Frequently Asked Questions
Part of any good attorney's practice is dedicated to answering questions from clients. Some of the frequently asked questions attorney Mark Roles often hears from new clients include—
- What can a family law attorney do for me?
- What are grounds for divorce in Texas?
- Can custody or visitation rights be changed from the original order?
- How is child support calculated?
- How is marital property divided?
- What types of adoption are there in Texas?
- How much does a lawyer cost?
- I anticipate that my divorce will be uncontested. How much will it cost to have an attorney handle an uncontested divorce?
- What can I do to prepare for meeting with an attorney?
- Is it okay for me to discuss my legal situation with other people?
Contact Mr. Roles for superior, cost-effective representation
Contact The Law Offices of Mark C. Roles, P.C. for a free initial consultation with a dedicated Cedar Park family law attorney. Mr. Roles works with clients in Williamson County, Travis County, and the greater Austin area. Evening and weekend hours are available by appointment.
What can a family law attorney do for me?
Family law lawyers help clients through divorces, adoptions, child support, and other legal transactions affecting your daily life. While the law may seem simple, its execution can become complicated without the help of a qualified lawyer. Mr. Roles provides compassionate, attentive service to all his family law clients. His thorough understanding of the Texas Family Code is an invaluable asset to your case.
What are grounds for divorce in Texas?
The most common legal ground for a divorce is called insupportability, which essentially means that one or both spouses no longer wish to remain married to each other and there is no reasonable expectation the relationship can be reconciled. Since it does not require proof that a spouse is at fault for the breakup of the marriage, insupportability is a no fault ground for divorce. Texas does, however, recognize certain fault-based grounds for divorce, which are as follows—
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Proving fault sometimes results in an increased settlement for the wronged party.
Can custody or visitation rights be changed from the original order?
Yes. A parent can file suit to request a modification order from the court to change the custody of the children and/or adjust the amount of time a child spends with his or her family members. A suit to modify can also be made to increase or decrease child support or change other aspects of the order pertaining to the children.
How is child support calculated?
Child support is calculated by taking a percentage of the noncustodial parent's net resources. While the amount of support can be adjusted because of underlying factors, the net resource percentage per child is roughly—
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How is marital property divided?
Texas is a community property state, where all income and property acquired during the marriage is presumed to belong equally to both partners. Separate property—assets that can be proven to be owned before the marriage and select other resources—is not community property and cannot be subject to division in a Texas divorce.
What types of adoption are there in Texas?
Texas courts recognize several forms of adoption, including—
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How much does a lawyer cost?
The cost of a lawyer depends on the complexity of your case and the total amount of time devoted to your case. Mr. Roles is dedicated to providing cost-efficient legal services to all his clients.
I anticipate that my divorce will be uncontested. How much will it cost to have an attorney handle an uncontested divorce?
If a divorce—or any other proceeding for that matter—is truly uncontested, this can greatly reduce the total amount of time an attorney must devote to your case and, hence, the total cost of your proceeding. An uncontested divorce means that you and your spouse have agreed on all major issues in your case, including conservatorship, custody, possession and access, and child support, as well as the complete division of all community assets and debts. If one or more issues cannot be resolved by agreement, then the divorce is, by definition, contested.
In Mr. Roles' experience, an uncontested divorce typically takes between five and ten hours worth of attorney time, plus expenditures. However, this range is only a rough estimate, as the extent of negotiations required, the amount of ancillary documents necessary to the case, the number of court appearances required, the extent and complexity of the community assets and debts, unforeseen circumstances, and other issues can substantially increase the amount of time required in even an uncontested divorce. Mr. Roles strives to be as efficient as possible in caring for your case.
What can I do to prepare for meeting with an attorney?
Initial meetings with attorneys generally go much smoother when clients supply documents and information relevant to their legal matter. Preparing for your meeting gives you the opportunity to make a list of questions and talking points you want to discuss—and gives your potential lawyer a better idea of what your case entails.
Is it okay for me to discuss my legal situation with other people?
It is impossible to predict the potential consequences of any given oral or written conversation. As such, it is best to keep the details of your legal situation between you and your attorney.
