What is Family Law?
Family law deals with issues that have a direct impact on the dynamics of a family. A family law attorney can be of great value during any event which alters a person’s life. Most people are not aware of the complexity of sorting out family issues until these matters need to be brought to court.
If you are in need of a Southlake family lawyer, contact Mims Ballew Hollingsworth | Family Law. Let us show you through our dedication and preparation how we can reach your goals.
In family law, the main practice areas include marriage, divorce, child custody, paternity, and more.
Marriage
Regarding an upcoming union, a family law attorney can help someone with drafting and finalizing a prenuptial agreement. A prenuptial agreement (prenup) is a written contract between two people who intend to marry each other. This agreement will protect the rights of each person concerning how property is divided in the event of a divorce.
It is important for the bride-to-be and groom-to-be to hire independent attorneys when drafting a prenup in order to ensure that each party’s interests are represented equally. It is especially important in a community property state, where assets that were acquired during the marriage are divided equally upon divorce. However, if a couple chooses to sign a prenuptial agreement, they can protect their personal property since the terms of the prenup supersede community property laws.
Divorce
Divorce is the process of terminating a marriage. Each partner will hire their own attorney to devise a settlement agreement. If the lower-earning spouse is unable to support themselves financially, they can request their attorney to ask for alimony on their behalf. Alimony (sometimes referred to as spousal support) is a court-ordered amount that a lower-earning partner receives from their ex-spouse to maintain the same lifestyle.
Child Custody
When a divorcing couple has children, the situation becomes more complicated. If a couple cannot agree on how to share custody of a child, then the court may need to step in.
In Texas, the legal term for child custody is conservatorship. There are two main types of conservatorships: managing and possessory. A managing conservator has the right to make medical and educational decisions on behalf of a child, while a possessory conservator has the ability to visit the child and also take possession of them.
Paternity
When a child is born to unmarried parents, paternity is not automatically established. Without taking steps to establish paternity, the father might not have important parental rights, including the right to be involved in the child’s life. When either parent brings a paternity case, the court will also want to address custody and child support matters if paternity is successfully established. Always have a family lawyer handling your case.
A Family Law Attorney Near You
Life can take unexpected twists and turns. If you are navigating through a significant life event, you need a family law attorney on your side. Allow Mims Ballew Hollingsworth | Family Law to advocate on your behalf. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
Constance Mims
Constance Mims has over fifteen years of experience practicing exclusively family law. Mrs. Mims is Board Certified in Family Law, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She is Collaborative Law certified and is a shrewd negotiator, not to mention her experience in the most challenging child custody, child support, spousal maintenance, alimony, prenuptial agreements, and divorce issues, both in court and in the appellate arena.
