Modern Family logo

Book a Consultation Today!


FAMILY LAW AUSTIN

Austin’s Most
Compassionate
Family Law Firm

FAMILY LAW AUSTIN

Austin’s Most Compassionate
Family Law Firm

Family Law in Austin

It’s no secret Austin’s demographics are uniquely different than the rest of Texas. One of the big differences is in the way family is defined. While family law doesn’t change within Austin, how we work with families does. The city is maturing in a number of ways, which in turn changes the family dynamic. Because we serve so many families in other cities around the country, we understand these dynamics more than most.

 

You want a family law attorney that not only knows the courts and legal processes, but you also want a family attorney that approaches their practice with the proper considerations. We help hundreds each year and take our responsibility with your family seriously. Our family law attorneys love Texas. They live in the cities they serve and have embraced their communities for years. They understand what it means to a Texan.

 

We service six main counties in and around Austin, which include Travis, Burnet, Williamson, Blanco, Hays, Caldwell, and Bastrop. While we’ll consider helping in surrounding counties, it’s important to know we charge for travel and that can be too costly depending on your circumstance.

What Practice Areas Are Included In
Austin Family Law?

Divorce in Austin

In Austin, divorce is understood to be the optional process of terminating a marriage or marital union. This requires going through a legal matter to dissolve the marriage which can be a very stressful time in one’s life. Understanding the seven grounds for divorce under Austin law can alleviate some of this hardship.

Grounds for Divorce in Austin

Insupportability – In Austin, this is the only ground for divorce in which there is no fault placed on one of the divorcing parties. In other parts of the country, these grounds are commonly referred to as irreconcilable differences. This means you are stating that there are differences in your marriage that you and your spouse are unable to overcome.

Cruelty – This grounds for divorce is utilized when one of the parties in a marriage is being treated so poorly by their spouse that they can’t reasonably stay in that marriage. This could be due to physical abuse, derogatory language, neglect, humiliation, or threats to one’s safety.

Abandonment – This can be used as a ground for divorce in Austin if your spouse has left you for a year or longer and has no intention of returning.

Adultery – This ground for divorce occurs when a spouse has a sexual relationship outside of the marriage.

Conviction of a Felony – Austin law considers it a valid ground for divorce if your spouse has been in prison for a year or more due to committing a felony.

Living Apart – It is of legal ground for a divorce if you and your spouse haven’t cohabitated for a period of 3 years or longer.

Confinement in a mental hospital – If your spouse has been confined to a mental hospital for a period of 3 years with no signs of the mental disorder improving, this ground can be claimed as a valid reason to file for divorce in Austin.

Child & Spousal Support in Austin

 

Child Support Austin

In Austin, physical custody of a child refers to the amount of time a parent spends with a child. This custody determines who will make child support payments. While it is possible for a court to order both parents to pay to support a child, generally it is the noncustodial parent, meaning the parent that spends the least amount of time with the child or children, that pays child support.

 

The amount owed in child support payments is calculated based on a percentage of the noncustodial parent’s income. You can estimate potential child support payments in Austin using our Texas child support calculator.

 

Spousal Support Austin

Spousal support, also known as spousal maintenance or alimony, is unique in Austin. This refers to a court-ordered payment to your former spouse following a divorce. Factors such as the length of your marriage and the difference in earnings between former spouses all contribute to the amount of spousal support owed.

 

Austin, TX, unlike other states, is distinctive as the law limits the amount of spousal maintenance that can be paid to a spouse. Payments are capped and may not exceed more than 20% of the spouse’s average monthly gross income or $5,000, whichever is less. You can use our Texas spousal maintenance calculators to help determine these support payments in Austin.

 

Child Custody (Conservatorship) in Austin

In Austin the legal term used to refer to child custody is conservatorship. A parent who has been granted conservatorship rights of their children maintains both physical and legal custody. Physical custody allows the parent to decide where their children live. Legal custody encompasses decisions about the children’s religion, schools they attend, extracurriculars they participate in, medical treatment, and more.

 

Austin courts can grant a joint managing conservatorship where both parents share in their children’s custody or a sole managing conservatorship where a single parent has sole custody. In most cases, the law caters to keeping children in contact with both parents unless there is evidence of a reason not to do so. These reasons include a parent’s physical location, history of being abusive, or a past track record of being unreliable regarding matters with the children.  You can utilize our parenting time calculator to gain a better understanding of what your conservatorship agreement may look like.

Separation in Austin

In Austin, the only legal means for separating from one’s spouse is through a divorce. Texas is among the few states that don’t recognize legal separation. A legal separation is an agreement between two parties outlining matters of custody, support, and residency, all while not officially terminating the marriage. This allows the separated parties time to evaluate whether or not they want to permanently separate or eventually get back together.

 

While legal separation isn’t an option for struggling couples in Austin, there are still options that our compassionate family law attorneys in Austin can assist with. One such option is a contractual separation in which legal documentation is put in place to frame the division of assets, parental rights, and child support.

Common-Law Marriage in Austin

Austin allows for what is known as a common-law marriage. There is no set time for living together that governs whether a couple can enter into a common-law marriage. Instead, the stipulating guidelines for proving a common-law marriage in Austin are as follows:

 

1) A couple must agree that they are married;

2) The couple must live together;

3) “Hold out” to others that they married.

 

All of these conditions must be simultaneously present in order for an Austin couple to establish a common-law marriage. The third requirement describing a “should out” simply means that the parties must represent to others that they are married.

Paternity in Austin

Paternity is the word for describing the legal fatherhood of a child. In Austin, married couples do not need to take additional legal steps to establish paternity.

 

When it comes to parents of a newborn child that aren’t married to each other, the law does NOT recognize the biological father as a legal parent. A biological father who is not married to the mother of their child does NOT have legal rights to his child until he becomes a legal parent. Paternity must be established first.

There are three ways to establish paternity:

1) Marriage – When the biological father legally marries the child’s mother he is then automatically regarded as the child’s father establishing legal paternity.

2) Acknowledgment of Paternity – When the parents of a child are not married, this is a legal form signed by both the father and mother in which they both agree to the biological father of the child.

3) Court Order – Another option for unmarried parents is to get a court order in which the legal father of a child is established.

Decree Modification in Austin

In Austin, a post-decree proceeding can happen after a divorce has been finalized. Once a decision is made, a divorce party may demand changes to the divorce agreement. One would think that once a divorce is final, there would be no alterations, but circumstances can change. In Austin, modifications to divorce decrees are allowed when both sides of the divorced parties agree to alter the terms, or when there have been changes in circumstances of one or both of the parties or a child.

Schedule A FREE
Consultation


Family Law in Austin

It’s no secret Austin’s demographics are uniquely different than the rest of Texas. One of the big differences is in the way family is defined. While family law doesn’t change within Austin, how we work with families does. The city is maturing in a number of ways, which in turn changes the family dynamic. Because we serve so many families in other cities around the country, we understand these dynamics more than most. Our Austin family law attorneys love Texas. They live in the cities they serve and have embraced their communities for years. They understand what it means to a Texan and most importantly they know how to help you with your Austin family law case.

What Practice Areas Are Included In
Austin Family Law?

In Austin, divorce is understood to be the optional process of terminating a marriage or marital union. This requires going through a legal matter to dissolve the marriage which can be a very stressful time in one’s life. Understanding the seven grounds for divorce under Austin law can alleviate some of this hardship.

Grounds for Divorce in Austin

Insupportability – In Austin, this is the only ground for divorce in which there is no fault placed on one of the divorcing parties. In other parts of the country, these grounds are commonly referred to as irreconcilable differences. This means you are stating that there are differences in your marriage that you and your spouse are unable to overcome.

Cruelty – This grounds for divorce is utilized when one of the parties in a marriage is being treated so poorly by their spouse that they can’t reasonably stay in that marriage. This could be due to physical abuse, derogatory language, neglect, humiliation, or threats to one’s safety.

Abandonment – This can be used as a ground for divorce in Austin if your spouse has left you for a year or longer and has no intention of returning.

Adultery – This ground for divorce occurs when a spouse has a sexual relationship outside of the marriage.

Conviction of a Felony – Austin law considers it a valid ground for divorce if your spouse has been in prison for a year or more due to committing a felony.

Living Apart – It is of legal ground for a divorce if you and your spouse haven’t cohabitated for a period of 3 years or longer.

Confinement in a mental hospital – If your spouse has been confined to a mental hospital for a period of 3 years with no signs of the mental disorder improving, this ground can be claimed as a valid reason to file for divorce in Austin.

Child Support Austin

In Austin, physical custody of a child refers to the amount of time a parent spends with a child. This custody determines who will make child support payments. While it is possible for a court to order both parents to pay to support a child, generally it is the noncustodial parent, meaning the parent that spends the least amount of time with the child or children, that pays child support.

 

The amount owed in child support payments is calculated based on a percentage of the noncustodial parent’s income. You can estimate potential child support payments in Austin using our Texas child support calculator.

 

Spousal Support Austin

Spousal support, also known as spousal maintenance or alimony, is unique in Austin. This refers to a court-ordered payment to your former spouse following a divorce. Factors such as the length of your marriage and the difference in earnings between former spouses all contribute to the amount of spousal support owed.

 

Austin, TX, unlike other states, is distinctive as the law limits the amount of spousal maintenance that can be paid to a spouse. Payments are capped and may not exceed more than 20% of the spouse’s average monthly gross income or $5,000, whichever is less. You can use our Texas spousal maintenance calculators to help determine these support payments in Austin.

In Austin the legal term used to refer to child custody is conservatorship. A parent who has been granted conservatorship rights of their children maintains both physical and legal custody. Physical custody allows the parent to decide where their children live. Legal custody encompasses decisions about the children’s religion, schools they attend, extracurriculars they participate in, medical treatment, and more.

 

Austin courts can grant a joint managing conservatorship where both parents share in their children’s custody or a sole managing conservatorship where a single parent has sole custody. In most cases, the law caters to keeping children in contact with both parents unless there is evidence of a reason not to do so. These reasons include a parent’s physical location, history of being abusive, or a past track record of being unreliable regarding matters with the children.  You can utilize our parenting time calculator to gain a better understanding of what your conservatorship agreement may look like.

In Austin, the only legal means for separating from one’s spouse is through a divorce. Texas is among the few states that don’t recognize legal separation. A legal separation is an agreement between two parties outlining matters of custody, support, and residency, all while not officially terminating the marriage. This allows the separated parties time to evaluate whether or not they want to permanently separate or eventually get back together.

 

While legal separation isn’t an option for struggling couples in Austin, there are still options that our compassionate family law attorneys in Austin can assist with. One such option is a contractual separation in which legal documentation is put in place to frame the division of assets, parental rights, and child support.

Austin allows for what is known as a common-law marriage. There is no set time for living together that governs whether a couple can enter into a common-law marriage. Instead, the stipulating guidelines for proving a common-law marriage in Austin are as follows:

 

1) A couple must agree that they are married;

2) The couple must live together;

3) “Hold out” to others that they married.

 

All of these conditions must be simultaneously present in order for an Austin couple to establish a common-law marriage. The third requirement describing a “should out” simply means that the parties must represent to others that they are married.

Paternity is the word for describing the legal fatherhood of a child. In Austin, married couples do not need to take additional legal steps to establish paternity.

 

When it comes to parents of a newborn child that aren’t married to each other, the law does NOT recognize the biological father as a legal parent. A biological father who is not married to the mother of their child does NOT have legal rights to his child until he becomes a legal parent. Paternity must be established first.

There are three ways to establish paternity:

1) Marriage – When the biological father legally marries the child’s mother he is then automatically regarded as the child’s father establishing legal paternity.

2) Acknowledgment of Paternity – When the parents of a child are not married, this is a legal form signed by both the father and mother in which they both agree to the biological father of the child.

3) Court Order – Another option for unmarried parents is to get a court order in which the legal father of a child is established.

In Austin, a post-decree proceeding can happen after a divorce has been finalized. Once a decision is made, a divorce party may demand changes to the divorce agreement. One would think that once a divorce is final, there would be no alterations, but circumstances can change. In Austin, modifications to divorce decrees are allowed when both sides of the divorced parties agree to alter the terms, or when there have been changes in circumstances of one or both of the parties or a child.

Modern Family Law Compassionate Innovative Respected

Our Attorneys Are
Ready To Listen

Our experienced family law attorneys in Austin have the knowledge, resources, and dedication to prepare your case and protect your interests to find the best possible outcome.

Working With Families In Austin, TX

Regardless of any reputation Texas has gotten over the years, families all want the same thing at the end of the day – a safe place with their families. Sometimes those safe places change over time. We help families move on and start fresh no matter who they may be. We have experience working with families of all types, these are just some we see the most of.

Young Professionals

family lawyers for young professionals in Austin, TX

Falling in love while riding a wave of change can put a strain on a relationship. College, starting a career, having children, and more can cause many issues if a young couple isn’t thoughtful. We work around many in tech and startups where this strain is even greater. Young people can put a lot of pressure on themselves to succeed when much of life is learned in failure. That doesn’t mean those life lessons need to be filled with hate and tainted memories. We get the need to move on when things haven’t gone as planned and help keep things respectful and private so both parties can move on in life quickly.

Grandparents

family law for grandparents in Austin, TX

When we speak of grandparents we are generally talking about children, or rather grandchildren, and custody issues. The family dynamic has changed in more ways than some may realize. With many children needing homes and support, grandparents do a great deal of lifting in our society these days. One of the issues grandparents face in many cases is the proper rights for something like a guardianship situation. While we can’t help in every situation, we help in many. We understand the struggles and pitfalls that grandparents face.

Senior Citizens

family lawyers for Senior Citizens in Austin, TX

Over the last few years, there has been a spike in senior divorces. Most of this is directly due to technology. As a tech-driven firm, we know how this works all too well. Think about, seniors having better medical treatments now. Aside from disease and living longer, they can have critical operations and be up and moving in weeks. Tech has pushed medical care to a new realm and this is one of the results. Also, communication has changed for seniors. Tech has allowed them to find like-minded individuals to experience more of life. When seniors are unhappy they want out, and nowadays they have the means to do so. We work with seniors frequently to help guide them through a peaceful and respectful separation. After so many memories and years together, there is no reason to end with a battle.

LGBT+ Community

family lawyers for the LGBT+ Community in Austin, TX

Times have really changed over the years, from the laws to social acceptance. What it means to be a family has changed too. As a member of the Austin LGBT Chamber, we are proud to lead the Austin market in this area of family law. With the leadership part of this community, we understand child custody issues, not just marital issues. Family-related laws are no different but having a firm that understands the issues directly can really help. We are confident in our ability to represent the LGBT+ community.

Pets

Family law attorneys for pets in Austin, TX

Our furry friends have become part of our families. When families break there have to be considerations for those close and that includes the family pet(s). In many cases when a family splits, the family pets are left behind and go where ever they fit in. Many times they get abandoned. Other the flip side, sometimes the pet is the main focus in a separation or divorce. People should want a family law firm that cares about the animals’ life just as much as others. We have helped couples of all sorts fight for their pet’s rights. In many states, laws are even being changed to include our four-legged family members.

Working With Families In Austin, TX

Regardless of any reputation Texas has gotten over the years, families all want the same thing at the end of the day – a safe place with their families. Sometimes those safe places change over time. We help families move on and start fresh no matter who they may be. We have experience working with families of all types, these are just some we see the most of.

Young Professionals

family lawyers for young professionals in Austin, TX

Falling in love while riding a wave of change can put a strain on a relationship. College, starting a career, having children, and more can cause many issues if a young couple isn’t thoughtful. We work around many in tech and startups where this strain is even greater. Young people can put a lot of pressure on themselves to succeed when much of life is learned in failure. That doesn’t mean those life lessons need to be filled with hate and tainted memories. We get the need to move on when things haven’t gone as planned and help keep things respectful and private so both parties can move on in life quickly.

Grandparents

family law for grandparents in Austin, TX

When we speak of grandparents we are generally talking about children, or rather grandchildren, and custody issues. The family dynamic has changed in more ways than some may realize. With many children needing homes and support, grandparents do a great deal of lifting in our society these days. One of the issues grandparents face in many cases is the proper rights for something like a guardianship situation. While we can’t help in every situation, we help in many. We understand the struggles and pitfalls that grandparents face.

Senior Citizens

family lawyers for Senior Citizens in Austin, TX

Over the last few years, there has been a spike in senior divorces. Most of this is directly due to technology. As a tech-driven firm, we know how this works all too well. Think about, seniors having better medical treatments now. Aside from disease and living longer, they can have critical operations and be up and moving in weeks. Tech has pushed medical care to a new realm and this is one of the results. Also, communication has changed for seniors. Tech has allowed them to find like-minded individuals to experience more of life. When seniors are unhappy they want out, and nowadays they have the means to do so. We work with seniors frequently to help guide them through a peaceful and respectful separation. After so many memories and years together, there is no reason to end with a battle.

LGBT+ Community

family lawyers for the LGBT+ Community in Austin, TX

Times have really changed over the years, from the laws to social acceptance. What it means to be a family has changed too. As a member of the Austin LGBT Chamber, we are proud to lead the Austin market in this area of family law. With the leadership part of this community, we understand child custody issues, not just marital issues. Family-related laws are no different but having a firm that understands the issues directly can really help. We are confident in our ability to represent the LGBT+ community.

Pets

Family law attorneys for pets in Austin, TX

Our furry friends have become part of our families. When families break there have to be considerations for those close and that includes the family pet(s). In many cases when a family splits, the family pets are left behind and go where ever they fit in. Many times they get abandoned. Other the flip side, sometimes the pet is the main focus in a separation or divorce. People should want a family law firm that cares about the animals’ life just as much as others. We have helped couples of all sorts fight for their pet’s rights. In many states, laws are even being changed to include our four-legged family members.

Frequently Asked Questions About Austin Family Law

How much does a family lawyer cost in Austin?

Everyone wants to be careful with attorney fees, us included. Potential clients always ask our lawyers how much their case will cost. Unfortunately, we can’t provide much insight into their final bill, because there are too many factors at play. The most critical factor impacting the overall cost of a case is the degree of conflict. A client’s ability to control the degree of conflict in a family law dispute is sometimes limited. The amount of conflict is often unknown or underestimated.

 

Many other factors may also impact the cost of a case. Those include poor strategic planning and selecting an attorney based on factors not related to your goal. Since there are so many things impacting the cost of a case, it’s impossible for a good attorney to quote you an overall cost. We can, however, use our experience to provide you insight into how certain factors impact the average cost, as determined by the American Bar Association.

 

Click the following link to learn more about the cost of a family law attorney in Austin. You may also be interested in our calculators to help you determine costs.

How is child support calculated in Texas?

The person who pays child support in Texas is the obligor, the person receiving child support is the obligeeIn 1989, Texas Legislators introduced statutory “guideline child support”. This set the percentage of net resources an obligor has to pay based upon the total number of children that the obligor has an obligation to legally support, and the number of children involved in the current case.  That percentage is then applied to the individual’s net resources.  The same guidelines for child support are still in effect today. 

 

The Calculation of Child Support in Texas is a 5-Step Process:

1. Identify all sources of income of the individual ordered to pay child support.

2. Deduct all qualified items to determine net resources.

3. Determine the proper percentage for guideline support.

4. Evaluate additional factors that may allow for a deviation from guidelines.

5. Determine whether an automatic reduction in child support is applicable.

 

Learn more about Texas child support or try our Texas child support calculator.

What constitutes family violence in Texas and what protective orders are in place to help?

Domestic violence is family violence under the Texas Family Code.  Domestic violence victims have remedies available to them under the Texas Penal Code and the Texas Family Code.  Often an offender of domestic violence will be subject to criminal court charges as well as civil sanctions from family courts.  

 

There is no requirement under Texas law for actual physical violence to have occurred for the Court to issue a protective order due to family violence. Angry outbursts are sufficient to support a protective order even though there is no evidence of physical violence.  Family violence can also be based on a threat that reasonably places the person receiving the threat in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault.

 

Protective orders have very specific prerequisites under the Texas Family Code. Additionally, during the most recent legislative session in Texas, there were important changes that you should understand.

   

Protective orders under the family code are granted based on family violence which is defined as: 

 

1. An act by a member of a family or household against another member of the family or household that is intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault, or that is a threat that reasonably places the family or household member in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault. 

2. Abuse by a member of the family or household against a child of the family or household; or 

3. Dating violence against a member of a dating relationship or a third party.

 

Learn more about family violence and protective orders in Texas.

Frequently Asked Questions About
Austin Family Law

How much does a family lawyer cost in Austin?

Everyone wants to be careful with attorney fees, us included. Potential clients always ask our lawyers how much their case will cost. Unfortunately, we can’t provide much insight into their final bill, because there are too many factors at play. The most critical factor impacting the overall cost of a case is the degree of conflict. A client’s ability to control the degree of conflict in a family law dispute is sometimes limited. The amount of conflict is often unknown or underestimated.

 

Many other factors may also impact the cost of a case. Those include poor strategic planning and selecting an attorney based on factors not related to your goal. Since there are so many things impacting the cost of a case, it’s impossible for a good attorney to quote you an overall cost. We can, however, use our experience to provide you insight into how certain factors impact the average cost, as determined by the American Bar Association.

 

Click the following link to learn more about the cost of a family law attorney in Austin. You may also be interested in our calculators to help you determine costs.

How is child support calculated in Texas?

The person who pays child support in Texas is the obligor, the person receiving child support is the obligeeIn 1989, Texas Legislators introduced statutory “guideline child support”. This set the percentage of net resources an obligor has to pay based upon the total number of children that the obligor has an obligation to legally support, and the number of children involved in the current case.  That percentage is then applied to the individual’s net resources.  The same guidelines for child support are still in effect today. 

 

The Calculation of Child Support in Texas is a 5-Step Process:

1. Identify all sources of income of the individual ordered to pay child support.

2. Deduct all qualified items to determine net resources.

3. Determine the proper percentage for guideline support.

4. Evaluate additional factors that may allow for a deviation from guidelines.

5. Determine whether an automatic reduction in child support is applicable.

 

Learn more about Texas child support or try our Texas child support calculator.

What constitutes family violence in Texas and what protective orders are in place to help?

Domestic violence is family violence under the Texas Family Code.  Domestic violence victims have remedies available to them under the Texas Penal Code and the Texas Family Code.  Often an offender of domestic violence will be subject to criminal court charges as well as civil sanctions from family courts.  

 

There is no requirement under Texas law for actual physical violence to have occurred for the Court to issue a protective order due to family violence. Angry outbursts are sufficient to support a protective order even though there is no evidence of physical violence.  Family violence can also be based on a threat that reasonably places the person receiving the threat in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault.

 

Protective orders have very specific prerequisites under the Texas Family Code. Additionally, during the most recent legislative session in Texas, there were important changes that you should understand.

   

Protective orders under the family code are granted based on family violence which is defined as: 

 

1. An act by a member of a family or household against another member of the family or household that is intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault, or that is a threat that reasonably places the family or household member in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault. 

2. Abuse by a member of the family or household against a child of the family or household; or 

3. Dating violence against a member of a dating relationship or a third party.

 

Learn more about family violence and protective orders in Texas.

Hiring An Austin Family Law Attorney

Many times people search for a top-rated family law attorney to handle their case on Google or elsewhere. While that is logical, it’s is also important to remember that shopping for a family law attorney isn’t like shopping for clothing or even an automobile.

 

Family matters are expensive and emotional. Ask around and find an attorney that connects with you and understands your situation. We would admit, we’re not right for everyone. While we are successful in court, we also don’t use conflict to do so. Some people want the conflict regardless of what costs at the end. Using our calculators, you can see what conflict can do to the cost of legal representation. When things aren’t working as a family unit and someone wants out, it doesn’t mean it has to turn into a world war. Conflict doesn’t help anyone.

 

Our mission of compassion has been the winning ingredient for many that find themselves in tough situations and why we are growing across the country. Why would you want more conflict to get out of a bad environment? The best thing someone can do for themselves is to end on the best note possible and find a new beginning as soon as possible.

Our Austin Office Location

Additional Family Law Practice Areas

Family law includes a wide array of cases that deal with relationships and the children of relationships.  Typically, family law includes the following practice areas:

Hiring An Austin
Family Law Attorney

Many times people search for a top-rated family law attorney to handle their case on Google or elsewhere. While that is logical, it’s is also important to remember that shopping for a family law attorney isn’t like shopping for clothing or even an automobile.

 

Family matters are expensive and emotional. Ask around and find an attorney that connects with you and understands your situation. We would admit, we’re not right for everyone. While we are successful in court, we also don’t use conflict to do so. Some people want the conflict regardless of what costs at the end. Using our calculators, you can see what conflict can do to the cost of legal representation. When things aren’t working as a family unit and someone wants out, it doesn’t mean it has to turn into a world war. Conflict doesn’t help anyone.

 

Our mission of compassion has been the winning ingredient for many that find themselves in tough situations and why we are growing across the country. Why would you want more conflict to get out of a bad environment? The best thing someone can do for themselves is to end on the best note possible and find a new beginning as soon as possible.

Our Austin
Office Location

Additional Family Law
Practice Areas

Family law includes a wide array of cases that deal with relationships and the children of relationships.  Typically, family law includes the following practice areas:

Meet Our Team Of Experienced
Austin Family Law Attorneys

Austin Family Lawyer Erica Larson

Erica Larson
Associate Attorney
Austin, TX

See What Our Clients Are Saying About Our Family Law Attorney’s In Austin

Ellie AdamsEllie Adams
03:17 23 Oct 23
Jasmine was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and was willing to answer any questions that I had about my situation during our call.
CTX Knights BasketballCTX Knights Basketball
19:36 17 Oct 23
Clare and Danika at Modern Family law were great! They was thorough, they were fast and they were on top of it. They also made sure to help educate me in areas that may have not been as clear to me going in. I would highly recommend them. They are true advocates for father’s rights.
Tarig AlkhazinTarig Alkhazin
19:24 09 Oct 23
Cory BluemlingCory Bluemling
18:50 05 Oct 23
lesliberi macedolesliberi macedo
18:43 27 Sep 23
I have the best attorney and paralegal Erica and Danika very professional
Amanda Le VeaAmanda Le Vea
20:32 05 Jul 23
Clare Mattione was my lawyer and my experience with her and her team was amazing. They are all very professional, honest and flexible. Clare really handled my case with care and dignity. I felt very taken care of with her as my lawyer.
Fredrick MorrisFredrick Morris
00:55 27 Jun 23
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience working with Austin Modern Family Law firm team to work through court cases that I needed handled. I retained Clare Mattione through a prior firm and I was so pleased with her professionalism and expertise that I continued to retain her services while she transitioned to her new firm, Modern Family Law. Clare was clear, concise, and provided timely communication during the course of about a two-year trial. Clare met my needs, provided guidance and navigated the legal field with expertise.Danika Moran was also very helpful with filing and requesting documents and communications during the trial. Everything was handled in a timely manner and with the utmost professionalism.Overall I was throughly pleased with my experience and would highly recommended the Austin Modern Family Law Firm & would once again like to thank Clare for representing my family and I during our case.
Yuli VillaYuli Villa
23:29 07 Jun 23
When looking for a law firm that could help with the case of my siblings and I, I didn’t really know where to look. As soon as I reached out to the Modern Family Firm I was greeted by my lawyer Jasmine Bhatt, she right away made me feel understood and welcomed. My lawyer and her paralegal Danika Moran made the process of my case very stress free. I appreciate all their help and definitely recommend them to anyone that needs help with family cases! 😊
Keara RileyKeara Riley
18:21 10 May 23
My attorney Clare Mattione was fantastic. She is very knowledgeable and definitely knew the law as it pertained to my case . When I had questions she answered them promptly and made sure I understood each point before moving on. Extremely professional but also very understanding and compassionate toward my situation. It was a slow moving case but Clare made sure to keep things moving forward and always kept me up to date on the status of my case. She worked with Danika Moran, who was equally amazing, and handled my case with care. We just wrapped it up and I could not have been happier with the team and experience I had with both of them. Would absolutely recommend Clare to anyone in need of her services.
John Mark Strahan (JM)John Mark Strahan (JM)
20:26 20 Jul 22
J. and Jessica were kind, compassionate, and caring. I was 100% comfortable discussing my situation and they made me feel safe. While I hope not many people have to go through the pain of a divorce, these folks are great if you have to!
Ikenna NwakanmaIkenna Nwakanma
17:52 19 Jun 22
Working with J. Riggs at Modern Family Law during my divorce was a blessing. We never met in person but that didn't prevent us from connecting in a way that made me feel that he was looking out for my interest and not just going along the process in a cookie cutter way. They explained the steps of what to expect before and as it was taking place and really made the divorce as stress free as you can get when going through a divorce. Thank you J!
Lisa RhodesLisa Rhodes
02:45 14 May 22
My Attorneys are like Family. They listen to me their Client. They make a challenging matter a little easier. They do understand. J and Jessica are very professional.
E RoseE Rose
16:25 12 May 22
Went through a messy divorce and Clare was able to get a good amount of my possessions back including my vital documents like birth certificate and SSN card which he had refused to give back. It wasn’t a fun process but I was very pleased with her help! Clare was very attentive to my needs, guided me through the court process, and helped me set realistic expectations for outcomes. Thank you again.
JD GipsonJD Gipson
16:35 02 May 22
J. and the team were really great to deal with! He was super responsive anytime I had any questions and easy to get a hold of. Dealing with lawyers is generally never a fun thing to do, but J. made the experience pleasant and I really felt like I was in good hands. Thank you again!
Ashley HernandezAshley Hernandez
17:02 18 Jan 22
Going through a divorce and custody was not fun but J. got me through it. The whole team was responsive and knowledgeable about how the custody process worked and what I needed to do to get custody of my children. My first attorney (different law firm) charged a low retainer, so I thought I was getting a deal, but they quit on me when a bigger case came along! Modern Family Law was experienced and they were up front with me about costs and what I should expect from them. For the experience they gave and how responsive they were, they were worth every penny!!
js_loader

Our Calculators

We’re not fans of surprises and we suspect you aren’t either. We built these divorce calculators just for you, so you know what to expect every step of the way.

Additional Resources About
Austin Family Law

The Question You Should Ask Before Every Family Law Dispute

Questions to Ask Before a Family Law Dispute

Family law disputes are some of the most emotionally charged legal cases out there. Before making any decisions, make sure to ask yourself this one question.

Protective orders in Texas

Domestic Violence and Protective Orders in Texas

Protective orders have very specific prerequisites under the Texas Family Code. Additionally, during the most recent legislative session in Texas, there were important changes that you should understand. 

family law cases in Texas

What Are Examples of Texas Family Law Cases?

Determining whether or not your case falls under Texas family law can be difficult. Read about the different matters that qualify as family law cases in Texas.


Schedule A FREE
Consultation