Planning for Divorce: Putting Yourself in the Best Position
If you have made the decision to end your marriage, there are important issues to consider to protect your interests before you file the divorce petition. The experienced attorneys of Bill De La Garza & Associates, P.C. will help you envision life beyond divorce and position you to stand your ground on key matters along the path to a fair, practical and timely dissolution.
| If you are the spouse who was served with divorce papers, it is even more important to seek counsel and take action. We can step in quickly to turn you around from reacting on the defensive to taking proactive steps that level the playing field. |
Bill De La Garza, Board Certified, Family Law - Texas Board of Legal Specialization, has practiced exclusively in this arena for more than 35 years. His legal team will explain your rights and what to expect through every phase of the divorce process, so that you can make informed decisions before and during these critical proceedings.
Sophisticated Counsel Before You Dive In
Mr. De La Garza is a veteran of courtroom fights over multimillion-dollar estates and high-stakes custody disputes. But his philosophy is to avoid unnecessary litigation through advance planning. We pick our battles to fight for what's truly important after we help you:
- Understand your rights and the timeline of divorce
- Discover what you have in terms of total joint assets
- Identify your goals for division of property and custody of children
- Understand how the court would rule or what the judge will approve
Preparing for Temporary Orders — A divorce is initiated when one party pays to have the spouse served with papers or convinces the other spouse to sign a Waiver of Petition. A hearing will be held as soon as three days later to establish temporary orders.
This hearing requires prompt consideration. Temporary orders will be in effect until the divorce is finalized, covering such matters as:
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support and interim spousal support
- Possession of the house, vehicles and other property
- Control of bank accounts and other financial assets
- Responsibility for paying certain bills
- No-contact orders and injunctions
We thoroughly prepare you for the hearing and the ramifications once a divorce is under way. Is the other spouse hiding money, assets or important papers? How do you break the news to the kids? Is there a prenuptial agreement and will it hold up in court? Is either spouse seeking to relocate the children?
Preparing for Divorce Proceedings — If you and your spouse agree on every detail of property division, children and financial support, uncontested divorce is an option. But for most couples, marital assets are too complex and intertwined to simply divide by two and go your separate ways.
There will be a formal discovery process to verify income and sort out marital property from separate property. If you have children, mediation may be required by the court. If we cannot reach an agreement on property or custody, a judge will make the call in contested hearings. We make sure you are well-informed and prepared to negotiate from a position of strength at every stage of proceedings.
Texas Divorce Asset Protection Lawyers
Divorce planning is ongoing. As events unfold, we work with you to adjust strategies so that you remain in control of the outcome to the extent possible. Contact our Houston divorce planning attorneys at 888-707-0064 or by e-mail to arrange your initial consultation.
