Houston Divorce
ATTORNEYS
There is no question that divorce is a stressful life event. Whether your divorce process is likely to be amicable, contentious, or will inhabit a middle ground, the legal, financial, emotional, and practical stresses that you’re facing if you and your spouse are going your separate ways are real.
At Edward Law Group, our Houston divorce attorneys have extensive experience assisting individuals who are navigating the processes of legal separation and divorce.
We regularly represent the interests of those whose divorces are surprisingly straightforward, unusually complex, and every shade of grey between these two circumstantial extremes.
Whatever challenges your divorce process is likely to embody, our team will do our utmost to secure you a favorable outcome while taking a great deal of the stress that you’re carrying off of your shoulders.
If you’ve either decided to divorce or you’re thinking about filing, connect with Edward Law Group in Houston proactively. Our dedicated attorneys are ready to provide you with an objective assessment of your options and compassionate yet aggressive representation of your interests.
Divorce is a stressful life transition but it is also one that has the power to set the stage for a healthy, bright, and financially stable future. To learn more about your legal options and our firm’s approach to representation, schedule a confidential case evaluation with Edward Law Group today.
The Benefits of Working with a Divorce Attorney from
Edward Law Group
You may be wondering, “Do I need a lawyer to get a divorce?” This is a legitimate question, as you don’t necessarily need to consult a lawyer for every legal issue that you’ll face in life.
There are times when it makes sense to “DIY” your approach to a specific low-stakes circumstance in order to save some money.
However, a do-it-yourself approach to divorce isn’t advisable.
Even if you haven’t been married long, have not acquired much marital property, and don’t share children, the stakes of your divorce process are too high to risk a misstep.
Additionally, the complexities of the legal side of divorce are such that having an experienced divorce lawyer on your side will help you to reach a favorable outcome while incurring as little stress as possible.
Working with a lawyer from Edward Law Group can benefit you and your case in a number of ways. Our firm’s Houston divorce attorneys can do the following on your behalf:
- Objectively assess your legal case – Divorce is an emotional process. Presenting you with our objective evaluation of your legal situation will help you to make informed decisions that are forward-looking and not primarily influenced by emotions inspired by the moment at hand.
- Advise you on an approach that will fit your needs – Some divorces are contentious and need to be litigated in court. Other divorce processes can be navigated successfully via mediation and/or attorney-led negotiation. We can help you understand why each approach may or may not fit your unique needs, goals, and priorities.
- Execute a solid legal strategy on your behalf – Our firm has extensive experience with divorce cases of all kinds and varying degrees of complexity. We understand how to advocate efficiently and effectively on a client’s behalf while ensuring that all necessary paperwork is completed and filed without unnecessary delay.
Pursue child custody and support matters in your child’s best interests – If you share minor children with your spouse, the court will evaluate any disputes you may have concerning custody according to the “best interests of the child” standard. We can craft a child custody position that embraces that priority from the start.
How to Get a Divorce in
Texas
The Houston law firm of Edward Law Group is proud to represent Texans as they navigate family law challenges. The Texas divorce process allows for both fault-based divorce cases and no-fault divorce cases. Most divorces in Texas are no-fault filings. An individual wishing to file for divorce on a fault basis must allege that they are divorcing their spouse due to one of the fault-based categorizations allowed under Texas law:
- Abandonment by a spouse for at least one year
- Adultery
- Cruelty
- Felony Conviction
- Insanity of a spouse who has been confined for at least three years
There are two primary kinds of divorce that a couple can pursue in Texas, regardless of whether the divorce is fault-based or no-fault:
- Agreed divorce – When spouses can come to an agreement on the terms of their divorce without judicial intervention, that process doesn’t require litigation. Some spouses come to an agreement on their own and have our firm finalize and file the details of that agreement. Others benefit from mediation or attorney-led negotiation strategies before a formal agreement is drawn up. This process is often referred to as an “uncontested” or a “collaborative” divorce approach in states other than Texas.
- Contested divorce – When spouses cannot settle fundamental differences about property division and/or child custody matters, they must litigate their disagreements. In these cases, a judge rules in favor of one party’s argument or another’s. This approach is generally best for individuals who are determined to fight for a specific outcome and believe that the risk a judge might rule in their spouse’s favor is a risk worth taking.
Our experienced attorneys can help you to weigh the pros and cons of the options provided to you by law. No two divorce cases unfold under the exact same circumstances. The categorization and approach used by loved ones and colleagues during their divorce processes may or may not be the best way for you to move forward. We’ll present you with an objective analysis of your situation so that you can make informed choices with confidence.
Dividing Marital Property in Texas
In addition to assisting you with any child custody and child support challenges that you may be facing, our dedicated team can build a strong property division strategy on your behalf. Divorce procedure in Texas requires spouses to divide their assets according to a “community property” approach. This means that if property or an asset (either tangible or intangible) was acquired during the marriage, it is to be treated as equally owned by both spouses. There are two notable exceptions to community property acquired during a marriage. These exceptions can be treated as separate property in the event of divorce:
- Gifts or inheritance directed to one spouse alone
- Compensation received as recovery for legally recognized personal injuries
Texas law requires that community property must be divided equitably in the event of divorce. In legal terms, “equitable” and “equal” do not mean the same thing. In states where marital property must be divided equally, each spouse must be awarded 50 percent of the value of all community assets. In Texas and other equitable distribution states, marital property doesn’t have to be divided according to a 50-50 accounting. Marital assets may be divided according to a different ratio, provided that any distribution scheme is “fair.”
This is one of the many reasons why it is important to have an experienced attorney on your side when divorcing in Texas. If you have any disagreements about how to divide your property or construct a workable co-parenting agreement, you’ll want to benefit from a lawyer’s experience with matters just like yours in order to achieve the most favorable outcome possible under the circumstances.
Schedule a Consultation With Our
Houston Divorce Attorneys Today
Edward Law Group’s team of experienced Houston family divorce lawyers can execute a solid divorce strategy on your behalf so that you can focus on building a healthy, financially stable future for yourself. Divorce is a stressful life transition but our team of compassionate, knowledgeable attorneys can lessen that burden and help you to set the stage for a brighter tomorrow. Connect with us today to schedule a confidential, risk-free divorce consultation. We look forward to speaking with you.