Hi WBW, I'm also in TX. What my lawyer told me is that in TX, after the age of 12, what the child wants is usually (almost always) what the court will allow when it comes to custody issues. If your D16 doesn't want to go out of town for long visits, she can't be made to. This is a sticking point with my W now that she has filed and left. She wants me to "make" our D14 come and live with her 1/2 the time, whether she wants to or not! She is so afraid that I will manipulate her into hating her mother because she was the one to leave! She has gone as far as saying if I make her go live with her, I can have the house. If not then we will sell it and she will get half the money! How's that for manipulation?
She says that the best memories of her father from when she was young were when he "made" her do things with him! (He left his family and moved away when she was 10 for other woman). Just know that he may want to have her go away with him but that in the end, it is up your D16 as to whether that happens or not. He is the one moving away. Let him make the effort!
Glad to hear that you are getting a decent settlement. That is a good thing and a great start. It is now up to him to make an effort to keep his kids in his life. You can't do it for him.
