HOUSTON DIVORCE PLANNING LAWYERS
If you have made the decision to end your marriage, there are many important items to consider in order to protect your interests well before the divorce petition is filed. 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 has been served with divorce papers, it is even more important to seek counsel and take action right away. We can step in quickly to turn you around from reacting on the defensive to taking proactive steps to protect your and your children’s rights beginning immediately.
Sophisticated Counsel Before You Dive In
Our legal team has more than 80 years of combined experience. We 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.
Our attorneys have handled courtroom fights over multimillion-dollar estates and high-stakes custody disputes. But our philosophy is to avoid unnecessary litigation through advance planning. We pick our battles to fight for what’s truly important as we simultaneously work with you to:
- 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 lawsuit is initiated when one person files the divorce action and either serves his or her spouse with notice of the suit or provides a document entitled a Waiver of Service. A hearing to establish temporary orders may be held as soon as three days after the responding spouse is served with the suit.
This hearing requires prompt consideration. Temporary orders will most likely 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. Mediation will most likely be required by the court. If we cannot reach an agreement on property or custody, a judge will make the call after a contested hearing. We make it our regular business to arm you with the knowledge necessary to keep you well-informed. Knowledge is power.
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 maximum extent possible. Contact our Houston divorce planning attorneys at (281) 486-7007 or by email to arrange your initial consultation.