Ending Your Marriage? Contact a Sugar Land Divorce Lawyer.
When it comes to divorce cases, it can be easy for tempers to run high and for emotions to influence important decisions. This makes the job of skilled and experienced divorce lawyers extremely important.
At the end of the day, both parties are usually looking out for themselves and for their children. To achieve the best outcome for you, a good divorce lawyer will need to be skilled in negotiation and mediation.
It is rare that spouses see eye to eye during divorce proceedings. Most of the time there are disagreements about how to divide up community assets and debt. If there are children involved, custody and child support arguments can break down lines of communication extremely quickly.
When it comes to divorce laws in Sugar Land, Texas, cases can become complicated and even small mistakes could potentially cost you both time and money. Fortunately, that is where an experienced divorce lawyer can really help. They know how to navigate the complexities of Texas Law and will be able to guide you every step of the way.
Contact a Divorce Attorney Sugar Land Couples Trust!
At Skillern Firm, we are skilled in family law matters. Our law firm has numerous years of experience under our belts. We have provided representation on many cases just like yours in the past. We pride ourselves on our ability to obtain favorable results for our clients and strive to protect your rights and fight for your future.
At the core, there is only one real goal when it comes to divorce cases and family law: to help everyone involved find peace on their new path.
If you are considering divorce, have decided already, or just want to talk it through, give us a call today at 936-213-8479 for an initial consultation and sound legal advice.
Why Should I Hire a Sugar Land Divorce Lawyer?
However you have come to the agreement that you want a divorce, it is not a decision that should be taken lightly. It will be a lot of hard work both physically and emotionally and can lead to stressful moments and disagreements between you and your spouse.
A skilled family law divorce lawyer will be able to represent you from an unbiased standpoint and will be able to provide you with sound legal advice. Our divorce lawyers help guide you through the divorce process and explain the next steps as they approach.
Our divorce lawyers are also experienced in mediation and can negotiate on your behalf and communicate with your spouse’s attorney directly during the process. This gives you room to breathe and will prevent you from making decisions from a place of anger or resentment.
Finally, it is extremely important that your representation explains to you all of your legal rights in a clear manner as you move through the complex regulations surrounding divorce and family law in Texas.
Types of Divorce Cases We Handle in Sugar Land, Texas
No-Fault
The first type of divorce case is a no-fault divorce.
If your marriage has broken down due to disagreement or personal differences and there was no reason other than those for the breakdown, you can file for a no-fault divorce. This is the most common type of divorce case that we see as Sugar Land, Texas divorce lawyers.
A no-fault divorce is a result of the marriage becoming “insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities that destroys the legitimate ends of the marital relationship and prevents any reasonable expectation of reconciliation,” as laid out by Chapter 6 of the Family Code State Statute.
In these divorce cases, both you and your spouse agree that you want your marriage to end and that there is no one specific reason for ending the marriage. This means that you both formally agree that the marriage breakdown was through no singular person’s fault or due to the misconduct of one spouse.
At-Fault Divorce
The second type of divorce case is an at-fault divorce.
If one spouse committed an act that falls under at-fault reasons, and that caused the marriage breakdown, like having an affair or inflicting abuse on the other spouse, then one spouse may file an at-fault divorce.
These types of divorce usually require a more detailed explanation and evidence of the ‘at-fault’ actions need to be gathered and presented throughout the course of your family law case.
How to File a No-Fault Divorce
The first step in seeking a no-fault divorce should be to seek the help of a skilled divorce lawyer to represent you. Their first job will be to begin preparing the initial documents to be filed with the Court.
If you and your spouse have children together, there is an added layer to the process. There will be additional evidence to gather to cover all aspects of the child(ren) like custody, rights, and duties, as well as child support and insurance.
When filing a divorce proceeding, your spouse will have a set period of time to respond to the filings after being served or signing a Waiver of Service.
How to File an At-Fault Divorce
The most important part of filing an at-fault divorce is the assignment of fault. The main explanations for an at-fault divorce are:
- Cheating and Adultery.
- Abandonment for a period of one year or more.
- Committing Felonies.
- Mental Incapacitation.
- Physical and Emotional Abuse.
- Domestic Violence.
By proving your partner committed one of the above faults, the Judge may weigh faults in your requests related to custody, child support and/or awarding a higher proportion of the community estate to you.
Skillern Firm Practice Areas
At Skillern Firm, we cover a wide range of family law disputes, which means that our divorce lawyers can address many aspects of your family’s future. Below are some areas of family law that our experienced lawyers handle:
Child Custody
One of the most difficult and emotional matters to address in any divorce is the custody of your child or children. This is one particular aspect of a case that can cause emotions to run high, making it very difficult to reach an amicable decision.
Unfortunately, when emotions do run high, it can cause parents to make decisions out of spite and anger. This is not in the best interest of the child or children and is one of the reasons why it is hugely important that you seek the representation of a skilled divorce lawyer who is an excellent negotiator and mediator to represent you.
There is nothing more important than your children and protecting their best interests should always be at the top of the priority list.
Child Support
During a marital relationship, parties partner with each other in the roles of providing for the child or children. This partnership looks different for every marital relationship however, this may mean that one spouse quits their job or career to become the main caregiver.
As a result, when these partnerships end, one partner may have a much higher source of income and security than the other spouse due to the decisions made during the marital relationship.
To ensure the needs of your children are met, one spouse may be entitled to financial support from the other so the child or children’s needs are met.
It is important to ensure your child or children’s needs are taken care of and that an appropriate amount of child support is ordered to meet such obligations.
Modification of Order
Court orders relating to things like custody or financial support are not necessarily permanent. If circumstances change and you have a good reason to seek a change to a previous order, you can request the Court to do so.
Some change requests that can be made include child custody orders, child support orders, and/or rights and duties of each parent. If you have reason to believe your child or children are no longer safe in the care of the other parent, or if their needs are not being met, you can request the Court to modify sections of your previous order.
If you are seeking a modification of a court order, our Sugar Land divorce lawyers should be your first call. With our experience, we will be able to help you put together a compelling argument to present to the Judge for your requested modification.
High-Asset Divorce
The community estate of a married couple grows during marriage and property division is another area of the divorce process that can become complex.
Therefore, when parties have a large number of assets and/or high-value assets, it can be extremely difficult to divide the community estate in a just and right manner between the two parties.
It is crucial to have divorce lawyers who have handled high-asset divorces previously and know the details they need to seek from the other party to confirm portions of the community estate.
If your community estate is full of assets, debts, and separate property, our Sugar Land divorce lawyers can provide you with the guidance you need to ensure your interests are protected.
Mothers and Fathers’ Rights
In the state of Texas, both the mother and the father have equal rights in proceedings. This means that neither side will have the advantage if both parties want to seek custody.
When both parties are arguing for custodial rights, it can become hostile, and sometimes it can be the children who will suffer the most as a result.
In family law, the children always come first, and a good attorney will always look to protect the needs of the children involved.
Enforcement
When court orders surrounding child support, child custody, and/or spousal support are issued, they have to be respected and followed by all parties as such is an order of the Court. For example, you cannot deny access to your child or children to your former spouse if the order states they are allowed possession and access during a specific time. You also cannot avoid paying child support, insurance premiums and/or spousal maintenance if they have been mandated.
If your former spouse is violating the orders, do not worry, the law is behind you. Your attorney will be able to file an Enforcement against your former spouse listing all violations made to the order. Due to the poor actions of the former spouse, these issues can then be mediated or taken in front of the Judge for a judgment against your former spouse.
Recovery of Attorney Fees
Often, in divorce proceedings, one spouse may have more funds than the other to draw upon. This means they may start filing claims that are frivolous in an attempt to make you spend more money.
If you think this is happening, you and your attorney will be able to seek help from the Judge. If the Judge sides with your argument, they may order your spouse to pay your attorney fees. This is never guaranteed and you will need to provide a strong argument to support why your attorney fees should be paid by the other party. Your attorney will know whether or not you have enough grounds to attempt this.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is becoming more and more prevalent and as family law attorneys, unfortunately, we see a lot of it.
We have your best interests at heart and when you seek representation from us, we can step in immediately to help you as much as possible. If you are a victim of domestic abuse, there are many options for protection against your abuser. This may be a Protective Order, a Temporary Restraining Order, Temporary Injunctions, or Permanent Injunctions against a party at the conclusion of a case.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our Sugar Land divorce lawyers if you are unsure of what to do next. It is always best to contact law enforcement if you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety. If you have been able to get to a safe place, please contact us immediately so we can step in and get the process started.
While domestic abuse cases are increasing, so too, are false domestic violence accusations. In rare circumstances, spouses may accuse their partners of violence in order to manipulate the courts and guarantee custody.
An experienced divorce lawyer will be able to help you fight these accusations, discrediting your accuser in the process through factual evidence.
Spousal Support
Spousal Support is in place to help people who are coming out of a divorce financially. If you have sacrificed your career for the marriage and child or children and you can prove to the court that you will need financial support in order to meet your minimum reasonable needs, the Judge may award spousal support during the pendency of your case and/or following your divorce for a set amount of time.
Contested Divorce
It is very rare to see a divorce where both parties have agreed on everything amicably and without argument. After all, the lives of people who are often married for over a decade are tangled and complex, and separating into two separate entities is a challenge.
When people do not agree, it can take a long time to resolve all of the important issues in a complex divorce.
To help you work through these proceedings, our skilled divorce lawyers can help you convince the other party that everything you are requesting is fair and reasonable.
Call a Sugar Land Divorce Lawyer For Help.
When it comes to matters of family law, we know things can be very stressful and complicated. We know it can be difficult to remain calm and make clear-headed decisions. It is important to know all of your legal rights and this is why representation is so important.
Here at Skillern Firm, our team of lawyers knows just how difficult and trying a custody dispute or divorce can get. That’s why we specialize in family law, including but not limited to mediation and negotiation, which allows us to help you through the process with as little friction as possible.
Contact us or call us today at 936-213-8479 to request a consultation with an experienced divorce attorney. We offer an initial consultation with one of our attorneys with significant experience in family law to provide you with general information and legal advice to get you started on the right path to reaching your goals.