If you are searching for legal advice from Houston Divorce Lawyers we understand that ending a marriage can be emotionally and financially challenging. Having to deal with matters of child custody, alimony, property and debt settlement, tax and title issues, hidden assets, and many other complexities during a divorce is difficult. However, you are not alone. Although we are predominantly Houston car accident lawyers, our clients trust us to refer them to lawyers that practice other types of law. We think we work with one of the best Houston divorce attorneys in Harris County who is ready to help you get through it successfully.
Whether you want to end your marriage or your spouse has served you divorce papers, a Houston divorce lawyer can be an invaluable asset. An experienced divorce and family law firm can come in handy in determining your best options for dealing with the situation and achieving a favorable outcome in your divorce.
Our experienced Houston divorce lawyer has years of practical experience helping clients get a fresh start. We understand that you are going through an incredibly difficult time and will comprehensively represent you. Call us today and schedule a free consultation to find out how we can help protect your interests.
Why You Need a Divorce Lawyer in Houston, TX
Do I need a divorce lawyer if my spouse and I are on relatively civil terms? Yes, you do. Even though a do-it-yourself divorce may seem like a quick and affordable way to settle a divorce, it rarely works out that way. Here are the reasons why you need the services of Houston divorce lawyers:
1. Expert Knowledge
You might not have enough time to learn all the state laws that apply to your divorce between now and your divorce’s finalization. A divorce lawyer not only knows these complex laws but also has experience in using them effectively.
A divorce lawyer can come in handy in complex issues like a spouse being entitled to retirement or other future income of the other spouse. Child custody and support, debts, substantial income, assets or future assets are some of the issues that need expert legal knowledge to address. Getting expert advice can save you from future financial implications of your divorce settlement.
Our Houston divorce lawyer can help you achieve a favorable settlement and ensure you move forward with confidence. We also deal with opposing attorneys and judges on a daily basis and therefore understand the processes, rules and strategies that will get you the best results. Whether it is settled or proceeds to litigation, you can be confident enough that you will not be short-changed.
1. Avoid Mistakes
The complexity of the legal system, coupled with the stress of a divorce that impairs clarity in thinking, often results in mistakes during a do-it-yourself divorce. Such mistakes may cost you financially or even require legal proceedings in the future to rectify. We have had clients who come to us to get help for the mistakes they made during their divorce proceedings.
Some of the common mistakes include:
- Forgetting to address credit card debt
- Underestimating or overestimating an asset’s value
- Checking a wrong box on divorce documents
- Divorce that is not finalized
- Vague language
- Divorce forms that are legally questionable
A divorce attorney or family law attorney prevents you from making such and other mistakes. When you turn to our law firm, we will ensure accuracy in your divorce proceedings as we have done for many past clients. You will be able to move on without the fear of any mistakes that you may regret for the rest of your life.
1. Reduce Stress
Our divorce lawyer knows you are struggling with one of the most stressful times of your life. It may be tough even just to hold it together, let alone take care of yourself and your family. Adding to the already high-stress levels with having to keep up with divorce proceedings and combing through each detail can be overwhelming. A divorce lawyer in Houston, Tx, does all the heavy lifting for you so that you can focus on yourself and your family.
Think of hiring a divorce attorney as putting the divorce proceedings on autopilot. Although you may need to provide all the necessary information to the divorce lawyer, that is just about it. Let us take care of your legal needs because you already have enough things to worry about on your mind.
1. Prevent Delays
You want to finalize the divorce as soon as possible. However, that might not be feasible if you are going at it independently without an experienced divorce lawyer. The chances of running into delays are high as you may not know what exactly is required at every particular step. Some of the problems that result in delays in the divorce proceedings include:
- Not completing the proper forms
- Inadequate information
- Inadequate documentation
- Missing court imposed deadlines
These problems with paperwork and other issues often occur when you choose to proceed without a family law attorney. You will end up having unnecessary delays in the court ruling, which prolongs your divorce proceedings.
Our experienced divorce lawyer can help you avoid these problems in paperwork and therefore enable you to avoid delays. Your divorce will be completed as soon as possible.
1. Clarity
After reviewing your divorce documents, the court provides a divorce decree that covers your wishes. Although it is legally binding, some parts of the agreement might be difficult and even impossible to execute if the language is unclear. You can avoid this problem with the help of a divorce lawyer in Houston, Tx.
When you hire a divorce attorney, you can be sure that the legal documents being presented to the court accurately state your wishes. Although the court reviews all the documents that you present, it may not understand your exact expectations of each point of the divorce. Therefore, you may end up with a divorce decree that states something other than your intentions.
Our family law attorney is committed to ensuring clarity and accuracy in divorce decrees remains unchanged. Regardless of your divorce situation, we will ensure your decree is free of errors that may cost you.
Divorce Options in Houston, TX
Many couples think they have only one option to dissolve a marriage. Luckily, there several options for divorcing couples in Harris County or larger Texas to reach a resolution. You can opt for a divorce option that appropriately meets your individual and family needs. The available divorce options in Texas include:
- Collaborative law
- Mediation
- Litigation
- “Kitchen Table” settlements
- Do-it-yourself divorce
Here is a breakdown of each option, when to choose it, the advantages and the disadvantages.
Collaborative Law
In simple terms, you as a couple decide the terms of your settlement and then a divorce lawyer reviews and approves it. It has increasingly become popular in Texas over recent years. In this Collaborative Divorce Model, you, your spouse and the lawyers agree beforehand that no one will take to court any contested issue.
The ‘Collaborative Team’ focuses on finding ways for family restructuring that meets everyone’s needs in the best way possible. This team includes divorce lawyers, mental health professionals and financial professionals.
Collaborative Divorce is best suited for couples looking to resolve matters quickly and efficiently. It’s based on the premise that most people don’t want to harm their spouse or children but just want to change their situation.
Advantages include:
- Elimination of strategic game playing necessary in litigation
- Minimizes the hard feelings of one person having to win while the other loses
Disadvantages include:
- It might not work hence necessitating mediation or litigation, which increases the cost
- Only applicable for couples on civil terms
Mediation
In Mediation, a neutral third party directs the terms of the divorce settlement. Thereafter, the couple reviews and approves it. Mediation is basically assisted settlement negotiations in the litigation process. It takes place after the filing of a suit for divorce. Mediators who are, in this case, divorce attorneys don’t take sides.
The advantages of this option are:
- Mediators can offer a different perspective that is not biased
- Having everyone in the same room creates a positive environment for agreements
On the downside:
- It occurs just before trial, and therefore those involved might have spent substantial money, emotional energy and time already
- It may seem coercive based on the timing
- It can be expensive unless you qualify for low-fee or sliding scale mediation
Litigation
A judge or a jury makes the decisions for the divorcing couple in the litigation option. You will have to abide by strict rules about what information you may present and the entire process. It is best suited for those who cannot find any other way to settle their differences.
The positives of litigation include:
- Effectively deals with a spouse who is reluctant to deal with the family issues
- Can save on time
Disadvantages of this option include:
- Expensive
- Destructive to relationships
“Kitchen Table” Settlements
The couple sits down at the ‘kitchen table’ and work out an agreement that is favorable for both of them. Once drafted, it is then taken to a divorce lawyer who puts it into a legal form. A couple can also use do-it-yourself divorce forms.
You may want to use this method if you don’t have children or substantial assets. Legal advice can help you know in case you are giving up valuable rights.
Advantages of this model include:
- Inexpensive
- Quick
- Private
Disadvantages of “Kitchen Table” Settlements include:
- Questions may arise after taking it to the lawyer, which may make you change the agreement
- Not suitable if you don’t have equal information and power in your relationship
Do-It-Yourself Divorce
You can handle your divorce without lawyers. All you have to do in this option is fill the do-it-yourself divorce forms. You can find these forms in bookstores, online resources and local law libraries in Houston, Tx. Divorce kits or forms provide a check-list approach so that you are not left in the dark about your options.
This option is suitable for couples with no children or substantial assets.
On the upside:
- It is cheap
- Straightforward
The downside of this option includes:
- Not usable in case there are children, real estate or other major assets
- Check-lists can’t inform you of your rights
- Unfavorable outcome in case the couple doesn’t have equal information and power in the relationship
Divorce Cost in Houston, TX
A common question among people planning to divorce is how much the divorce will cost them. There is no exact figure of how much you will spend as it is highly variable.
So what factors determine how much the divorce will cost you?
Divorce Model
The divorce option you choose directly impacts how much you will spend. For instance, you will spend the least if you opt for the Do-It-Yourself divorce, while it might cost you significantly if you go for litigation and never even consult a Houston Divorce Attorney.
However, the cost must not be the only basis of your choice when it comes to the options you have when divorcing.
Houston Divorce Lawyer
Whether you hire a divorce lawyer or not directly impacts the divorce cost. But isn’t hiring a divorce attorney expensive? No, not really. Hiring Houston divorce lawyers might save you time, money and emotional energy as they know the best approach to your divorce. You also won’t have to spend a fortune fixing legal problems that are made when you do it yourself.
Additionally, the fees charged by Houston divorce lawyers vary greatly. Some may charge low hourly fees, while others charge exorbitant fees. We understand that you have concerns about the cost of your divorce and, therefore, will work with you to ensure you get the best service at the most affordable fee.
Couple Cooperation
How cooperative you are as a couple also determines the cost of your divorce. If you are cooperative, negotiation can be a cheap and effective way to dissolve your marriage and move on with life. The process will be straightforward, and you will not have to incur high costs. On the other hand, lack of cooperation means protracted divorce proceedings that most likely end in litigation and come with a high price tag.
The complexity of the Divorce
Simple divorces where there are no children or substantial assets involved cost less than complex divorces. Deciding on child custody and support, alimony, sharing of substantial assets and decisions on the future income may make the proceedings long and therefore increase the cost.
How a Divorce lawyer in Houston Can Help You
We offer several services in the divorce domain. You can count on us for the following divorce services in Houston, Tx:
- Divorce in Texas
- Military divorce
- Complex asset division
- Property and debt settlement
- Hidden assets
- Spousal maintenance/ alimony
- Foreclosure and real estate equity
- Tax and title issues in divorce
You basically find everything you need under one roof when you opt to hire our law firm. We have helped many clients like you get the much desired new start. Divorcing is a life-changing decision, and therefore we give it our all to protect your interests.
Some of the things we do to help you once you hire us include:
- Provision of all the necessary information and options to help you get the best results
- Evaluation of your financial situation and advise you on the impact of alimony and child support
- Investigation of financial abnormalities that point towards your spouse having hidden assets or income
- Explain the Texas property and debt division guidelines and their impact on your finances
- Develop effective child custody and visitation plans in collaboration with child custody evaluators and psychologists
- Explain tax implications of alimony, child custody/support and some types of property division
Our Houston area divorce lawyer will be at your disposal from the moment you decide to hire our law firm till the finalization of the divorce.
Considerations in a Houston Texas Divorce
Deciding to end your marriage is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make. Several issues need serious consideration when making this decision. Rational thinking and clarity in addressing these issues are vital to having a smooth sail after this life-changing period.
When filing for a divorce in Houston, Tx, you will need to consider the following aspects.
Child Custody and Support
Deciding whether you want full custody or shared custody and who the children live with is important. Visitation plans and who makes major decisions about the children like education, health, and religion are also crucial. Finally, who foots the bill when it comes to children should also be considered.
Alimony and Child Support
You will need to consider whether you will need to pay or receive alimony, including how much and for how long. Additionally, consider who claims the children for income tax exemption purposes.
Property Division
Valuation and division of marital assets and debts should also be considered. Your marital home and what happens to it is also vital. Additionally, you will need to put into consideration insurance and income taxes.
How Long a Houston Divorce Takes
Any divorce case filed in Texas is subject to a mandatory 60-day waiting period. However, the exact time your divorce will take will depend on how long you as a couple will take to come to an agreement.
We can help fast track your divorce proceedings to ensure you finalize the divorce as quickly and as efficiently as possible.
Contact Us Today
Do you want to dissolve your marriage, or have you been served with a divorce suit already? You don’t have to worry because we have one of the best Houston divorce lawyers ready to help you get the best results. You must be going through an incredibly overwhelming period and therefore deserve experienced and expert representation. Contact us today and let us help you start the new chapter of your life smoothly. We also recommend attorneys for cases regarding criminal matters and wills and probate matters in Houston and surrounding cities.
As a Houston personal injury lawyer who has been in law for over 20 years we only recommend and work with attorneys that we believe are the best lawyers for our clients. If you need information regarding one of the best Houston DWI Lawyer or who we think are some of the best Houston immigration lawyers contact us and we will be happy to share our recommendations with you. Our personal injury firm also works with probate lawyers in Houston and can recommend an outstanding probate lawyer if you need one.
