Providing Aggressive, Professional Representation for Divorce and other Family Law Matters

Family law encompasses a variety of legal issues and disputes that affect individuals.  Divorce and conflicts with regard to children and property are areas in which a competent family law attorney can explain your rights under the law and help you make informed decisions to resolve disputed issues. The Austin divorce lawyers and family law attorneys at Nunis & Associates assist clients facing divorce or a dispute with a spouse, former spouse, or significant other, such as—

Divorce

Just as no two weddings are alike, every divorce is unique.  Some couples can discuss their impending divorce and come to agreements on most issues.  Other couples have issues for which their respective positions are too far apart to reach compromises on their own.   And for many couples, the emotional breakdown of their relationship is so great that direct communication between them is no longer possible.

We meet personally with each of our clients to fully explain the legal process of divorce and discuss our client’s specific issues.  We explain what "community property" is and discuss what property may not be subject to division upon divorce.  We negotiate with our client’s spouse or the spouse’s attorney where we can to achieve a fair resolution of all issues for our client.  But when negotiation fails to achieve fair results, our firm takes divorce cases to trial because we pride ourselves in providing our clients with aggressive, professional representation.

Child custody

Texas courts encourage parents to decide child custody issues by agreement.  But when the parents are unable to agree, the court makes child custody decisions on the basis of what is in the best interest of the child.  Most of the time the courts order joint legal custody—called "conservatorship"—so that both parents get to make major decisions concerning their child’s health, education and welfare.  The court considers various factors to decide which parent will have primary residential custody (with the other parent getting a visitation schedule).   A child custody order can be changed either by agreement of the parents or if the judge can be convinced that it would be in the best interest of the child to change the custody order.

Child support

The amount a supporting parent pays for child support depends on the paying parent’s net income and other financial resources.  A child support order can be changed when there is a change of circumstance, such as a change in the paying parent’s income or the child reaching the age of legal majority.

Spousal support

In Texas, a court can order spousal support (alimony) while a divorce is pending, and in certain circumstances for up to three years after a divorce becomes final.

Enforcement or modification of prior family court orders

A family court order may be the result of an agreement between the parties or may be the end result of litigation between the parties.  When one party does not fulfill the obligations required by the court order, the other party has to formally ask the court to enforce the prior court order.  And when circumstances change for one or both parties, a prior court order may no longer be fair to one of the parties and in that case, that party may formally ask the court to modify the court order.

Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements

A prenuptial agreement is a contract between two people prior to marriage listing all of the property each person owns and all of the debts each person owes and specifies each person's rights and liabilities after marriage.  A postnuptial agreement is similar, except it is a contract between a couple already married.  Because of the subject matter of these agreements, they can provide protection or be challenged when the couple files for divorce.

Paternity

Paternity is the legal acknowledgment of the identity of a child’s father.  Paternity provides a child with various rights and benefits such as medical and life insurance coverage, inheritance rights, Social Security benefits, and family history information that may be useful for the child's healthcare.  But paternity also creates responsibilities for the father, such as providing financial support for the child.  Frequently, paternity is established by the voluntarily acknowledgement of both parties.   But when paternity is disputed, DNA testing can be used to determine whether or not an individual is the child's father and if paternity is established, a court order can be obtained to require the father to pay child support.

Finding an Austin Family Law Attorney

To learn more about how Nunis & Associates can provide you with aggressive, professional representation for your divorce or other family law matter, call 512-236-9696 or click here to contact us now.