Not every individual in a marriage that is experiencing trouble should begin looking for a family law attorney. Many people who eventually decide to dissolve their marriage believe that they will be able to do so without unnecessarily involving legal professionals, unknowingly exposing both parties to potential frustrations and dissatisfaction. Divorce attorneys in Houston are usually helpful no matter how amicably the marriage ends, and they are particularly advantageous when parties consider the following:

Division of Property and Assets

An attorney is able to draw up legal documents that will fairly and clearly divide up the property and assets that were purchased or earned during the marriage. Regardless if you and your former spouse believe you can divide these assets without legal assistance, you need to protect everyone involved by creating documents recognized by the Court.

Establishing Custody Rights and Visitation

If you have children, it is imperative that both parties establish who will have primary custody of the kids. While it may be easy to assume that both parents will want to do what is best for their children, sometimes it is hard to agree on what exactly is “the best thing”. Your family law attorney will work with both parties to make sure that everyone’s legal rights are met and that parents get the visitation time they deserve-even if they are not the primary custodial parent.

Legal establishment of child support and any alimony/palimony

Whether or not both individuals have professions that allow them to earn a living after the divorce, attorneys in Houston will likely look into the legal aspects of alimony or palimony. This often occurs when one spouse has sacrificed personally or professionally in order for the other partner to further his or her own career, reducing the ability for the recipient to earn an income that is as high as it would have been otherwise. Not every divorce will require this type of payment, but divorcing spouses should not assume that they are not eligible for this reimbursement without speaking with an attorney.

As a general practice Houston law firm, Sondra Kaighen & Associates, P.C. serves clients with diverse needs throughout Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast area. Their attorneys cover a range of legal issues pertaining to family law and criminal law. Sondra Kaighen, the firm’s principle, has over twenty years of experience in family law and is a certified specialist in the field by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

The lawyers at Sondra Kaighen & Associates, P.C., are very dedicated and active legal professionals. For them, helping people with legal needs is not a ‘9 to 5’ job. They attend seminars and industry events to stay abreast of the ever-changing laws affecting their practice and participate in lectures and various legal associations. If you have a legal question or concern, do not hesitate to contact their Houston law firm.

Before you find a divorce lawyer to handle your divorce, you need to know what you want out of the proceedings. Let’s face it, divorce is not only about getting out of a relationship, it is also about getting your fair share of the assets that you and your spouse have accumulated over the years. No, you are not being greedy if you try to get your fair share of your conjugal assets. Unless you and your spouse signed an iron clad prenuptial agreement before you said “I do” in front of the magistrate, you are entitled to half of the assets that you and your spouse have accumulated during your marriage. Unfortunately, your fair share will not be handed to you on a silver platter so you need to find a divorce lawyer who can help you get it.

Another thing that you will need to fight for during a divorce is child custody and support. If you want to get custody of the children, you will need to find a good divorce lawyer to do all the work for you. Now, things can get especially complicated if one or both of you are actively serving the military, so you may want to consider hiring a military divorce lawyer in this case.

Remember that most lawyers are not cheap and if you are on a tight budget, you may end up getting buried in a pile of debts just to pay off your lawyer’s professional fees. To make sure that you do not spend more money than you should on attorney’s fees, make sure that you set a budget for your divorce proceedings and stick to it. You should also negotiate your lawyer’s fees. Most lawyers are willing to collect a percentage of the settlement at the end of the litigation instead of asking for outright payments for his or her services.

So if you are not happy with your marriage and want a divorce, the Lybarger Law Firm is always at your service. It is dedicated to providing high quality legal representation in family law matters. They offer a full range of family and matrimonial legal services including simple uncontested divorce cases, complex divorce cases involving significant estates and child custody disputes, marriage annulments, paternity, modification (changes to court orders), enforcement cases involving child support and visitation, and prenuptial contracts. For an experienced, compassionate, and solution-oriented approach to your legal issues, contact Lybarger Law Firm.