Family Law cases are no doubt the most stressful and emotional types of cases facing our clients.  While Paternity and Stepparent Adoptions are cases that may contain elements of joy because they create a new formal family relationship, family law may also involve the heartbreak of divorce. When you have Family Law legal matters to work through, your life may well be in turmoil, and you need the comfort of working with an attorney who understands all aspects of your problem. Get that help from an experienced lawyer who understands that this is your life and not just another case.  While the legal process can be daunting, we will work with you so that you fully understand your options, and working as a partnership, we can pursue the best plan for you.  We care about you, your family and your best interests—in both the short and long term.

When you go through the lengthy process of meeting and dating someone, falling in love, marrying one another, and perhaps starting a family together, no one expects to divorce their partner.  Further, the idea of your partner inflicting emotional pain and perhaps physical abuse is beyond your comprehension.  The decision to divorce is therefore usually reached after months or even years of weighing one’s options and considering the effects on the children, if any.  No one comes to a decision to divorce easily.

Once the decision to divorce is made and you have actually begun the legal process, many clients describe the process as feeling like they are on a roller coaster—one day things seem to be going fairly smoothly, and the next day all agreements that you think you have with your spouse may have blown sky high.

What do you need at this point in time ?

• You need not only a lawyer to handle your legal case, but one that will fight for what you and the children need. At the same time, you need a lawyer who will have the honesty to tell you if you are being unreasonable and if the Court is unlikely to do what you are asking.

• You need an advocate to help you deal with the emotional ups and downs of the case, helping you keep your long-term best interests uppermost in mind.” Someone to not get swept up in the emotions of the moment, but rather, someone to help you keep your eyes on the long-term goals.

• Most importantly, when there are children involved, someone to help you establish a workable relationship with your ex, going forward into the future.

In a nutshell, that is what we do at the Law Office of Fonda G. Fitzgerald.

You will clearly understand the issues, the likely outcome of various legal options we might choose to resolve those issues, and after a full discussion of those options, you will make an informed decision of how you wish to proceed.  After all, only you can decide what is of uppermost importance to your family.  If issues have to be resolved in the Courtroom, that’s what we do.  If the issues can best be resolved by negotiation or mediation, that is the method we will use.  In any case, we are at your side every step of the way, and you will never feel alone or uninformed about your case.

Whether you are creating a new family or changing the standard family relationship, we want to work with you and help you through the process.

Family Law Definitions (cases we handle)

Divorce

A suit to terminate the marital union, and dissolve the bonds of matrimony between a married couple.  While divorce cancels the legal duties and responsibilities of the marriage itself, it also divides the marital estate (including debt and obligations), and establishes conservatorship, possession and access, and/or support for any children of the marriage.  Most importantly, the Texas Family Code has ensured that divorcing your spouse does not mean that you lose your relationship with your children in the State of Texas.

Annulment

A suit to declare the marriage null and void usually based upon fraud, duress, or force grounds such as being under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, impotency, mental incapacity, or concealed divorce, consanguinity, or marriage during existence of prior  marriage.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

Prenuptial Agreement – an agreement between persons who plan to marry concerning how their community and separate property rights are going to be defined both during the existence of their marriage and upon their death or divorce.

Postnuptial Agreement — an agreement between persons who are already married concerning how their community and separate property rights are going to be defined both during the existence of their marriage and upon their death or divorce.

Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship

A suit brought by a single person, or a married spouse who is not yet ready to divorce, who needs to establish conservatorship, possession and access, and/or support for the children of the parties.

Modifications

A suit to modify a prior order (such as a Divorce Decree) concerning the terms of conservatorship, possession and access, and/or support of the parties’ children.  May usually be done when circumstances have materially and substantially changed since the rendition of the Order, or where certain provisions are no longer workable.

Paternity

A suit brought against a man to in order to determine whether that man is the biological father of the child, obtain support for the child and for payment of bills incident to the pregnancy and the birth.

Enforcement or Contempt Action for Child Support or Visitation

An action to enforce the terms of an existing Order concerning child support or visitation provisions which one parent is not obeying. Can result in serious fines, legal fees, or possible jail time.

Termination and Step-Parent Adoptions

A suit brought by a married couple requesting the court to terminate the parental rights of a biological parent and grant adoption by the new step-parent.

Name Changes for Adults and Children

A suit petitioning the court for a change of name of an adult, a child.

Law Office of Fonda G. Fitzgerald

For nearly twenty-five years, licensed Texas Attorney, Fonda G. Fitzgerald, has enjoyed getting to know her clients and helping them with their various legal matters. Whether those legal matters are relatively simple, or whether they are complex in nature, the firm offers experienced small firm care and attention.

Typical family law matters that need legal assistance to resolve include:

• Marriage/Divorce/Separation – Divorce, Agreements, Modifications, Filing of above-referenced cases
• Children – Custody/Support, Education, Special Needs, Adoption
• Parents – Rights, Visitation, Parenting Issues

Get legal advice and representation from an experienced, compassionate professional who will be there whenever you need her legal skills. For your first consultation, contact the Law Office of Fonda G. Fitzgerald, in Carrollton, TX. Call us now, at (972) 677-7727.