San Marcos Family Law Attorney

Reliable Family Law Attorney Representing Clients in San Marcos, TX

Family law cases deal with some of the most personal issues that can affect people and families, including their marriages, their children, and their homes. Whether an unmarried couple has children together, a long-married couple has decided to end their marriage, or a parent believes changes should be made to existing family court orders, taking the right steps to address these issues can help protect the interests of all family members who may be involved. Because the decisions made in family court can affect a family's relationships and finances for many years, legal help can be crucial in these situations.

San Marcos, Texas attorney, Matthew J. Hill, assists families as they address family law concerns. He has helped many parents and spouses resolve family disputes, and he knows how to protect clients' rights and take steps to achieve their goals. He provides compassionate support in difficult situations while focusing on resolving matters effectively.

How Can Parents Protect Their Rights in Custody Cases?

When addressing concerns related to child custody, parents will need to make important decisions about how they will work together to raise their children. As they address issues related to conservatorship while creating schedules for possession and access, they may need to take steps to protect their parental rights.

Our attorney can help address concerns related to parental rights, including in situations where grandparents, stepparents, or others may request visitation or question a parent's fitness. He will advise clients on the best steps they can take to maintain custody of their children while resolving disputes with extended family members or other caregivers.

Building a Clear Record of Parental Involvement

When making decisions about child custody, family court judges may review multiple types of evidence. Records showing which parent has attended school events, managed children's medical care, and handled daily routines can play a role in the outcome of a case. Our lawyer can work with a parent to show that they have had an ongoing pattern of involvement in their children's lives and advocate for solutions that will allow them to maintain the same level of involvement in the future.

Responding to Proposed Relocations

When one parent wants to move to Houston, Dallas, another part of Texas, or another state, this could disrupt the other parent's relationship with their children. Child custody orders may include geographic restrictions that limit the child's primary residence, usually to a county and the counties contiguous to it; they do not restrict where a parent lives. Our attorney can work with parents to enforce these terms and avoid issues that could limit their ability to spend time with their children. He can also assist parents in requesting permission to move and show that doing so would be in the best interest of children.

Establishing Paternity

When a child's parents are unmarried, the father may not have a recognized legal relationship with the child. If parents end their relationship or do not live together, the father may be unable to enforce his child custody rights. In these cases, paternity will need to be established. A signed acknowledgment of paternity may be an option, or a parent may seek a court order to recognize a man as a child's father.

If paternity is disputed, a court may order genetic testing. Genetic testing supplies evidence of paternity; a court order adjudicating parentage establishes the legal relationship between the father and child. The court can then issue orders addressing conservatorship, possession and access, and financial support. Establishing paternity will also provide a child with important benefits, such as access to the father's health insurance, inheritance rights, and Social Security or veterans' benefits.

Child Support

Family law cases involving children will usually require one parent to make child support payments. The amount of child support is calculated using percentages, meaning that a parent will be required to pay a percentage of their net resources to the other parent. Our lawyer can help parents calculate child support correctly, including addressing expenses such as medical costs and child care. He can also help parents modify child support based on income changes or other factors, and he can work with parents to enforce child support and collect payments that are owed.

Other Family Court Matters

Our attorney can assist with a wide range of family law cases, including:

• Divorce: Our lawyer works with clients to negotiate divorce settlements or resolve contested matters in court. He can help address property division, debt division, spousal maintenance, and unique concerns related to high-asset divorce.
• Modifications: A custody or support order may be modified after a material and substantial change in circumstances since the prior order when the requested change meets the applicable legal standard. Our attorney can help clients file modification requests with the court.
• Enforcement: Our lawyer can help address unpaid support, denied visitation time, or other violations of court orders.

Why a Family Court Decision May Be Appealed

A trial court ruling can be challenged through an appeal when a judge made a legal error that affected the outcome of a case. An appeal may be appropriate when a judge applied the wrong law, admitted or excluded evidence improperly, or denied a party a fair opportunity to present their case. Appeals may also address decisions that were not supported by evidence. Courts may base support on earning potential when a parent is intentionally unemployed or underemployed. Our attorney can help clients determine when appeals may be possible and pursue available steps to address errors that occurred during a case.

Contact Our San Marcos, TX Family Law Attorney

To minimize stress and uncertainty during a family law case, get support from a skilled lawyer. At Hill Family Law, PLLC, our attorney can help you protect your relationship with your child, establish paternity when necessary, seek financial support, or take steps to end your marriage. With his guidance, you can make informed decisions about how to address and resolve your case. Contact our San Marcos, Texas family law attorney at 830-229-2129 to arrange a free consultation.