Divorce Attorney in Houston, Texas
A divorce can be one of the most financially and emotionally devastating events faced by our clients. We understand the worrisome circumstances our clients face, and understand the difficult burdens placed on both parties and their children. Whether you have made the final decision to get a divorce, or you are served with divorce papers, at The Alsandor Law Firm, we understand, and will help you devise an appropriate solution for you and your family as your Divorce Lawyer in Houston.
A divorce can place severe emotional, financial and personal stress on both parties and their children. We create practical solutions to our client’s unique family law issues. We work to devise solutions that minimize our client’s burden in a divorce so that our clients can begin to move forward. Contact us for an immediate consultation.
Uncontested Divorce
In an uncontested divorce, the parties have an agreement on every issue, and generally have a meeting of the minds in most respects. The matters agreed to will include the cause for the divorce; usually that the divorce is no one’s fault, simply irreconcilable differences.
Also in an uncontested divorce, the allocation of the following parental rights and duties are agreed to:
- the exclusive right to establish the primary residence of the child;
- the right to:
- consent to medical, dental and surgical treatment involving invasive procedures and to consent to psychiatric and psychological treatment of the child;
- receive and give receipt for periodic payments for the support of the child and to hold or disburse these funds for the benefit of the child;
- represent the child in legal action and to make other decisions of substantial legal significance concerning the child;
- consent to marriage and to enlistment in the armed forces of the United States;
- make decisions concerning the child’s education;
- the services and earnings of the child;
- except when a guardian of the child’s estate or a guardian or attorney ad litem has been appointed for the child, the right to act as an agent of the child in relation to the child’s estate if the child’s action is required by a state, the United States, or a foreign government; and
- the duty to manage the estate of the child to the extent the estate has been created by community property or the joint property of the parents.
The court has also established the amount of child support and the provision of medical insurance for the child.
The court also identified the marital assets, such as the family home and retirement benefits, along with the debts, and has created a division plan.
We Can Help You Finalize an Uncontested Divorce
An agreed divorce is usually best for all. At The Alsandor Law Firm, our team will help each client understand both their parental and marital rights, to help efficiently and effectively finalize an uncontested divorce. Do not go through this without the caring, skilled assistance of The Alsandor Law Firm team. Let The Alsandor Law Firm help you to create a plan for your agreed divorce case.
Contested Divorce
A contested divorce is one in which both parties are having a difficult time coming to an agreement on how to resolve their issues. The Alsandor Law Firm takes a comprehensive approach to each client’s case to best protect each client’s rights related to child custody, child support, property division, spousal support and other contested divorce matters. We remain mindful of the difficult nature of a nonagreed divorce, and work diligently to attain an effective outcome for the benefit of our client’s children, their peace of mind and their finances.
It may be that both parties don’t agree to the custody and care of the child. Child custody cases, especially those within a divorce case, are especially painful. Allow The Alsandor Law Firm to help navigate through the family law process to provide a strategic alliance for the relief you are seeking.
The division of one’s assets and debts require skilled experience to assess the details of each client’s estate. Whether we are assessing the division of retirement, rental properties, business ownership or partnership interests, The Alsandor Law Firm team has experience in providing our clients with the information and representation needed, in or out of court, to seek a just and right divorce.
Divorce Rights | Protecting Your Rights at the Time of Divorce
Many people enter divorce and are overwhelmed by the issues at stake. You may be concerned about the custody and relocation of your children, how you will fare financially, and how you will survive emotionally after a divorce. Our attorneys are attuned to the needs of every client at the time of divorce, and will provide the resources and information needed to proceed. The Alsandor Law Firm will work to protect your rights and guide you and your family in creating lasting solutions that are in the best interest of your security and well-being.
Protecting Your Child Custody Rights
The vast majority of parents cherish their time with their children and want to be an active part of their lives. During and after a divorce, parenting time and custody issues can become complicated. Importantly, there are two forms of child custody:
- Legal Custody: the right to make important decisions on behalf of your child, including decisions about medical care, religion, education, and other deeply important matters
- Physical Custody: the ability to spend time with your child, care for his or her daily needs, and offer love and emotional support
In a divorce, you must decide how both you and your spouse will divide these duties.
Depending on your circumstances, joint or sole custody might be best. When there is joint custody, both parents share the responsibility of caring for a child. In a sole custody situation, however, only one parent has physical and/or legal custody of a child. The other parent might have visitation rights.
Ideally, divorcing spouses will negotiate a parenting plan outside of court. Your divorce lawyer might encourage you to mediate your child custody issues. They may work with a trained dispute resolution expert to negotiate a fair parenting plan. However, if this is unsuccessful, the court will evaluate situation and award custody based on your child’s best interests.
Once the court issues the order, you must abide by its child custody plan. If you violate the custody order, you might face criminal charges and other penalties. However, you can petition the court to modify a child custody order under certain circumstances. For more information about child custody, contact an experienced divorce lawyer.
Ensuring Your Children’s Welfare Through Child Support
Parents have a legal obligation to financially support their children. While most parents don’t disagree with this statement, child support can quickly become a contentious issue. Texas expects non-custodial parents to pay a percentage of their income in child support. This percentage varies, depending on the number of children involved.
This might sound simple. But calculating a parent’s income can quickly become complicated, especially if it is variable due to commission-based income or bonus structures. Other times, parents try to hide income to avoid large child support payments.
At Alsandor Law Firm, we work closely with our clients, investigating each parent’s income and demanding full compliance with Texas child support laws. We also help parents modify and terminate child support orders when their financial circumstances change.
Just like child custody, parents can sometimes agree to a child support structure out of court. This is typically in your best interest, since court cases can become emotional and difficult. This is especially true when children are involved. However, we are always prepared to fully litigate child support and other divorce-related issues. Contact Alsandor Law Firm today to learn more about our approach to child support issues and disputes.
Dividing Your Marital Property
As part of your divorce, you’ll need to divide up your marital property and debt. Texas is a community property state. This means that if you cannot agree on how to divide your assets, the judge will distribute them in a way that is “just and right.” This means that the judge will assess:
- each spouse’s income and earning power,
- the circumstances surrounding the divorce (such as evidence of infidelity),
- the child custody arrangement, and
- each spouse’s physical and mental health before splitting up your property.
This is a complicated analysis and you need a skilled divorce lawyer advocating on your behalf. Sometimes a spouse will argue that an asset is separate property — and not part of the marital estate — in an attempt to avoid its distribution. At The Alsandor Law Firm, we thoroughly evaluate and investigate property division issues. We will fight to get you your fair share.
Assessing the Validity of Prenuptial Agreements
Sometimes, spouses entered a nuptial agreement before or during their marriage. You sign a prenuptial agreement before you marry, while you enter into a postnuptial agreement during the marriage. These nuptial agreements outline which assets and debts are separate property — and cannot be divided during a divorce.
A valid nuptial agreement can help streamline your property division issues. However, not every nuptial agreement is valid. If someone forced you into signing the agreement or it contains certain illegal provisions, it might not be legally binding. If you have questions about the validity or enforcement of a nuptial agreement, contact a divorce lawyer immediately. A divorce lawyer can carefully review your agreement. They can also help you understand whether it will stand up in a court.
What Should I Do If I’m Served With Divorce Papers?
If you recently received divorce papers, you should immediately contact a divorce lawyer for assistance. If you do not respond to the complaint in a timely manner, you might lose your right to dispute your spouse’s allegations or demands. At Alsandor Law Firm, we can help you interpret the paperwork and draft an answer, as well as build a comprehensive strategy for your divorce. We know that you might feel alone right now — we’re here to help.
Schedule a Consultation With a Certified Divorce Lawyer in Houston, TX
If you’re ready to discuss your situation with a divorce lawyer, contact The Alsandor Law Firm for a consultation. Cheryl Alsandor is a family and divorce law specialist who is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Specialization. She and her team of family law attorneys serve clients throughout the Greater Houston, Texas area.