From Negotiations to Courtroom Battles: A Divorce Lawyer’s Job Demystified
Hundreds of thousands of divorces happen in the U.S. each year, and when a...
Read ArticleThe attorneys at Mims Ballew Hollingsworth | Forth Worth Family Law have more than 75 years of combined experience helping clients navigate through the complexities of divorce and family law cases. While some lawyers handle multiple areas of law, our attorneys focus their practice areas exclusively on family law.
Two of our attorneys are board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Becoming board certified is a mark of excellence following a rigorous testing and selection process.
When your family and finances are at risk, you need an experienced lawyer to protect your rights and future. MBH Fort Worth is here to provide you with experienced and effective representation.
Your circumstances and your family are unique. Your game plan in a divorce or family law case should be too. The attorneys at Mims Ballew Hollingsworth | Forth Worth Family Law will work with you to develop a customized game plan for your case. Our lawyers do not believe in using “cookie-cutter” strategies for divorce and family law cases. We believe in tailoring the strategy to your circumstances and presenting creative solutions to reach your goals.
When represented by one of our attorneys you can expect honesty, effective communication, and excellent preparation. Our lawyers have a reputation for honesty and integrity.
We will handle your case with professionalism from start to finish. Our attorneys will be honest and upfront with you about your case, your rights, and your changes. We pride ourselves on communicating with clients. When your family is at issue not knowing what is going on it is a terrible feeling, one that we do not want for our clients.
When represented by an Mims Ballew Hollingsworth | Forth Worth Family Law attorney, you will be kept up to date with each step of the way and will receive timely responses when asking about your case. The preparation our lawyers put into your case is second to none. When your children, finances, and future are at risk, you need an attorney who is prepared to fight for you and not one who shows up winging it. Extensive and thorough preparation is necessary to protect your rights, and this is what you will receive from our lawyers.
The divorce process has an emotional impact on everyone involved; you, your wife, and your children. There are also many procedures and issues to consider, from child custody to child support, not to mention the laws that apply specifically in Texas. That´s where our Family Law Attorneys step in, prioritizing you and your family’s needs so they can move through the divorce process swiftly and receive a fresh start. Providing legal counsel to families in Fort Worth, Southlake, Denton, and nearby cities in Texas for years.
Suppose you are dealing with any of the following legal issues. In that case, our lawyers are board-certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and can help you and your family throughout this challenging process.
If you are dealing with any of these legal issues, Mims Ballew Hollingsworth | Forth Worth Family Law can help! We have 75 years of combined family law experience, and two of our Fort Worth attorneys are board-certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. We know how stressful family law matters can be, and we fight for the best outcome in every case.
We put you and your family first! Whether you are facing divorce, seeking adoption, or have a child custody case, you can rely on our legal team. Contact us today for a case review or legal consultation.
Meet Our Team
The attorneys at Mims Ballew Hollingsworth|Family Law have more than 75 years of combined experience helping clients navigate through the complexities of divorce and family law cases.
Meet Our TeamPractice Areas
Your circumstances and your family are unique. Your game plan in a divorce or family law case should be too. We offer professional legal help when you need it most.
Client Reviews & Testimonials
I highly recommend this law firm. I have had Brian and Kelly both represent me in now three seperate cases. They are men of integrity that are very prompt to answer questions and get back to you on important matters. They have always been well organized and stayed on top of the important information relevant to my cases. ...
Timothy Alexander did an exceptional job handling my divorce case. He was extremely prepared, very informative, and he made sure I was always kept in the loop. His professionalism, guidance and empathy tremendously helped during what could have been a much more difficult time. I was so pleased with the final outcome and ...
Highly recommend this law firm. Andrew McAlester goes above and beyond for his clients. He’s very resourceful and prompt in communication. I always refer Mr. McAlester to my family and friends in their time of need because I trust his judgement and I know he has his clients well being at the forefront of everything.
Serving All Texas With Over 75 Years of Combined Experience
request consultationWhy Choose Us?
Our team has vast experience helping clients navigate their family law cases.
We want our clients to know they are protected, both emotionally and legally, as we navigate their case.
Are attorneys are certified with excellence by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Our attorneys will be honest and up front with you about your case, your rights, and your changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
The right place where you cand find the answers to your questions regarding family law
In Texas, there is a 60-day waiting period before a divorce can become final (unless an exception is granted due to family violence. Even if both spouses agree on everything, there must be at least 60 days from the date you file with the Court until the date the Court grants your divorce. If you and your spouse have an agreement, the divorce attorneys at Mims Ballew Hollingsworth can help you finalize your divorce on the sixty-first day after filing. This is the fastest possible outcome.
If you and your spouse do not have an agreement before filing, the time it takes to finalize your divorce depends on many factors including: whether children are involved, is there a business to value, whether discovery is needed, and the amount of conflict between spouses. Most cases reach a final resolution through an agreement at some point, but if your case goes to final trial, it can often take more than a year to resolve (especially in larger counties where court dockets are backed up).
While some contested divorces can be resolved in a few months, others can take years to finalize. If your divorce involves significant contested issues (i.e. which parent the children will live with, whether one spouse will receive alimony, who will be awarded the marital home), it is best to plan for anywhere between six months to eighteen months to get to the finish line.
If you are considering a divorce and have concerns about the processing dragging out, it is a good option to schedule a consultation with a divorce lawyer at Mims Ballew to discuss your options and develop a game plan to reduce the time it takes to get you divorced.
Being the first to file a case (the Petitioner) provides strategic advantages throughout litigation. At trial the Petitioner makes their opening statement first, calls their witnesses first, can delay the other party (the Respondent) from speaking until after all the Petitioner’s evidence is presented, and in closing arguments speaks both first and last.
While the Petitioner and Respondent have the same rights and often share the same burden of proof, filing first can certainly help with persuading the Court. Letting the Court know your side of the story first can help when it comes to decisions such as why your children should live primarily with you, why you deserve alimony or why the other party does not need it, or who gets to keep the marital home. If there are facts harmful to your case, filing first allows you to get in front of these and take the sting out of the Respondent’s argument.
Aside from benefits at trial, filing first provides an opportunity to send a message to the Respondent and direct how the case proceeds. Your first filing can indicate a desire to be amicable or can let the other side know you are prepared to fight. Your first filing can also be used to obtain a restraining order or set a hearing before the Respondent even knows a case is filed. Even how you notify the Respondent can impact your case, whether it with a formal process server at their place of employment or through providing them the opportunity to avoid this scenario and voluntarily accept the filing.
If you are considering filing a family law case, there are benefits to filing first. Schedule a consultation with a family lawyer at Mims Ballew Hollingsworth to discuss these benefits and develop a game plan for your case.
Texas is a community property state. This means when you file for divorce our Courts assume that all property you and your spouse have is owned by the marriage and can be divided. However, if you can prove separate property (e.g., what you had before marriage, gifts you received during marriage, or inheritance), then you will have property that the Court cannot take away from you in a divorce.
When property is divided, the Court does so in a manner that the Judge deems “just and right,” considering the rights of each party and any children of the marriage. This does not necessarily mean an equal division between spouses. What one Judge believes is “just and right” may differ from what another Judge right across the hall in the same courthouse believes.
At Mims Ballew Hollingsworth, one of the first things we do in your divorce is find out what property exists for division. We work with you to obtain information on homes, bank accounts, vehicles, business interests, retirement, stock accounts, debts, and separate property claims. If you are concerned your spouse may be hiding assets we will work with you to find this information and ensure all property is accounted for.
After determining divisible property, the next step is valuation. With some assets it is not as straight-forward as looking at an account balance. Business interests can be difficult to value, home prices are constantly changing, and there may be certain tax implications (capital gains) that need to be assessed.
The process of determining what property is divisible and assessing values can be extremely complex, especially in high-asset divorces. The divorce attorneys at Mims Ballew Hollingsworth are experienced in dividing high-asset estates and will work with you and financial professionals to protect your financial interests.
A contested divorce or family law case does not require costly litigation in a public courtroom. You can resolve contested issues through alternative dispute resolution, such as collaborative law, mediation, or arbitration.
These alternatives are often more cost-efficient when compared to going to court, and can result in a faster resolution to your case (in large counties it is not uncommon to wait over a year before having a final trial due to the court’s docket).
Alternative dispute resolution methods, including mediation, are also confidential and do not take place in a courtroom that is open to public viewing. This can be beneficial for divorces and family law cases involving high-profile individuals (e.g. athletes, celebrities, politicians, etc.) or topics of a sensitive nature (i.e. business trade secrets or high-asset divorces).
Collaborative law is a confidential method of resolving a divorce of child custody case where parties work together through joint sessions with the help of specially trained professionals to assist with resolving financial and parenting issues. The focus is on finding mutually beneficial solutions and with sharing information that would normally be kept confidential during litigation. Collaborative law is unique and may not be right for everyone, but for some it is an effective method to lessen conflict.
Just because your divorce or child custody case is contested does not mean it needs to become high conflict and involve costly public court hearings. The family law attorneys at Mims Ballew Hollingsworth can talk you through these options and develop a plan for resolving your case in a through alternative dispute resolution.
When parents can agree on who their children will live with, how to share in rights and decision making, and a parenting time schedule, the Court will often approve this agreement. If parents cannot agree, then the Judge will make custody decisions based on what they believe is in the best interest of the children.
The following factors are frequently considered by Courts in determining a child’s best interest: parenting abilities, plans for the child, home stability, your child’s desires, your child’s emotional and physical needs, and whether there is a concern of emotional and physical danger to your child.
Custody orders in Texas are referred to as a parenting plan. The parenting plan addresses issues such as who your child will live with, what rights each parent has, where your child will go to school, and how the parents will share possession. The parenting plan can be very detailed and address concerns or issues unique to your child. If a parent has problems with drugs or alcohol, this can be addressed in your parenting plan to assure the safety of your child. If your child has special needs, these can be addressed in your parenting plan to assure that your child is properly provided for.
If you are involved in a child custody case, you need an attorney who will fight to protect you and your child’s future. The child custody lawyers at Mims Ballew Hollingsworth have more than 75 years of experience helping families navigate through the family law system, and we will work with you to develop a customized gameplan for your case and for reaching your goals to protect your child.
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Our family law attorney & Divorce lawyer are ready to take your case. Visit us now!
Our family law attorney & Divorce lawyer are ready to take your case. Contact us now!