Cedar Park Family Law Attorney
Dealing with family matters in a court of law can feel suffocating and overwhelmingly stressful. A lot is on the line. You could be facing a divorce, dealing with a child custody battle, trying to secure your rights as a father or a mother, or struggling to preserve everything you’ve built for your family. Things can get emotional, and dealing with it all on your own is not recommended. Reach out to a Cedar Park family lawyer to learn more about your options.
What Does a Cedar Park Family Lawyer Handle?
There are many different fields of law, but family law can be one of the most complex. There are many different sides to family law, and all of them involve personal legal matters that are connected to the family. It can be difficult to resolve family issues in a court of law, and it may feel like your private matters are on display for the world to see. An experienced Cedar Park family law attorney can work to keep things civil and ensure that you are protected throughout this process.
Our legal team at Vaught Law Firm, P.C., understands how complicated and painful these cases can become. We’re here to offer you support, guidance, answers, and even an ear to vent if that’s what you need. This can be an especially emotionally draining time in your life. You will want someone by your side who understands what you’re going through and can offer legal counsel throughout the process. Here are some of the different kinds of family law cases we can help you with:
- Divorce Settlements: Few milestones in your life can be as emotionally devastating as a divorce. Nobody who gets married ever thinks they’ll end up in divorce court. It’s an unfortunate fact of life that a significant number of American marriages will likely end in divorce. When that happens, it is vital that you take the proper precautions to protect yourself. Divorces are often contentious and personal. An experienced Cedar Park divorce lawyer can spearhead your divorce and handle the legal details while you determine what your next steps will be. The longer a marriage lasts, the tougher it can be to divide everything up equally. You’ll have a harder time doing that if there are children involved and no prenup. Your family law attorney can help you protect your assets, fight for custody, challenge spousal maintenance, and organize a parenting plan.
- Child Custody: Divorces can be difficult to navigate on their own without the added complication of child custody agreements. A divorce settlement has the potential to get increasingly personal and even spiteful when one parent wishes to pursue sole or primary custody and keep the other out of their child’s life. The court will always seek to prioritize a child’s well-being and needs when deciding on which parent is granted primary custody.Many factors will be taken into consideration when a judge decides on child custody. The child’s wishes will be considered, along with the stability of both parents’ homes, how involved each parent is in their child’s life, any past history of abuse or neglect, and the total amount of each parent’s income. An experienced Cedar Park family lawyer can make sure you are well-prepared to fight for your child’s custody.
- Prenuptial Agreements: Getting married can be a magical time of your life. However, it can sometimes be necessary to protect your premarital assets in the unlikely but possible event of a divorce in the future. This can be done with a prenuptial agreement, which is also commonly known as a “prenup.” Discussions about a prenup can get uncomfortable, as many may see a prenup as an omen for divorce.Every prenuptial agreement is drafted according to the client’s specifications. After all, everybody’s marital assets may be different and might require different degrees of protection. Going into a marriage with significant wealth may inspire someone to draft an agreement to protect that wealth if, one day, the marriage turns sour and divorce is considered. An experienced family law attorney can help you draft that agreement.
- Relocation Assistance: Dealing with a divorce can be draining to one’s mental health. In the aftermath of a divorce, you may want to uproot yourself and your child to restart your life elsewhere. Relocating can be a great way to start moving past everything you’ve been through. However, living life on your own terms in such a way may not be immediately feasible if the child custody agreement does not allow you to move your child.Depending on the custody agreement that’s in place, you may not be allowed to move your child away from their other parent without their consent. Your ex-partner could argue that moving your child away from them can be detrimental to the child’s well-being, and it could be seen as prioritizing yourself over your child. An experienced Cedar Park family law attorney can help you work this out.
- Father’s Rights: The aftermath of every divorce is different, as the events that have led up to the divorce are unique to each couple’s journey. If you and your spouse do not agree on a parenting plan, the fight for child custody can be vicious. Many courts tend to favor the mother, and it can be difficult for fathers to establish themselves as a primary caregiver without proof of the mother’s poor parenting.Thanks to established Texas law, both parents are given equal rights over their children’s well-being and are allowed to provide for their children’s upbringing, religion, education, discipline, and plans for the future. Pursuing a father’s rights can be a noble and worthwhile pursuit, and every father deserves to be involved in their child’s life. We can help you pursue those rights and make sure you are a part of your child’s life.
- Mediation: When you and your partner first start considering divorce, it may be wise to retain the services of a mediator. Talking things through with a neutral third party can be beneficial to your situation. Sometimes, an unbiased third party can provide certain insights that you might not be aware of. Facilitating a discussion between you and your partner can be a good way to come to an agreement on the terms of your divorce.
You may be able to compromise on things like spousal maintenance, child custody, and complex property division in Cedar Park. Coming to an agreement outside of court can be beneficial for a number of reasons. Litigation is often more expensive and lengthy, and mediation allows you to have more direct control over the outcome of your divorce. In court, a judge would be the one to make the final decision.
FAQs
Q: Can a Child Decide Which Parent to Live With in Texas?
A: No, a child cannot decide which parent they want to live with if they are under the age of 18. However, if the child is at least 12, they may be allowed to voice their opinion about which parent they want to live with. The court may take that into consideration when deciding on which parent gets custody. Other factors may include each parent’s financial situation, the stability of the home each parent is providing, and which parent is more involved.
Q: How Can a Father Lose Parental Rights in Texas?
A: There are many different ways that a father can lose his parental rights in Texas. Being convicted of certain crimes can lead a father to lose their parental rights, such as manslaughter, murder, assault, child endangerment, sexual assault, and indecency with a child, among other serious convictions. Parental rights can be terminated through a court order or if one parent petitions the other to sign away their rights as a parent.
Q: Do I Need a Lawyer to Get Divorced in Texas?
A: Technically, you do not need to hire a lawyer to get divorced in Texas. It is perfectly legal for you to pursue a divorce on your own without the need for a family lawyer. However, it is highly recommended that you retain legal counsel whenever you are dealing with a legal situation of any kind, including a divorce. Having someone in your corner who understands the complexities of family law can only seek to help your case.
Q: How Much Does a Custody Battle Cost in Texas?
A: A child custody battle can be costly, but it really depends on the nature of your case. Some cases will have certain circumstances that make a case last longer and be harder to settle. When you take into account attorney fees, mediation costs, spousal maintenance costs, division of assets, and other fees related to your divorce, a custody battle can end up being a costly event.
Reach Out to an Experienced Cedar Park Family Lawyer Today
Family law situations can be overwhelmingly painful and can have serious repercussions on your family’s future. When dealing with a divorce, child custody issue, or a prenup, you will want someone on your side who knows the most effective way to help you. The legal team at Vaught Law Firm, P.C., at Cedar Park, TX can help you build your case, facilitate mediation between you and your spouse, and represent your interests in court. Contact us to schedule a consultation today.