Lawyer in Houston
Your family’s future matters. When life’s circumstances change, you deserve a resolution that keeps your needs and peace of mind at the forefront. At Skillern Firm, our experienced family law attorneys in Houston guide clients through mediation with practical solutions and genuine care.
Call us at (832) 688-6606 to schedule your consultation with our Houston family law mediation lawyers.
Why Work with Our Mediation Experienced Family Lawyers in Houston?
Families trust our team for several key reasons:
- True Advocacy—Not Quick Fixes: We never treat divorce or mediation as a product. Instead, we support our clients through every stage, focusing on the people behind the process and helping you find the outcomes that best serve your interests.
- Proven Experience in Houston Family Law: Our lawyers know local Harris County courts and the nuances of mediation in the Houston area, which means we help you address every step with practical knowledge that fits local expectations.
- Honest, Clear Guidance: Our communication is straightforward and supportive, empowering you to make well-informed choices that shape your future.
- Respectful, Private Process: Mediation supports confidential conversations focused on your personal goals, helping minimize conflict while giving you more control over the results.
The Mediation Process: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Here is how our process works when you choose our mediation experienced family law attorney in Houston:
- Initial Consultation: We meet with you to discuss your family’s situation, answer questions, and explore how mediation could support your goals.
- Preparation & Gathering Information: Our team helps you collect the details and documents needed for open, productive discussions—so you feel ready and confident.
- Mediation Session(s): Both parties participate in discussions, each supported by legal counsel and a trained, neutral mediator. Houston mediators follow state and local guidelines, ensuring your sessions remain respectful and focused on finding solutions.
- Crafting Agreements: You create proposals, clarify details, and negotiate arrangements that fit your needs. Open dialogue helps you address concerns early so you can build comprehensive solutions.
- Documenting Outcomes: When you reach agreements, we help outline the proposed terms so both sides can review them and prepare for final court approval.
FAQs
How long does family law mediation usually take?
The timeline depends on the complexity of issues and both parties’ willingness to communicate honestly. Many mediations resolve in a single day, while some cases may take longer if there are multiple matters to discuss.
Is mediation mandatory in Houston family law cases?
Houston-area courts, including Harris County, often require mediation before a case will proceed to trial. Always confirm your requirements with your attorney based on current local rules.
Will everything discussed in mediation stay confidential?
Yes. Mediation sessions are private, and information shared cannot be used as court evidence if you do not reach agreement. This confidentiality allows honest discussion and encourages resolution.
Can we address all issues in mediation, like property and parenting?
Mediation can address all legal topics related to your family law case—property division, support, or parenting arrangements—if both parties agree to include them. This helps you craft solutions that truly reflect your circumstances.
What if we cannot reach agreement in mediation?
If some issues remain unresolved after mediation, you gain a clearer picture of your priorities and can move those matters forward for a judge to decide. Even partial agreements can simplify the next steps.
Contact Our Mediation Experienced Family Law Attorneys in Houston Today
Your decisions today shape the opportunities your family will have tomorrow. When you contact Skillern Firm, you receive attentive support, honest answers, and a team ready to help you move forward—on your terms. Our experienced family law attorneys bring years of local Houston experience, compassion, and guidance to every case.
Call us at (832) 688-6606 to schedule your consultation with our Houston mediation experienced family law attorneys.
Qualifying for Divorce in Fort Bend County, Texas
Before you file for divorce in Fort Bend County (also known as marriage dissolution), you need to determine whether you qualify. In accordance with the Texas Family Code, you or your spouse must have lived in Texas for at least six months. If you wish to file in Fort Bend County, then you must have lived in the County for at least 90 days. If you or your spouse is pregnant, then you will also be unable to finalize the divorce until after the child is born. However, you can still start the process during the pregnancy.
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Making the decision to file for divorce is a difficult and emotional process. Once it’s been made, you need to be able to move on with your life and look towards a bright future. While emotions are high, it is easy for your judgment to be clouded, and you might agree to things in an attempt to move things along without understanding the long-term ramifications. A divorce decree is a legally binding document, and it could have a big impact on the rest of your life. It is important that matters such as property division are carried out in a fair and just manner and that any matters involving children are made with their best interests at heart.
At Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers, your Fort Bend County divorce attorney has no emotional investment in your divorce case. That means they can guide you to make the right decisions from a place of clarity. They can also lend a sympathetic ear when you need it and without judgment. Your attorney will make sure that all paperwork is filled out correctly and filed on time. Any mistakes can cost time and money, and when you have guidance from an attorney, it will take away a lot of the stress. Your attorney can explain everything to you also that it’s easy to understand. That way, you can make informed decisions that protect your future.
Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers also prioritizes mediation and negotiation wherever possible. This has many benefits, including:
- Saves time and energy because you will require less court involvement.
- It protects children from conflict.
- It allows you and your spouse to come to personalized arrangements that work for you.
- It could help you, and your ex-spouse remain amicable, which can be beneficial if you have children.
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Once your paperwork has been filed and served, the next steps will depend on the type of divorce you are pursuing. In a contested divorce, the respondent will need to file an answer within 20 days. Otherwise, you could be granted your divorce by default. There may be issues that need to be worked out, such as those related to child custody and property division, and you should contact an attorney from Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers to guide you through the process and ensure that your rights are protected. Regardless of whether the divorce is contested or uncontested, once the respondent has filed an answer, spouses will need to exchange initial disclosures. Initial disclosures provide information and documents about each spouse’s property and other financial matters. They will need to submit this within 30 days unless there is a written agreement to extend the time.
You may also need to attend a hearing for temporary orders, which will guide you while you wait for your divorce to be finalized. Temporary orders may cover things such as child custody, who will live in the family home, and orders to prevent spouses from hiding, selling, or damaging marital property. Judges may also issue these orders independently if they think it is necessary. The judge will expect couples to try and use mediation to come to amicable decisions, but where this is not possible, they will step in. High-conflict or high-asset divorces may require many hearings to work through all the issues before the divorce can be finalized.
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Once you have filed for divorce in Fort Bend County, you will need to serve your spouse your divorce papers, including the petition, a notice of the divorce proceeding, a blank form for them to file their answer, and any other paperwork. There are two ways to do this:
SERVICE OF PROCESS
The most common way of serving your spouse is to have an authorized process server, constable, sheriff, or other authorized adults (with no interest in the divorce), personally deliver the documents. If this method has failed, then you may request to complete a personal service through other methods, such as email. If you still cannot find them, then you may request the judge’s permission for publication in a local newspaper.
WAIVER OF SERVICE
If you and your spouse agree to everything and you do not wish to go through the formal service process, then you can simply hand the documents to your spouse. Your spouse will then need to sign a waiver form in the presence of a notary.
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“Omg!! All I can say is Thank you, I can’t express how much I appreciate you guys! YOU SAVED OUR LIVES, and I will forever be grateful! I highly recommend hiring them, they will fight for you, the outcome was a success! My son and I have our freedom thanks to them!”- Stephanie B.
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“I had a divorce case involving a minor child, and choosing this law firm was the best decision I could have made. Attorney Amber Skillern was outstanding — professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive. Everything was handled quickly and precisely. She explained every step clearly and made a stressful situation feel manageable.”- Olena L.
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“Skillern Firm is the best attorneys in Houston. He genuinely cares about his clients and his firm is diligent, hardworking and very through. I highly recommend him and do not have enough words to thank him for his extraordinary performance in getting justice for my family.”- Fauzia S.
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“Skillern Firm was an outstanding law firm that guided me through my divorce petition from start to finish. Amber, my attorney, was a pleasure to work with. I truly appreciate her dedication and the effort she put into ensuring the process went as smoothly as possible.”- Luna O.
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“Matt's legal expertise and strategic approach were evident throughout the entire process. He took the time to listen to my concerns, addressing each one with patience and clarity. His ability to navigate the complexities of family law while being completely present and compassionate was truly remarkable. I felt supported every step of the way, which made a challenging time in my life much more manageable.”- Milana T.
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“My hired attorney is Alex. She’s phenomenal! I recommend her at any opportunity that I can. She is everything you would want in an attorney and it was so reassuring to have her support throughout this whole process. She’s worth every penny!”- Taylor T.
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“Not one detail missed and with the situation where my children were at risk, the extra care and attention made all the difference to get full judgement in my favor. I highly recommend Matt and his team!”- Tracy C.
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