Divorce Attorney & Legal Services in Lake Jackson
Each person's circumstances are different. Please review the general information to help determine if you need legal assistance. If you wish to discuss the matter further, please make an appointment for a free initial office consultation.
In a divorce, the Court will end the marriage between the parties and dispose of property issues. If children were born or adopted during the marriage, the Court issues orders concerning their conservatorship (custody), child support, visitation, health insurance, etc. The divorce proceeding is initiated by one of the parties filing an Original Petition for Divorce in District Court. After filing, the petition must be delivered to your spouse (the opposing party), this process is referred to as "service."
In some cases, a party may feel a need for the Court to issue temporary orders that are effective during the divorce proceedings. Temporary orders can be put into place to protect the integrity of community property. They can be used to determine which spouse remains in the home during the proceeding and for the payment of bills, conservatorship (custody) of the children and support among other things. Temporary restraining orders may also be used to restrict certain behaviors, in most cases temporary restraining orders will be "joint and mutual" which means that both parties are ordered to restrain from the behavior.
Each divorce is unique. Some couples are able to reach agreement on property issues and issues regarding their children without a large amount of intervention from their attorneys or the Court. However, discovery may be necessary in cases where the divorcing couple is unable to reach agreement on issues. This is especially true when one party may be less than forthcoming regarding financial matters or certain behaviors. Discovery methods are used to obtain a wide range of information such as tax returns, bank records, deeds and vehicle titles. In many cases each party prepares a Sworn Inventory and Appraisement. This document lists all the property and debts of each party and their opinion of values and of claims, including any claims of separate property.
After sufficient information is obtained regarding the issues in the divorce proceeding, the parties should attempt to resolve their case. Resolution of the case by agreement can be obtained through direct negotiation, or mediation may be used to assist the parties in reaching a settlement. If the parties cannot resolve their issues through direct negotiation, mediation or another type of assisted negotiation, a request may be made by either side to have the Court settle the issue(s). In Texas, the Court uses a "just and right" division with regard to division of community property. If children are involved the Court will make decisions based on the "best interests" of the children.
A decree of divorce is a written order that ends the marriage and contains the settlement terms that have been reached by the parties or the Court and it must be signed by a Judge to become effective. Even in an uncontested divorce where the parties are in agreement and both have signed off on the divorce decree at least one of the parties must appear in Court and give sworn testimony. If the judge is satisfied with the testimony and the contents of the decree of divorce he or she will sign the decree of divorce and the divorce takes effect. Please call our office to consult with an attorney regarding your specific circumstances.
Going through a divorce is a very tough ordeal. The situation can be even more complicated and frustrating if there is a sizable amount of property at stake. If the properties are difficult to value, it can pose challenges to the parties in a divorce case. Having a divorce lawyer who has the experience on matters relating to divorce is crucial for you to ensure your financial security and the protection of your legal rights. Have a prominent divorce attorney in Lake Jackson take care of all your legal concerns so that you may obtain favorable results in the legal proceedings.
Non-conjugal property, retirement funds, property owned out of state, real estate, privately owned businesses, professional practices and other properties can all be handled by parties in a divorce proceeding with the help of a skilled litigator or divorce lawyer. The Polansky Law Firm, PLLC in Lake Jackson will be able to help you with these matters.
Contact a divorce lawyer in Lake Jackson for an initial consultation about the steps you need to take in order to properly file for divorce. In the dissolution of a marriage, there are certain statutes that dictate how you can file for divorce. If you are not familiar with these kinds of information, you may run into problems that can jeopardize your financial stability and the assets that you want to protect. Call the Polansky Law Firm in Lake Jackson to know more about the requirements you need to take care of in having your marriage dissolved.
With a strong understanding of property valuation and division, spousal maintenance, custody rights, child support issues and other divorce matters the firm is the correct choice for handling your divorce case.
From child support to child custody, the Polansky Law Firm is able to help people in the greater Brazoria area. Based in Lake Jackson, the Polansky Law Firm has assisted individuals undergoing divorce and legal separation processes.
The Polansky Law Firm can also handle other matters that relate to divorce including visitation rights or parenting time, orders of protection and prenuptial agreements. Give the Polansky Law Firm in Lake Jackson a call and we will be happy to provide an initial consultation for your concerns.
The most important thing you can do is to seek legal assistance early in a case.
Call 979-266-9281 for an appointment.
