Harris County
Texas Family
Law Attorney

Spouses rarely divorce on amicable terms. Usually, one party has made the decision, and one is unhappy about it. This often leads to arguments between the parties that break down discussions.

We will work with you and your spouse or their attorney, opening up the discussion in a calm and controlled manner. With mediation, many couples are surprised by what they can achieve. This also reduces conflict, which is especially important if there are any children involved.

We will always ensure that we take the time to keep you informed and educated about your rights and options. This approach to the attorney-client relationship ensures that you can make the best possible decisions from a place of clarity.

In a contested divorce, spouses cannot come to an agreement on aspects of their divorce. This might be spousal support payments, the divisions of the marital estate, or child custody.

This can lead to costly legal fees, especially if the decisions need to be made by a family law Judge.

The best way to avoid this is to seek the help of a divorce lawyer who is a strong mediator. They will help you and your spouse come to an agreement without the need for court intervention.

Child custody is always a sore topic. Even though both parents love their children, they rarely agree on what that looks like in terms of custody. Your attorney will balance your needs with your child’s needs and will help you and your spouse come to an agreement that is in the child’s best interests.

Child custody discussions have the potential to explode easily, which is why a strong negotiator who knows how to defuse a tense meeting is worth retaining. This prevents parents from making decisions that are not ultimately in the child’s best interests simply because they were emotional and angry at the time.

It is always in the best interest of the child to have access to both parents as long as they do not pose a danger to the child. We believe this, and the courts believe this too, so coming to an arrangement that is fair and reasonable should always be the goal.

Remember, your child is the most important thing, and this means you need to put their needs above everything else.

Dividing marriage worth of property and assets is another topic where arguments are common between spouses. Often, the spouse who provides for the family believes they deserve a higher percentage of the split. The other spouse, however, may have sacrificed career and income potential in order to look after the family home and the children.

When the assets involved in a marriage are high-value, it is often a more complex task to divide them. Property, investments, retirement funds, and stocks and shares can be difficult to value and may require external help from financial experts.

Your attorney will have access to a panel of experts that can help you value all of the marital assets, including assets that are hidden or those that may be worth a lot more later on down the line.

When you are married and have kids, you both assume responsibilities to ensure that the child’s needs, both financial and emotional, are met. This means that together you ensure the child is clothed, fed, educated, and loved.

This can take a variety of different shapes. One spouse may decide to quit their job or reduce their hours so they can spend more time looking after the children. They may sacrifice a career, and this needs to be considered when you divorce.

When you divorce, the spouse who sacrificed their career to look after the family home and the children may win custody. This means they will have a larger financial burden when it comes to looking after the children. To combat this, child support may be awarded.

Child support is usually paid by the parent who does not have custody to the parent who does. This covers things like the additional cost of housing the child, feeding them each day, and clothing them.

A good Harris County, TX family law attorney will be able to work out what is a fair and reasonable amount of child support to pay. The more family law cases they have dealt with, the easier it will be for them to do this.

Court orders are serious binding documents that place legal responsibilities on those named within. This means they need to be followed to the letter. If you do not follow them, you could be held in contempt of court.

Court orders can include things like child support, child custody arrangements, and spousal support. This means that even if your circumstances change, you cannot simply decide not to follow them.

That does not mean, however, that you cannot have a court order changed or modified. With the right evidence of a large change in circumstances, the courts may allow for a court order modification.

The courts will always treat it seriously if you believe your spouse poses a danger to your children. If you suspect your ex-spouse is being violent, abusive, or abusing alcohol or drugs, the court will always listen to your case.

The courts will also consider a modification if you can evidence that your circumstances have changed and the order is no longer suitable for you. An example of this may be if you have lost your job, or house, or have developed a disability that means you cannot work in the same capacity. This may mean that you can no longer pay your child support.

Getting a court order modification is never easy. You will need to work with an experienced Harris County family lawyer to put forward a strong case backed with evidence.

If you are fighting against a spouse that has significantly higher assets than you, they may attempt to draw out the legal battle in an attempt to price you out.

This is an unfair tactic, and if your spouse is engaging in this behavior, you should tell your attorney. If you and your attorney can present a strong argument to the Judge that this is happening, the Judge may decide to recover your fees from your spouse.

As court orders are legally binding, they must be followed to the letter. Your spouse cannot simply decide to stop following them.

When a spouse is violating their agreements on a regular basis, it can be stressful. If it is not an isolated incident, we recommend speaking to an attorney. They will be able to seek remedies to halt the issue and if not, they will assist you in escalating the issue to the necessary level.

After leaving a marriage where you have sacrificed your career, and your partner was the main provider, you could need financial support to maintain a certain quality of life. Working out what is a fair and reasonable level of spousal support is an important job your Harris County family law attorney will carry out.

In the United States, there is a lot of domestic abuse happening on a daily basis. For the victims, it can feel like there is no way out.

If you are considering a divorce because your spouse is violent at home, we can help. We will assist you in telling the authorities if necessary, and we will help you file your divorce. If necessary, we can help you file an injunction, which stops your spouse from being able to contact you.

When it comes to domestic violence, we know it is difficult, but don’t hesitate to seek legal aid and help. If you are not sure how, contact Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers, and we will do everything we can to help.

Unfortunately, as domestic abuse cases rose during the pandemic, false allegations also rose with them. This is a malicious trick, sometimes used in an attempt to persuade family courts to side with the accuser.

We have dealt with cases like this before, and with skilled legal representation, you can not only fight these claims, but you can discredit your spouse in the process.