When it’s time to end a relationship with the other parent, determining child custody is a significant concern. Your first step in filing for custody is to contact a child custody lawyer serving Spring, TX. Such family law attorneys will have an in-depth knowledge of child custody proceedings. He or she will ensure that the forms are filled out properly and filed with the appropriate court to prevent unnecessary delays in your case. A child custody attorney will also guide you through the mediation process, which is often mandatory.

To hear more about working with a family law attorney, watch this brief video. This expert explains that family law varies from state to state. He also urges viewers to get in touch with an attorney for personalized legal guidance.

After a death, matters pertaining to the decedent’s debts and assets are resolved through the probate process. In many cases, probate is straightforward and is easily settled. However, sometimes probate litigation may be necessary to resolve claims. It’s always a good idea to retain the services of a lawyer when dealing with probate court in Conroe, TX. A probate lawyer can help you in the event that probate litigation is needed, such as if you believe it necessary to authenticate a will. Your lawyer might contest a will if you believe that the document was not drafted properly or the signature may not be valid.

It’s not uncommon for the terms of a decedent’s will to become a source of disagreement among the heirs. You’ll need the services of a skilled probate attorney in the event that you need to dispute the will or if another heir has disputed the will. Another reason why probate litigation may be necessary is if a loved one dies intestate (without a last will and testament). In these cases, an attorney can facilitate the process of determining the rightful heirs.

Many people hesitate to discuss estate planning because the subject is inevitably tied to death. Although estate planning may be an uncomfortable topic of discussion, it is quite often a necessary one. You may prefer to wait to discuss these matters with your family until after you have met with a lawyer and drafted your will. If you feel that a discussion about estate planning will turn into a contentious argument among family members, you could even request that your lawyer be present to serve as a neutral third party and answer legal questions.

Determine Your Priorities
Before you meet with the will attorney, write a list of your priorities. Remember that the assets you leave behind should ideally serve to accomplish your goals, rather than to reward deserving loved ones. For example, you might prioritize the care of an ill or disabled family member, the support of a favorite charity, or the education of grandchildren. Determining your priorities will help you when drafting the will and when discussing it with your family members.

Decide How Much Information You Wish to Disclose
Ahead of the discussion, determine how much information you’re comfortable sharing with your family. Some people prefer to say very little, informing their heirs only that they’ve drafted a will and that they believe that the will allows for a fair and equal distribution of wealth. Other individuals feel that providing detailed information about which heir will receive which asset will prevent future arguments.

Explaining Unequal Distributions
If your will is going to distribute more assets to one heir than to another, you may wish to explain your reasoning. For example, you may have two children, one of whom is a geologist with a lucrative salary and the other is a childcare worker with only a modest wage. You may prefer to leave more than half of your wealth to the latter child. If so, you could explain to your children that this does not reflect favoritism, but rather addresses a real financial need.

Consider Disclosing Information After Your Passing
If you feel uncomfortable explaining the terms of your will to your family, you could write separate letters to your heirs or one letter addressed to all of them. Yes, even the videotaped lecture is not uncommon. These procedures allow you to explain your reasoning in a manner which is separate from the will. Keep sealed letters of explanation with the will.

When you hire a child custody attorney near Spring, TX, he or she will advise you of what to expect from all stages of the legal process. If you and the other parent cannot come to an agreement regarding child custody , then you may need to attend an evidentiary hearing. During this hearing, your family law attorney will represent you. Nevertheless, you and the other parent will have to testify under oath. While you are under oath, the other parent’s family law attorney will ask you questions, which you are required by law to answer truthfully. Just remember, in a court proceeding, if you do not remember something or do not know the answer to a question, you should say so.

To hear more about the role of the evidentiary hearing in family law, watch this video and consult your child custody lawyer. This expert discusses which other individuals may be questioned under oath at the hearing, such as a minor child. Additionally, certain experts may be called to testify.

Probate is the process of recognizing a death and validating a will for the purpose of administering the decedent’s estate. A decedent’s estate will go through probate regardless of whether an individual had a legal will or died intestate (without a will). After a loved one passes, hiring a probate lawyer can be immensely helpful. A probate attorney in The Woodlands can ensure that the requirements of the Texas Probate Code are met and that probate proceeds as efficiently as possible. The lawyer can also help the family understand what to expect from each step of the probate process.

Waiting Period
The first step your lawyer will take in most probate cases is to file the application and the original of the will at the courthouse. Then, there is a mandatory waiting period, which begins once the application is filed.

Probate Hearing
After the waiting period, the court may schedule a probate hearing or your attorney may schedule it. Probate hearings are usually held in the courtroom, however, sometimes they take place in the judge’s office. At the probate hearing, the judge will recognize the death of the decedent, determine that the court has jurisdiction, determine that the executor is qualified, and recognize the validity of the will . The lawyer states certain facts about the decedent to a witness, who is then required to confirm the truth of the facts. Thereafter, the judge may issue an order that admits the will to probate.

Estate Administration
After the probate hearing, the executor begins administering the estate. He or she must sign an Oath, which is a legal document verifying the executor’s intent to fulfill all necessary duties required by law and the will. Next, the executor usually orders Letters Testamentary. These “Letters” provide the executor with the authority necessary to administer the estate, such as the power to close bank accounts and sell property. The executor must also publicize information about the estate to potential creditors, provide each beneficiary with a copy of the will, and file various documents with the court. These documents typically include an inventory of probate assets, the decedent’s final income tax return, and a document that confirms the publication of notice to the creditors. Finally, the executor will resolve debts and distribute assets.

Generally, the process of divorce is similar across the country. However, each state sets its own specific family laws . So, if you’re a resident of Texas contemplating divorce, it’s in your best interests to consult a family law attorney serving The Woodlands as soon as possible. Your lawyer can advise you of the applicable laws, explain the steps of the process, and help you in protecting your legal rights.

How Long Does the Divorce Process Take?
If you’ve recently moved to Texas or to a new county in Texas, the divorce process can take a little longer than usual. As your divorce lawyer can inform you, Texas has a residency requirement. You or your spouse must have been a resident of the state for six continuous months. Additionally, one of you must have been a resident of the county in which the divorce papers will be filed for a minimum of 90 days. After the lawyer files the divorce petition, the divorce cannot be finalized for at least 60 days. However, if there are disagreements it may take longer to finalize a divorce.

What Are the Grounds for Divorce?
Like almost all other states, in Texas, you can file for either a no fault divorce or a fault-based divorce. If you can prove that your spouse is to blame for the breakdown of the marriage, it may be in your best interests to file for a fault-based divorce. This is because the judge may consider the fault of the other spouse when determining questions such as the division of marital assets. The grounds for a fault-based divorce include adultery, abandonment, cruel treatment, long-term incarceration, long-term confinement to a mental hospital, and separate residency of at least three years.

Can I Receive Spousal Support?
Spousal support isn’t alimony, and it isn’t automatically granted. However, your divorce lawyer can argue that you should receive spousal support payments. In many divorce cases, a judge may grant temporary spousal support while the divorce is pending if you are unemployed or have significantly lower wages than your spouse. Depending on whether the conditions are met, it is possible for spousal maintenance payments (or alimony) to be ordered paid for up to three years after divorce.

If you’re like most people, the first step in filing for divorce is meeting with a family law attorney in The Woodlands . Though every law firm is different, you should always expect to feel comfortable working with your divorce attorney. To ensure your attorney will help you feel comfortable, there are certain factors to look for in your first meeting with a potential divorce lawyer.

Experience in divorce law
Before you actually hire a particular attorney, you need to make sure that person has handled cases like yours before. However, you shouldn’t wait until your initial consultation to gauge his or her experience. Before you schedule a meeting, look for reviews online and check to see if the attorney has been the subject of professional misconduct cases before. This information is usually available on your state bar association’s website. You can also gauge your attorney’s experience by finding out how many years he or she has practiced family law.

Informative in answering questions
The stage that your divorce case is in dictates what you and your attorney will discuss at that first meeting. For example, your discussions will be very different if your divorce papers have already been filed or you and your spouse have already pledged to use a collaborative divorce process instead of litigation. Either way, your divorce lawyer should be able to answer any general questions about an impending or recently filed divorce case. He or she should also be able to describe the next steps to take as your case progresses.

Maintains confidentiality
No matter what you discuss with your divorce attorney, he or she is bound by attorney-client privilege. As a result, with very few exceptions, the information you discuss at your initial meeting should stay confidential. This is true even if you aren’t sure whether you want a divorce and only scheduled the meeting to gather information about the process. Your right to privacy is critical when it comes to communications between you and your attorney. As a result, you don’t have to worry that your spouse is going to discover what you said to your lawyer.

Getting divorced can be painful, but it’s sometimes necessary for the emotional well-being of all involved. Child custody arrangements are a particularly difficult aspect of divorce that millions of couples struggle with. If you’re in the midst of a divorce involving children, then you should have a skilled family law attorney in The Woodlands represent you in your divorce case. It also helps to understand the basics of family law in Texas and the factors involved with child custody.

Relationships
The relationship that the child has with each parent is an important factor to consider when determining child custody. Mothers most often get primary custody in divorce cases, but not always. Courts look at which parent has historically been the child’s primary caregiver. The child’s personal friendships may also factor into a custody decision—especially if custody with one parent means taking a child away from those friendships.

Logistics
Many divorced parents share joint custody of their children. However, this may not be feasible if one parent lives in a different town or has a complicated work schedule. If it’s not possible for a divorced couple to share custody 50/50, then one parent may be given sole, or primary, custody.

Visitation
Texas courts want both parents to be involved in their children’s lives, if possible. If one parent has primary physical custody, the other parent should be granted reasonable visitation rights which fit within everyone’s schedule. Divorced parents may also negotiate independently for joint legal custody, wherein both parents are involved in making decisions regarding the child’s education, religion, healthcare, and other matters.