and will be taking him away from us in the next few weeks. With that happening he will be taken out of his current school, shuffled around from place to place...and have no stability emotionally. She is still spending alot of time on the interenet and we are wondering if there is anything we can do to keep him with us. His mother does not want us to have him because of the child support. His parents got divorced about a year ago. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated??? Thank you

[LegalBeagle]

YOUR husband.. ie, the bio dad has grounds to petition the court to modify the custody agreement... you have no legal standing with regards to the law and should do all you can to keep out of any legal action.

Your husband needs to act quickly.



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Psst.. I am not an attorney, and even if I was, I would not tell you. What I am giving you is not legal advice in anyway. For proper legal advice, retain a person who openly admits they are an attorney.

I understand that i have no legal standing in this matter. I am just looking out for my husband and his sons well being. Do you know how the courts are with such cases?? <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by LegalBeagle:
[b]YOUR husband.. ie, the bio dad has grounds to petition the court to modify the custody agreement... you have no legal standing with regards to the law and should do all you can to keep out of any legal action.

Your husband needs to act quickly.

[/b]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A child in Texas has to be atleast the age of 12 i believe to be able to state whom they would want to live with, but, the courts do not take completely their word for it, they look at the well being of the child, what is best for that child. Hang in there and you two need to call a lawyer and modify the custody of the children