Family Law Lawyer in Houston, Helping Clients Through Complex Legal Matters

No one enjoys having to go to court or deal with legal issues. While finding yourself in any legal matter can be stressful, family law concerns are particularly difficult. That’s because issues like divorce, child custody, domestic violence, and property division often involve intense emotions you wouldn’t find in other areas of the law. Unfortunately, this often leads to rash decisions made in an emotional state — and this rarely results in the best possible outcome. That’s why it’s ideal to seek out a family law lawyer in Houston if you’re facing these or similar problems.

At Von Dohlen Law Firm, our main focus is family law matters. We understand how complex these cases can be, and that’s why we try to simplify them as much as possible. You’d be surprised just how much control you give up when letting a judge decide such issues, so we often try to reach a resolution that works for everyone involved. Of course, sometimes this may be difficult or even impossible. In those cases, we can advise you on the best way to move forward. Regardless of the family law matter you’re facing, our law office is ready to help. Contact us today to learn more.

What Issues Can Family Law Attorneys Help With?

Family law attorneys are skilled in a variety of legal areas. People often only consider divorce along with child support and custody issues as part of family law, but it’s actually far more complex. In reality, this legal specialty covers marriage, adoption, domestic violence, child custody, reproductive rights, and any other matter having to do with familial or romantic relationships. While some family law attorneys will focus entirely on certain areas — most frequently divorce matters — many others are experienced in handling a multitude of case types. For instance, we provide legal representation in all the following cases at Von Dohlen Law Firm:

• Divorce
• Family Law
• Child Support
• Child Custody
• Property Division
• Alimony
• Divorce Mediation
• Business Owner Divorce
• Paternity
• Visitation
• Enforcements & Modifications
• Postnuptial Agreements
• Domestic Violence

Clearly, not every family law practice is the same. At Von Dohlen Law Firm, our goal is to help you deal with all your legal issues in one place. Working with multiple family law lawyers in Houston is simply too time-consuming and costly, so find someone who can handle everything for you. Whether you’re seeking sole custody, considering a civil trial over adultery, looking for the best outcome in property division, or merely want your divorce to be as uncomplicated as possible, our law office is ready to help. Contact us today to learn more.

How Does Child Custody in Texas Work?

Texas law uses unique terms when it comes to child custody, but this doesn’t make them any less simple to understand. For instance, Texas uses the term “conservatorship” whereas other states use “legal custody.” Similarly, the Lone Star State uses the term “possession and access” rather than “physical custody.” In most situations, a Texas court will try to give both parents equal rights when it comes to legal custody. This means important parental decisions — such as education, religious upbringing, healthcare decisions, and more — are shared among both parents.

When it comes to conservatorship, however, Texas courts typically don’t view an equal share of physical custody as in the best interest of the child. The law dictates that a child is best suited to have one place they call home. This will usually result in a standard possession order that names one parent as the primary joint managing conservator. This individual will choose the primary residence of the child, so they typically end up with primary physical custody as well. Of course, none of this is set in stone. Every child custody case is unique, and a judge will make their decision based on the needs of the child.

This can make even joint custody arrangements complex, but if you can reach an agreement prior to going to court, you may avoid letting a judge make these important decisions. This is true for custody modifications as well, but if you’re seeking such a modification without the other parent’s consent, you’ll typically need to stand before a judge to do so. Custody issues can be decided as part of a divorce decree or occur where no marital relationship exists at all. Regardless of your unique situation, we can provide legal assistance to make sure the best possible outcome is reached.

Do You Need an Experienced Family Law Attorney?

When a person sets out to find family law representation, they often ask themselves whether they need an attorney at all. After all, Texas doesn’t require a person to hire a lawyer for any legal matter. And since you can find do-it-yourself legal websites for everything from personal injury to intellectual property law, shouldn’t you be able to handle important legal matters without the help of a family law firm? In a perfect world, this certainly would be the case. However, the real world is much more complicated and requires a strict understanding of family law in Texas.

Imagine for a second that you have the easiest divorce case in history. You and your soon-to-be-former spouse agree on absolutely everything, and there’s nothing for the two of you to argue over during divorce proceedings. While such an occurrence is exceedingly rare, it’s still wise to consult with Houston family attorneys prior to moving forward. That’s because Texas law is very strict regarding how marital dissolution must play out. Just one mistake can make a judge deny your divorce decree. There are even simple errors that can nullify prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. If you encounter such a mistake, your “simple divorce” will be anything but.

Of course, it’s rare for any family law case to be this straightforward. There’s typically at least one issue that former partners disagree over during a divorce, and when children are involved or physical abuse has occurred, things can become far more complicated. To put it simply, you should at least consider scheduling a consultation for any case that involves familial issues. Whether you’re simply looking to understand your legal rights or are ready to finalize an agreement with a former partner, we can help. Von Dohlen Law Firm can even assist with mediation between you and the other party. If you want to simplify your legal matter, you need a family law lawyer in Houston with the legal experience of Robert Von Dohlen.

Contact a Family Law Attorney in Houston Today

Child support, divorce, and other family law cases can cause significant disruption to your life. Even uncontested divorce cases — which are easily the simplest approach to marital dissolution — can be difficult if you don’t have a full understanding of the law. It’s even possible that you could spend months reaching an agreement with your former partner only to have the agreement deemed invalid by a judge. This is why securing the services of Houston family lawyers is a wise approach even if you think your divorce proceedings should be simple. These legal professionals can assist with other areas of family law as well.

At Von Dohlen Law Firm, you’ll work with a local family law attorney who understands the intricacies of Houston laws and Texas courts. Our goal is to simplify family law issues as much as possible so you can get back to some semblance of a normal life. If you find yourself in need of an attorney, you’re no doubt going through big changes. Fortunately, we can help you ease into this new reality and take on the oftentimes overwhelming burdens that so many people face. Contact us today by calling 713-844-8396 to schedule a consultation with an experienced family law lawyer in Houston. We’re ready to help you through this complicated time.