Robert Garza
Vice President and Government and Legislative Liaison
A Passionate Advocate for Family Law Reform and Parental Rights
Robert Garza
A Passionate Advocate for Family Law Reform and Parental Rights
Robert Garza stands as the Vice President and Government and Legislative Liaison Officer for National Family Justice (NFJ), earning a reputation as a formidable leader in the realms of co-parenting advocacy, family court reform, and legislative innovation. Driven by a profound commitment to safeguarding parental rights and championing the best interests of children, Robert has transformed his personal experiences into a powerful mission to effect meaningful, systemic change in family law across the United States.
Legislative Leadership and Policy Innovation: Robert's visionary leadership in legislative reform has been pivotal in shaping policies that address critical shortcomings in family law. Among his most noteworthy accomplishments is his crucial role in drafting and advocating for Texas SB-718, the groundbreaking "Time Taken, Time Back" bill, which restores lost parental time resulting from precautionary court actions. Signed into law on Father's Day 2023 and set to take effect on
September 1, 2023, this landmark legislation has emerged as a beacon for family law reform across the nation. In addition to SB-718, Robert has authored and championed several forward-thinking legislative initiatives aimed at protecting children and upholding parental rights:
"3 Strikes Law": This amendment to the Texas Penal Code holds repeat offenders of custody interference accountable, ensuring that children continue to enjoy meaningful relationships with both parents.
"Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied": By requiring judges to issue rulings within 10 days of hearings, this measure significantly reduces detrimental delays in family court decisions.
"Cameras in the Courtroom": This initiative fosters transparency and judicial accountability by mandating the recording of courtroom proceedings.
Child Support Dual Calculation Reform: Promotes fairness by ensuring that parents' incomes are considered in child support calculations.
Appealable Temporary Orders Reform: This reform protects parents' rights by allowing appeals of temporary orders before final rulings are made.
These initiatives reflect Robert's strategic vision for addressing systemic challenges within family courts, while also building bipartisan support for transformative reforms.
Advocacy and Public Engagement: An unwavering advocate Robert has spoken across over 40 states at prestigious venues like Capitol Hill and CPAC, igniting national awareness of the family court crisis and advocating for actionable legislative solutions. His dynamic media presence includes serving as Co-Executive Producer of the powerful documentary I Stand with John and making notable appearances on We the Parents and The Dr. Phil Show. He has also been featured in prominent interviews with outlets like the Epoch Times and Dad Talk Today, where he shares profound insights on parental alienation, co-parenting rights, and the imperative of judicial accountability.
Robert's commitment to advocacy extends into the realm of education for legal professionals. Partnering with esteemed experts Attorney Ashish Joshi and Dr. William Bernet, he delivered impactful presentations at a Texas Continuing Legal Education (CLE) class attended by over 200 lawyers and judges. This crucial event centered on parental alienation and the implementation of Texas Family Code 157.168 (a-1), the "Time Taken, Time Back" provision, ensuring that legal professionals are equipped to protect children's rights to nurture loving relationships with both parents.
Personal Experience Driving Reform: Robert's fervor for family justice reform springs from his own journey. Over a challenging 15-year custody battle, he faced over 43 false allegations from Child Protective Services (CPS), providing him with invaluable insight into the systemic flaws that families frequently encounter. This harrowing experience fuels his unwavering dedication to supporting parents facing similar struggles while advocating for reforms rooted in fairness, accountability, and the well-being of children.
Collaborative Leadership: Alongside his work with NFJ, Robert is a key contributor to numerous organizations devoted to justice and family reform, including Texans for Judicial Accountability, the John Mast Foundation, the National Parents Organization (NPO), Americans for Judicial Accountability, and Dad Talk Today. His collaborative ethos emphasizes coalition-building to magnify impact and drive consequential improvements nationwide.
Conclusion: Through innovative policies, tireless advocacy, and strategic leadership, Robert Garza has emerged as an indispensable force in the movement for family law reform. His lived experiences, legislative expertise, and unwavering commitment to justice align seamlessly with NFJ's mission to protect children, uphold parental rights, and ensure fairness within family court systems across the country.
Robert's work embodies the profound belief that every child deserves a meaningful relationship with both parents—and every parent deserves a fair chance to safeguard their role in their child's life.
Testimonials
I cannot express my gratitude enough for the exceptional legal support I received from [Your Law Firm Name]. When my family was going through a tough divorce.
John Doe
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Choosing [Your Law Firm Name] was the best decision I made during my adoption journey. Their team handled all the legal complexities with precision and made the entire process feel seamless.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Helping families understand their rights, options, and next steps
1. What does National Family Justice do?
We support families navigating high-conflict custody, family court, and legal system abuse. Our services include education, advocacy, professional training, and support for families facing issues like violations of rights, coercive control, domestic violence, and parental alienation. We also file amicus briefs in landmark cases affecting parental rights.
2. Are you a law firm?
No, we are not a law firm and do not provide legal representation or advice. However, we offer tools, education, document review, and strategic support to empower families and pro se litigants. We can also help you find trauma-informed legal professionals in your area.
3. Can you help me if I don’t have a lawyer?
Yes. We specialize in supporting pro se (self-represented) parents with tools and reasources to help you advocate for yourself in court. We also provide referrals to vetted professionals.
4. Can you help if my case involves domestic violence or coercive control?
Absolutely. We recognize the difference between true “high conflict” and post-separation abuse. We help parents identify patterns of coercive control, gather documentation, and protect their children while advocating for safety in court.
5. What is your stance on shared parenting?
We support 50/50 shared parenting as the default in the absence of abuse, supported by child development research and constitutional equal protection. We also advocate for safe exceptions when domestic violence, abuse, or coercive control is present.
6. What is an amicus brief and how do you use them?
An amicus brief (friend of the court brief) is a legal document we submit to offer expertise or insight in cases with broad impact. We use them to advocate for parental rights, equal custody, and protections for children in courts across the U.S.
7. Do you work with military families?
Yes. We assist military-connected families by ensuring custody orders respect deployment obligations, federal protections like the SCRA and UDPCVA, and parent-child bonding despite service duties.
8. Can you help with problems involving CPS, a guardian ad litem, or a parenting coordinator?
Yes. We review CPS reports, GAL conduct, parenting coordinator conduct, custody evaluations, and risk assessments for ethical violations. We also provide documentation support and can help elevate concerns when due process is denied.
9. How can I get involved with your organization?
You can support our mission by volunteering, donating, or joining our parent-to-parent mentorship program. We also welcome professionals who want to advocate for reform or provide trauma-informed services.
10. How do I request help or a case review?
Use our contact form or email us directly at [email protected]. Please provide a short summary of your situation and what kind of support you’re seeking. A team member will follow up within 3–5 business days.
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