Georgetown Divorce Lawyer

Georgetown Divorce Attorney

Divorce is a complicated and unfamiliar process for most people. At the same time, the outcome and orders issued by the court are critically important and impact how you will be able to step into the next stage of your life. It’s vital that those facing a divorce hire a talented and experienced Georgetown divorce lawyer. A skilled attorney can ensure that their divorce is handled with care and that they are given a solid foundation for the next phase of life.

Our team at the Vaught Law Firm helps couples through the divorce process with compassion. Our team of certified family law attorneys are some of the finest, most experienced, and most talented divorce attorneys that can be found in the state. We seek the optimal outcome for our clients while also being sensitive to the stress and emotional difficulties that come with a divorce.

What Is a Georgetown Divorce Lawyer Responsible for?

A Georgetown Divorce Lawyer is primarily responsible for acting as your representative and advocate throughout the divorce process. To fulfill that role properly, they will need to perform several different functions.

One of their most important jobs is helping you understand the divorce process and the options that you may have at various points in the process. You will need to make critical decisions, and the advice of a lawyer can be helpful to consider as they have significant experience and knowledge in these matters.

Your lawyer also plays a vital role in the procedural aspect of the divorce. This includes issues like filing all of the paperwork that’s involved. While paperwork may seem minor, it’s important to realize that it is critical to how the court will rule on certain issues. It’s imperative that it’s done properly to avoid any delays or outcomes negatively impacted by errors in paperwork.

Before a divorce goes before the court, it’s the preference of the court that the couple negotiate an agreement. Generally, this works better for the couple as well because it gives them more influence on the outcome. Most divorces will be settled through negotiations that the court later signs off on. Having a lawyer involved in this process can ensure that what’s agreed upon meets the legal expectations. They can help you avoid common pitfalls that could inhibit progress.

Issues That Will Need to Be Settled in a Georgetown Divorce

The divorce process is intended to separate, to the extent possible, two intertwined lives in a way that’s fair and protects the welfare of any children who are involved. However, this process can often be challenging and stressful. When you have a strong divorce lawyer on your side, they can smooth out some of the potential issues and move toward a resolution more quickly.

Child Custody

In many divorces involving children, nothing is more contentious than the issue of child custody. This is because parents love their children and want to have as much time as possible with them. The need to now split time between parents can be hard to accept.

There are two forms of custody that the courts will need to rule on. Conservatorship describes who is responsible for the decision-making aspects of parenting regarding medical care, education, religion, and other important issues. Possession and access describes how the time between the parents will be split up and where the child will reside. In making decisions regarding custody, the judge is expected to rule on what is in the best interests of the child.

A conservatorship will be held jointly in many cases, meaning that both spouses have this type of custody. A sole conservatorship could be awarded if one parent has a history of violence, abuse, addiction, or anything else that makes them unfit to parent.

Child Support

Child support is paid by the “non-custodial” parent to the parent who will generally have the primary residence of the child. The non-custodial parent will typically pay a percentage of their income to the non-custodial parent in accordance with state guidelines. This can often be challenging, as it may leave the non-custodial parent feeling as though they are paying to spend less time with their child.

Spousal Maintenance

Spousal maintenance is generally very limited in Texas. To receive spousal maintenance, a dependent spouse must be able to show that they don’t have enough money to meet their minimum needs after property division, along with some other narrow criteria.

Even when spousal maintenance is awarded, it’s subject to limits. There will be a limited number of years for which the maintenance is awarded, largely based on the length of the marriage. Additionally, the spousal maintenance payment will not exceed the cap.

Property Division

Texas operates under community property division rules. The assets that are held by the couple will first need to be divided into separate property and community property. Separate property will largely consist of property held prior to the marriage, and community property is the property acquired during the marriage.

Only the community property will need to be divided. The law does not require that the property be divided in an even 50-50 split but rather that it be “just and right” in the eyes of the court after considering factors related to the divorce.

Help for Your Georgetown Divorce

The help of a quality Georgetown divorce lawyer can often make the challenges and complexities involved in a divorce easier to process. The right divorce attorney will be able to help you work through the choices you need to make, ensure that the law is properly followed, and do so with the care and sensitivity you need during such a tumultuous and stressful time.

At the Vaught Law Firm in Georgetown, Texas, we strive to see that our clients are treated with compassion and respect while also providing the high-end legal help that’s expected from our certified family law attorneys. We’ve assisted those going through divorce with a wide range of issues that are outside of normal expectations, and we are confident in our ability to handle whatever your divorce requires. Contact us for help with your Georgetown divorce.