When a marriage comes to an end, it’s not as simple as just going your separate ways. Marriage is a legal union, and to separate that union requires specific legal steps. No matter how simple or complex your situation, the Houston divorce attorneys at Ricardo N. Gonzalez & Associates can you navigate the process with as little stress as possible.
There are many issues that come up during divorce proceedings that an experienced divorce attorney can help you with. Some of the issues we will discuss with you include:
Child Custody and Support
One of the toughest parts of a divorce is determining who will have custody of children, how much child support will be paid, and what visitation rights the non-custodial parent will have.
The Houston child custody lawyers at Ricardo N. Gonzalez & Associates understand how emotionally charged these issues can be and strive to approach their resolution with sensitivity. We work closely with mothers and fathers to develop a thorough understanding of your situation and achieve the best outcome possible for you and your children.
Division of Assets
The division of assets during a divorce can be another complicated issue. To navigate this part of a divorce, it’s important to understand what needs to be divided.
There are two main types of property in Texas: community and separate.
Separate property refers to personal belongings that each spouse owned before getting married, as well as any property that was given as a gift or as damages for a personal injury lawsuit.
Community property is any property acquired by either spouse during the course of their marriage. This can include real estate such as homes and vacation property, businesses, retirement and investment accounts, pensions, high value personal property, and bank accounts.
To ensure that your separate property is allotted to you in a divorce settlement, our divorce attorneys in Houston can help you demonstrate ownership of the assets. We can also assist in negotiating the division of community property in an equitable manner.
Business and Divorce
Asset division can be complicated when the spouses own a business together. While you may believe that the only option is for one of you to walk away from the business, that’s not necessarily the case.
A Houston divorce attorney from our firm can help you to:
• Establish post-marital division of business assets and establish how the business will be divided if one spouse decides to leave later
• Change corporate bylaws and employment agreements to reflect the changes in your relationship with your former spouse
• Get an accurate appraisal and valuation of the business
While some spouses are able to continue a good business relationship after the marriage dissolves, this isn’t always possible. Our attorneys can guide you through the legal process of settling these matters, whether by selling the business to your spouse or liquidating the assets for division between you both.
Alimony
Alimony, or spousal support, is not automatically granted in a Texas divorce. There are several factors that the court will consider when deciding whether to award it, including:
• Length of time married
• Age of spouses
• Health of spouses
• Education level of each spouse
• Employability of spouses
• Financial needs of spouse seeking alimony
• Marital misconduct
Depending on the above factors, the court may grant temporary support to a spouse until he or she can become self-sufficient by way of education or training, or the court may award permanent alimony.
Social Media, Electronic Devices and Divorce
For many people, social media is a daily connection with their friends and family. However, when it comes to divorce or other legal issues, the details you share about your life have the potential become ammunition for your spouse.
Our divorce attorneys in Houston recommend taking care when discussing your spouse, children, finances and other issues in the following media:
• Youtube videos
• Blogs
• Emails
• Text messages
When you post something online, remember that there may always be evidence that it was there — even if you take it down later.
Get Houston Divorce Help Today
Ricardo N. Gonzalez & Associates has been helping clients in the greater Houston area for more than 30 years. Our experienced Houston family lawyers put our clients first, always fighting to make sure your voice is heard.
If you need help with a divorce in Houston, Texas, call Ricardo N. Gonzalez & Associates today at 713-429-1971 or click here to contact us online.
