New Braunfels Family Law Attorney

Knowledgeable Family Law Attorney Guiding Clients Through Complex Family Matters in New Braunfels, TX

Family relationships are some of the most important parts of people's lives. Changes to these relationships can affect people in many ways, and in some situations, steps may need to be taken to address legal and financial concerns that may affect a married couple or parents who share children. Family law cases can affect the amount of time parents will spend with their children, ownership of a family's home, how ongoing expenses will be paid, whether a person will be able to maintain long-term financial security, and much more.

When addressing these concerns, legal representation from an experienced attorney is essential. The lawyer at Hill Family Law, PLLC provides legal help for clients in family law cases in New Braunfels and the surrounding communities. He has years of experience representing clients in Texas family courts, a solid grasp of the laws that govern marriage and parenting, and the ability to negotiate settlements or argue cases at trial. His representation blends compassion with practical results, ensuring that clients can take the right steps to achieve their goals.

Divorce

When a couple chooses to end their marriage, they will need to resolve a variety of issues before their divorce can be finalized. In some cases, a couple may be able to negotiate a settlement and complete an uncontested divorce, while in others, disagreements over key points may lead to a contested divorce, and a divorce trial may need to be held.

Property Division

Most assets and debts acquired by a couple during their marriage will belong to both spouses, and they must be divided in a way that is considered to be fair. Property either spouse owned before the marriage, along with gifts and inheritances spouses receive during their marriage, will generally be considered separate property that will not be divided. Disputes related to property division may involve real estate property, retirement accounts, businesses, vehicles, investments, or items with sentimental value. Our attorney can help clients negotiate property settlements that will meet their needs.

Spousal Maintenance

Depending on a couple's circumstances, ongoing support paid by one spouse to the other may be appropriate. Courts will only award spousal maintenance in specific circumstances. One ground requires a marriage of 10 years or longer and a requesting spouse who lacks the ability to earn enough to meet minimum reasonable needs. However, a couple may agree on contractual alimony as part of their divorce settlement. Our lawyer can help clients determine their rights regarding alimony and achieve an outcome that will meet their needs.

Child Custody

In a divorce or a case where unmarried parents have separated, family courts will often take steps to ensure that children will have regular contact with both parents, and they will encourage parents to share the duties involved in raising their children. Child custody orders may address conservatorship, which will determine who will have the right to make major decisions about issues such as education and medical care. They will also address possession and access, which will determine when children will live with each parent. Our attorney works with clients to put effective child custody orders in place that will protect children's best interests.

Child Support

Parents are generally required to provide financial support until a child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later. Support for a disabled child may continue indefinitely. Child support is calculated using guidelines that apply a percentage to the paying parent's net resources based on the number of children. Parents may also be required to contribute to medical and dental costs and other expenses. Our lawyer can help parents establish child support orders, request changes after a job loss or other significant changes, and collect support that has gone unpaid.

Protecting Parents' Rights

Parents will generally have the right to make decisions about their children's upbringing, and they will also have the duty to provide for children's ongoing needs. A person may need to take steps to protect their parental rights in family court. Hill Family Law, PLLC can help fathers and mothers protect their rights by:

• Putting Enforceable Schedules in Place: Our attorney can help parents obtain court orders that will clearly define each parent's responsibilities while providing schedules for possession and access that can be enforced.
• Presenting Evidence of Involvement: Our lawyer can gather records and testimony that show that a parent has had a continuing role in a child's daily life and deserves to remain in that role going forward.
• Enforcing Existing Orders: When a child custody order has been violated, our attorney can pursue makeup time with children or take steps to hold a parent in contempt while enforcing the court's orders.

Paternity

When parents are not married, a father will not have legal rights to his child until paternity is established. Parents can sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity, or either parent can ask the court to determine paternity. Our lawyer can provide guidance to parents on when paternity may need to be established while helping them understand the best methods for doing so. He can seek appropriate child custody and child support orders and address a child's potential access to benefits through their father.

Family Law Appeals

When a judge makes a legal mistake in a divorce or child custody case, a person may be able to ask a court of appeals to review the decision. Common grounds for appeals in family law cases include errors related to separate or community property during a divorce, miscalculating child support, or applying the wrong legal standards when making decisions about child custody. Our attorney can explain the appellate process and prepare filings according to applicable deadlines and procedural requirements.

Contact Our New Braunfels, TX Family Law Attorney

Whether you are ending your marriage, working to put a child custody agreement in place, or need to enforce orders issued by a family court, Hill Family Law, PLLC can provide the legal help you need during your case. Our lawyer will advocate on your behalf and help you determine the best steps to take to achieve the outcome you are looking for. Contact our New Braunfels, Texas family law firm at 830-229-2129 to schedule your free consultation.