Willis Divorce Attorney

Willis Divorce Lawyer Serving Texas

Ending a marriage is an extremely difficult and personal decision. Not only does it bring major upheaval to the lives of both spouses and their children, but it also requires them to go through a legal process that can often be complicated and stressful. The outcome of the divorce process will also likely affect all of the parties involved for many years to come. With this in mind, if you are planning for a divorce, it is crucial that you understand what to expect and how you can protect your interests.

At The Bihm Firm, PLLC, we have represented clients in divorce cases for many years, and we have experience with nearly every issue you are likely to encounter. Whether your divorce is amicable or contested, and no matter your background or life situation, we can work with you to negotiate or litigate a divorce resolution that meets your needs. We strive to get to know you and understand your story so we can take a personal approach to your case.

The Texas Divorce Process

The first official step in the divorce process is to file a suit for divorce with a Texas family court. In order to do so, you or your spouse must have resided or been stationed for military service in Texas for at least the previous six months, and you must file in the county where one or both of you has lived for the last 90 days.

In your suit, you will need to identify the grounds upon which you are filing for divorce. Texas law allows for no-fault divorces on the grounds of insupportability, meaning that the marriage has deteriorated beyond the point of reconciliation. You can also choose to file for a fault-based divorce on grounds including adultery, cruelty, and abandonment. In these cases, the court may consider a spouse's fault when deciding on the terms of the divorce resolution.

After one spouse files for divorce, the other spouse will have the opportunity to respond. From that point, you may be able to resolve your divorce through a number of different methods. For example, you could choose to pursue an agreed or uncontested divorce through an informal settlement conference with the guidance of your attorney, or you could pursue an alternative dispute resolution method like mediation or arbitration. If your divorce is contested or you are dealing with serious issues like domestic abuse or financial dishonesty, you should prepare for litigation in court, in which both you and your spouse will have the opportunity to testify and present evidence before a judge.

Issues to Address in Your Waller County Divorce

Whichever resolution method you choose to pursue, you will need to address all or some of the following issues:

• Property division - Texas is a community property state, meaning that most forms of property and assets acquired during your marriage, including your retirement savings, are subject to fair division when you and your spouse divorce.
• Child custody - Parents of minor children will need to work out a custody arrangement as part of the divorce, addressing things like decision-making authority, visitation time, and the child's primary residence. If the parents cannot agree, the court will decide.
• Child support - The non-custodial parent in a Texas divorce will typically be ordered to contribute a portion of their monthly income to the other parent to provide for their children's needs.
• Pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements - If you entered into a legal agreement either before getting married or during your marriage, the terms of the agreement may decide how various issues will be handled during the divorce process. An agreement may dictate how certain assets will be divided or whether spousal maintenance will be paid.

We can help you understand all of the factors that influence each of these aspects of the divorce process and make a plan to address them in your divorce. We also help with cases involving a variety of complicating factors, including high-asset divorces, business owner divorces, military divorces, and same-sex divorces.

Contact a Skilled Family Lawyer at Our Firm Today

For compassionate, experienced legal representation in your Texas divorce case, contact our office. Call us today at 936-788-6100 and request a free initial consultation. We represent clients in Montgomery County, Walker County, Waller County, Liberty County, and the surrounding communities.