McLennan County Divorce Attorneys

Helping Families Build a New Future for Over 20 Years

Divorce can feel lonely. You’ll have to independently make decisions about your future that you would otherwise have made with your spouse. Facing the court and building a life for yourself is incredibly emotional, and there are few opportunities to process what divorce means for you in the future. However, that doesn’t have to be the case when you hire the right legal team to support you through the process.

The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard has over two decades of experience helping families navigate the divorce process. Our compassionate legal team puts you first. We work with you to understand your circumstances and help you build a strong foundation for your new life.

Schedule a consultation with our McLennan County divorce team today. Call (254) 220-4225 for more information.

What to Expect During a Texas Divorce

Most states have their own rules for divorce proceedings, including Texas. A general rule to keep in mind is that divorce cases are either contested or uncontested. Acontested divorce means that both parties cannot agree on one or more parts of the settlement. On the other hand, spouses who agree on every aspect of the divorce settlement have an uncontested divorce. From child support and visitation to asset division, there are several important rules to keep in mind.

Rule #1: More assets than you think are subject to equitable division. While divorce usually involves the division of property between spouses, Texas has a different approach. Marital property is separated into two groups: community and separate property.

• Separate property is what you own before marriage, or items you purchased with individual funds during the marriage. A couch from your college apartment is separate property, but a house bought by you and your spouse is not.
• Community property is property purchased with funds from a joint bank account, and it is subject to equitable division. This becomes complicated when one or both spouses own a business or have a high net worth. Business assets are subject to division, and in cases where a spouse has a high net worth, ownership of valuable property is more likely to be contested.

Rule #2: Child support and custody is ultimately the judge's decision. He or she will decide how much support to award and determine who will have physical and/or legal custody by evaluating both parents' financial and behavioral fitness.

For example, suppose after property division that one parent is financially unable to maintain a standard of living and provide for the child. In that case, the judge may award more child support to that parent to fill the gap. On the other hand, if there is documented abuse or neglect, the judge will not award physical custody to the guilty parent.

Rule #3: In addition to child support, the judge is also responsible for setting an amount for spousal maintenance. Spousal maintenance, or alimony, is not mandatory in a Texas divorce case. If the judge finds that a spouse needs funds to help them get a degree or employment training to maintain a standard of living, he or she will require the other spouse to pay a sufficient amount of spousal support to bridge any gaps.

Preparing You for Your Divorce Case

Whether you have an uncontested or contested divorce or a high net worth and business assets, the Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard is here to help. Our firm understands the complex legal issues associated with divorce, and we have over two decades of experience in and out of court. From filing to the Final Decree, put your case in good hands with the Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard. We offer confidential consultations and a military discount for service members.

Schedule your initial consultation with our McLennan County divorce lawyers today.