Types of Family Court Cases We Handle in Cinco Ranch
Cinco Ranch is well-known for its family-focused community and has a high percentage of households with children. This means that custody arrangements and parenting plans are among the most common family law matters. Divorces often involve real estate and other complex asset division due to affluence and high property values. Many residents own their own business, as well, leading to an increased rate of prenuptial agreements.
Some family court cases are standalone legal issues, while some are multifaceted. For example, you might face a child custody dispute, or you may need to resolve custody as an element of your divorce. Whatever your case entails, you need an attorney with proven experience handling cases like yours. At Skillern Firm, Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers, we provide compassionate and results-driven legal counsel for a wide range of family court cases.
Divorce
The legal process of ending a marriage requires covering multiple issues, such as property division and child custody, if the divorcing spouses have children together. Whether you are planning to file for divorce in Cinco Ranch or not, you must respond to your spouse’s divorce petition, Skillern Firm, Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers can help you make informed decisions about each aspect of your case, gather the documentation you will need to complete the process, and explain the timeline you can expect for finalizing your divorce.
Most divorce cases in Cinco Ranch start as contested divorces, meaning the couple does not agree on all aspects of their divorce. Their case proceedings aim to resolve these issues item by item. Skillern Firm, Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers can explain your options for resolving your divorce, identify your greatest areas of concern, and provide ongoing support through every stage of your case.
Property Division
In every divorce in Cinco Ranch, marital property must be divided between the spouses according to the community property standard. This means that all of the couple’s property acquired during their marriage will be subject to division, but each spouse does have the right to retain ownership of certain types of separate property with supporting evidence of that separate property.
Separate property can include things a spouse owned prior to marriage, gifts given only to them, and inheritance left only to them. Marital property subject to division typically includes all income and assets obtained by either spouse during their marriage, and this also applies to debts.
Your Cinco Ranch family law attorney can help you complete the financial disclosure process, ensuring all of your financial records are accurate. If any disputes regarding property ownership or liability for certain debts arise, your legal representative can be ready to address these issues for you.
High-Net-Worth Divorce
Resolving property ownership disputes in divorce can be challenging, and this is especially true for high-net-worth couples. You may control retirement accounts, business interests, valuable real estate, and other complex investments that may seem difficult to untangle for the purposes of property division.
Trust the team at Skillern Firm, Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers to protect your financial interests and do everything we can to ensure this aspect of your divorce unfolds as smoothly as possible. We have a deep understanding of complex financial issues that often arise during high-net-worth divorce cases. We can address your specific financial concerns and help you safeguard your future, protect your investments, and do everything we can to help you reach the fairest results possible.
Spousal Support
When one spouse earns more income than the other, or if one spouse has been financially dependent on the other for a long time, it is possible for spousal support to come into play in their divorce. The attorneys at Skillern Firm, Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers can explain the law surrounding this type of support including the requirements of eligibility and the factors in determining the nature, amount, duration, and manner of such support.
Child Custody Determination
When parents divorce or when unwed parents decide to no longer raise their child together, a child custody order becomes a necessity. This family court order will dictate each parent’s rights and responsibilities, assigning legal custody and, physical custody for their child. Legal custody is the ability to make decisions for a child, while physical custody determines where the child lives and how much time they spend with each parent.
The Cinco Ranch family court will evaluate multiple factors in their child custody determination. The Judge overseeing this case will look at each parent’s criminal record, income, work schedule, living arrangements, and the bond they have with their child. If the child is old enough to convey their preferences to the Judge, it is likely to play a significant role in the custody determination.
The court has a duty to rule in support of the child’s best interests, and it is common for Judges in the Cinco Ranch Family Court to seek joint managing conservatorships that allow a child access to both parents. It is possible for parents to share legal custody and for the Judge to arrange shared physical custody based on the child’s schedule and each parent’s availability. The arrangements can be modified over time.
Because navigating a child custody case can be challenging, Skillern Firm, Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers helps families connect with local organizations for non-legal support as well. For instance, Katy Christian Ministries offers family counseling and parenting programs, including emergency assistance, and Cinco Ranch Moms Group is a community group in the area offering support and connection for parents.
Family Court Order Modification and Enforcement
Family law cases in Cinco Ranch are generally handled through the Fort Bend County Family Courts located at 1422 Eugene Heimann Cir, Richmond, Tx 77469.
It is possible to petition the family court to modify a standing family court order if you have recently experienced life events that directly impact the order. For example, a medical emergency, change in your child’s medical needs, loss of a job, or other unpredictable events could render your current order untenable. The Modification process is an avenue through which you can request reasonable and necessary changes to your family court order.
A Cinco Ranch family law attorney at Skillern Firm, Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers can help you file your petition or respond to another party’s petition. The court will set a hearing to review a modification request, and all parties involved will have the opportunity to produce evidence and testimony regarding such. It is possible for the Modification to be approved without contest or, it may become a hotly contested issue.
It is also possible to petition the family court to enforce a family court order when another party has failed or refused to meet their responsibilities. It is important to follow the terms of your family court order as closely as possible; otherwise, it is possible to face contempt of court or even criminal penalties.
Our attorneys are well-versed in local court procedures, including mediation requirements for custody and property disputes, and can guide you through the Modification or Enforcement process to ensure your rights are protected.
