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Frequently Asked Questions About Family Law In Spring Branch, TX

What are the grounds for divorce in Spring Branch, TX?

Historically, individuals needed legal grounds based on fault in order to obtain a divorce in Texas.  That meant that people could not get a divorce based solely on the desire to end the marriage.  One party had to be at fault for the marriage failing, and that fault had to fit into a specific category determined by the lawmakers.

Today, this is no longer true.  There is a no-fault divorce option in Texas, meaning you CAN get divorced if you choose that you want to without having to fall into a specific category of circumstances.  “Insupportability” is now included as a ground for divorce in the Texas Family Code, being the option that does not require any proof of fault or specific reason for needing a divorce.

Learn more about the legal grounds for divorce in Texas.

What does community property mean in a Spring Branch divorce?

Community property is any property that has been acquired during the marriage. This property includes items such as a house, a car, a small business, etc.

Where do I file for divorce in Spring Branch, Texas?

In Spring Branch, once you have completed your petition for dissolution of marriage you must file it with the District Clerk’s office. The District Clerk for Comal County can be found at the Comal County District Court. The address of the Comal County District Court is:

150 N Seguin Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130

How long do I have to live in Texas before I can file for divorce?

You must reside in Texas for 6 months before you can file for divorce. After 6 months you are considered a resident of Texas.

Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Spring Branch or can I file on my own?

Yes, you can file for a divorce on your own. It’s best advised to seek a family lawyer who can help you understand the terminology used in courts and to meet deadlines on time. There are many forms and responses the court requires during the process of divorce and if they are not filed within the deadline it can lead to a dismissal of your case.

Trying to file for divorce on your own can quickly become complicated and messy if you don’t know what you are doing. Since every case is unique, we recommend consulting with a family lawyer prior to moving forward to get an idea of how involved your case may be. Speak to a lawyer now or schedule a FREE consultation.

What factors does the court consider for custody agreements?

The court always takes the child’s best interest into consideration when making the final decision regarding parental responsibilities. These are a few of the factors considered:

  • Child’s living arrangement
  • Reports of child abuse or neglect,
  • The well-being of the child while with the parent,
  • Any physical or mental health issues that would prevent the parent from taking care of the child.

Are conservatorship and custody the same thing?

In Texas, the term “conservatorship” is used rather than “custody”. There are sole managing conservatorship and joint managing conservatorships which basically means one is a custodial parent and the other is a non-custodial parent. These types of conservatorship can either be agreed upon by both parties or be put in place by a court order. Learn more about conservatorships in San Antonio.

How much does a Spring Branch family lawyer cost?

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 Spring Branch. You may also be interested in our calculators to help you determine costs.

How do you change a divorce agreement?

A divorce agreement can be changed by filing a modification of the agreement, this is considered a Post Decree Modification. A Post Decree Modification can be filed when there are substantial changes in a party’s circumstances. This can include parenting time, visitation, child, and spousal support. Speak to one of our Texas family lawyers today about your post-decree modification.

How is child support calculated in Texas?

In 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.

Read the details of each step in determining Texas child support payments or try our Texas child support calculator to get an idea of what your payments might look like.

Can I go to jail for not paying child support in Texas?

Texas law does not take failure to pay child support lightly. Going to jail is a very real possibility for parents that fail or refuse to make their support payments. Not following a court order to pay child support can lead to a contempt of court judgment carrying a penalty of up to 6 months in jail. Texas Penal Code Sec. 25.05 outlines criminal nonsupport which is a state felony offense that can lead to a sentence of 6 months to 2 years in jail.

This statute states “An individual commits an offense if the individual intentionally or knowingly fails to provide support for the individual’s child younger than 18 years of age, or for the individual’s child who is the subject of a court order requiring the individual to support the child.

The Texas Attorney General even has a webpage dedicated to listing parents who are delinquent on their child support payments. The page includes the names, number of children, and amount owed by child support evaders.

How much alimony can I expect to receive or pay in my Texas divorce?

In Texas, alimony is referred to as spousal maintenance. The maximum spousal maintenance payment currently allowed in Texas is $5,000 per month or 20 percent of the paying spouse’s average monthly gross income, whichever is less.

Try our Texas spousal maintenance calculator to get an idea of what your payments may look like.

How long do you have to be married to receive alimony in Texas?

Typical qualifications for alimony in Texas are that the marriage must have lasted at least ten years, and the person requesting support, known as the obligee, is unable to earn enough to meet basic needs. Some other less common requirements include a family violence conviction within the last two years of being responsible for caring for a disabled child who requires constant care.

View our top 10 things you should know about Texas alimony payments.

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See What Our Clients Are Saying About Our Family Lawyers in Spring Branch

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!!
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