Whatever Your Family Is Facing, You Don't Have to Sort It Out Alone
Most people don’t end up in a family law case because things are going well. A relationship ends, a parent won’t cooperate, CPS gets involved, or a court order that worked two years ago doesn’t fit your life anymore. Whatever brought you here, the decisions ahead will affect your money, your kids, and your future—and you shouldn’t have to guess your way through them.
David Eaker has handled the full range of Texas family law since 1999, from paternity and grandparents’ rights to CPS defense and appeals. He’ll tell you honestly where you stand, what your real options are, and what it’ll take to get there.
The Cases We Take On
Family law covers a lot of ground. These are the matters we handle most—and if yours isn’t listed, ask us.
Paternity & Child Support
Maybe dad isn't on the birth certificate. Maybe support was ordered years ago and no longer reflects reality. We establish paternity for mothers and fathers and set, modify, or enforce support so your kids get what Texas law says they're owed.
Grandparents' Rights & Relocation
When a parent cuts grandparents off, or one parent wants to move the kids across the state, the law gets complicated fast. We fight for a grandparent's place in a child's life and handle the relocation disputes that come with it.
CPS Defense
If CPS has contacted you, what you do next matters enormously. We step in early, protect your rights, and stand between you and a system that can move quickly—so you keep your family intact.
Common Law & Same-Sex Marriage
Not every marriage comes with a certificate, and not every couple's situation fits a simple form. We handle common law marriage claims and disputes, and the full range of family law for same-sex couples—parentage, divorce, and custody included.
Appeals & Mediation
Think a judge got it wrong? We handle family law appeals across Texas. And because David is a credentialed mediator other attorneys trust with their own clients, we can often resolve disputes at the table instead of dragging you through trial.
Answering Commonly Asked Family Law Questions
Can I keep my ex from moving my kids out of the area?
Possibly. Texas orders often include a geographic restriction that keeps a child’s primary residence within a certain county or set of counties. If your order has one, a move that violates it can be challenged; if it doesn’t, you may need to go back to court to add one. The sooner you act, the more options you have—relocation cases get harder once a move is already underway.
I just found out I might not be on my child's birth certificate. What are my rights?
Until paternity is legally established, an unmarried father generally has no enforceable rights to custody or possession—even if everyone knows he’s the dad. Establishing paternity is the step that unlocks your rights to a relationship and a say in your child’s life. We handle this for fathers asserting their rights and for mothers seeking support.
A CPS caseworker wants to talk to me. Do I have to let them in or answer questions?
Usually, no—not without a court order. CPS can ask to enter your home and interview you, but you’re generally not required to consent to either unless they’ve obtained a court order or have an emergency basis to act. You can politely decline, ask whether they have a court order, and say you want to speak with an attorney first. That’s not an admission of guilt—it’s you protecting your rights. Because what you say and allow early can shape the entire case, it’s worth a quick call to a lawyer before you respond.
We never had a wedding. Are we common-law married in Texas?
Maybe. Texas recognizes informal (common law) marriage, but it takes more than living together—you generally have to have agreed you were married, lived together as spouses, and represented yourselves to others as married. It matters a lot in a breakup, because if a marriage existed, property gets divided like any divorce. We can assess whether the elements are met in your situation.
Do we have to go to mediation, and what actually happens there?
Usually, yes, Texas judges frequently order mediation before they’ll let a case go to trial, and many disputes settle there. It’s not a hearing and there’s no judge. You and the other party sit in separate rooms while a neutral mediator goes back and forth, working out an agreement on the issues you can’t settle on your own. Nothing is binding unless you both agree and sign. The advantage is real: mediation is usually faster, cheaper, and less combative than a trial, and you keep control of the outcome instead of handing it to a judge. David is a credentialed mediator himself, so even when he’s representing you, he knows exactly how the process works and where your case is likely to land.
Why Eaker Law Firm?
David Eaker has practiced family law in North Texas since 1999. After 25-plus years in Rockwall and Collin County courts, he knows the local judges and courthouse staff—familiarity that keeps cases moving and surprises to a minimum.
He gets it on a personal level, too. David is a divorced father who raised his own boys, so he knows what these cases feel like from the inside. Clients tend to say the same few things about him: his fees are straightforward, he never leaves you in the dark, and he stays level when everyone else is caught up in the drama.
His approach is simple. Settle what can be settled through negotiation or mediation, push hard in court when that’s what it takes, and keep your costs reasonable the whole way. As David tells every client: you will be okay.
Contact Us today
Bring us your situation, and we’ll give you an honest read and a clear plan, whether that means settling it quietly or fighting it out in court.