In a nutshell, family law is the practice of law dealing the family. It includes everything from the good times: adoption, name changes, surrogacy, etc. to the most rancorous court proceedings that can be had: divorce, minor child custody, and child support. I practice family law in a number of different situations and I will do everything I can within the law to make sure you receive the compassionate, diligent representation you deserve and to move the entire process along smoothly so you can move on from a bad relationship.
Divorce
Divorce sucks. It one of greatest tragedies when your greatest relationship turns your loved one into someone you don’t even want to be stuck with in the same room. Fortunately, I can help make it a little better. Divorce is simply the formal process of going through court to unwind your marital partnership. It’s a pretty long process, especially when it comes to deciding custody issues.
Divorce in Texas is governed by subchapter A of the Texas Family Code. Fortunately, we’ve moved past the olden days where you’d need a specific reason for divorce. Nowadays, the only thing you need to show is that your relationship is insupportable past the point where you can no longer continue a relationship with your spouse. That’s not to say that the old reasons don’t affect your divorce decree, but that’s on a case by case basis.
Texas is a community property state. That means almost everything that was earned during the course of the marriage is the equal property of both spouses. It also means that there is no alimony.Indeed, the Texas courts are pretty anti-anything that looks like alimony. There are, however, provisions that provide for spousal support if you have been dependant on your spouse. If you think that’s your situation, call or text today and we can get you on the road to freedom together.
If you are thinking about a divorce, give me a call as soon as possible. The process isn’t contingent on speed, but things can be helped along by moving quickly and getting out in front of any issues that may arise during the proceedings. If you are interested in separating from your spouse, fill out this form and get out from under the oppressive stress of a bad relationship right now!
Custody
Mostly, custody disputes go along with divorce. They form one of the two basic law suits that form up a divorce: the “Division of Property” suit and the “Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship” (SAPCR). Custody in Texas really is not about the parent, it’s all about what is best for the child. Those words: “Best Interest of the Child” are strewn liberally across the Family code.
Really, that’s what most divorces boil down to: two people can’t be together any more and, as a result, what is the best case for both the money and the children. If you think that your spouse would not uphold his end of custody, contact me today. We will be able to move forward with a SAPCR and make sure your kids have a loving, stable home once the stress of the divorce is finished.
Child Support
Are you stuck paying more than your fair share of child support? If so, it’s not surprising. The Family Code is not lenient when it comes to the enforcement of child support. In fact, most judges stick to the statutory order and will take into account your past and potential future earnings. If you hit a rough patch, no matter how willing you are to pay your share, you might get terribly behind. I represent people who are joint conservators of their children after the final divorce decree has been entered.
I can help. It is possible to get a child support modification that is actually inline with your actual income, or if circumstances have changed, attempt to modify the order when it comes to custody. Once the divorce is over, it’s a high burden to get past that and convince the judge that things have changed, but with the right case it’s still doable. Call or text today: 281-318-1277!
If you are interested in being defended in a contempt case for non-payment of child support, click here.
Collaborative Family Law
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just all get along? Do you consider yourself a big enough person to set aside your differences and be able to talk person to person? While this may sound either too far fetched or far too much hyperbole, it’s an ideal we can still hope to achieve.
In Collaborative Family Law, you and your spouse sign an agreement with me and we hash out the details of the divorce and the settlement with me acting as a kind of mediator/coach/therapist/negotiator to work with both of you to come to an agreement. It does have its quirks and can go a lot faster than a traditional suit for dissolution. You’re also free to quit the process at any time if you feel that you can’t reach an acceptable settlement. The only caveat in that case is that I cannot represent either party if it moves back into the courts. Also, if there are allegations of domestic violence, you cannot participate in a collaborative family law agreement without the explicit agreement of the alleged victim.
If this is something you might be interested call or text today. It is always nice to be a part of a process where people can set aside their disputes and act like adults, negotiate in good faith, and then peacefully end their relationship in a manner fitting with how love starts.
Juvenile Justice
Imagine being accused of felony as a thirteen year old. Scared. Hormonal. Confused. There are many different ways to get caught in the justice system. The same situations exist for kids as well. A lot of times, it was just a dumb mistake that could have terrible consequences. Other times it can boil down to falling into the wrong crowd or any other of a multitude of reasons.
I represent children and their families who have been accused of criminal conduct. While a prosecutor, I often was able to divert these kids into programs such as “Alive at 25” and other community services to both help them avoid these problems in the future and hopefully address any of the underlying concerns driving the behavior. It’s incredibly important to get children the help they need as early as possible. The sooner the intervention, the more likely they have the ability to grow past any of the negative short term effects of any problems.
If you are in need of a lawyer who handles juvenile delinquency cases, call or text 281-318-1277 today for a free 30-minute consultation.
The Good Parts
Even though there is always a lot of contention in family law, it’s always nice when you can help people doing exciting and new things as they move on in their lives. To that end, if you need help coordinating an adoption, surrogacy, or other joys such preparing for marriage with a prenuptial agreement, I am here for you. Call or text 281-318-1277 to set up a free 30-minute consultation today.
Criminal Defense ♦ Regulatory Law ♦ Family Law
Houston, TX 77002
Ph. (281) 318-1277
Fx. (281) 676-5607