Pearland Divorce Attorney

Divorce involves enough conflict without a divorce lawyer creating more. At The Powell Law Firm, our family law attorneys aim to reach efficient resolutions on behalf of our clients, minimizing the financial and emotional cost of divorce. Our goal is to protect our clients' interests by negotiating fair, long-lasting resolutions that will allow our clients to move forward with as little pain as possible.

At The Powell Law Firm, we understand that divorce is a difficult, emotional experience. That is why our attorneys take the time to work closely with our clients. We give our clients candid evaluations of their cases and their alternatives. Knowing the positive and negative aspects of each option allows our clients to make informed decisions that positively impact their future. If possible, we work with our clients to begin planning for divorce or separation early.

We will not waste our clients' time or money fighting over issues that are not critical to the resolution of a case. Rather, we pursue effective and efficient resolutions that protect our clients' rights and goals. Our attorneys help our clients with all aspects of divorce, including asset division, alimony, child custody and child support.

Our experience means we can handle every kind of divorce, including:

We have the strength to handle the most complex, contested cases, and we are also skilled at ushering uncontested divorces through the process efficiently.

Seeking Efficient, Effective Resolutions

At our Texas family law firm, we help our clients make the best decisions for themselves through mediation or negotiation, with less involvement by the courts. If a case requires court intervention, we are experienced and skilled trial attorneys.

Negotiation: Our attorneys try to control the emotional and financial costs involved in divorces. We work with our clients to determine what issues are important and how they want to resolve their concerns. Without wasting time on issues that are not critical to the resolution of the case, we focus on our clients' needs and persistently negotiate for fair and equitable resolutions.

Mediation: Attorney John Powell III is a mediator and represents clients in mediation. During mediation, the couple has the opportunity to work together with a trained neutral party to agree upon their own arrangements. Couples who reach consensus through mediation are more likely to have effective, long-lasting agreements and are less likely to need court intervention later.

Pearland Divorce Lawyer FAQs

Q. How long does a divorce take in Texas?

  • After filing for divorce, Texas requires a 60-day “cooling off” period. No final order can be entered during this time. If the divorce is uncontested, it may be finalized as soon as the 60-day period ends. For contested divorces, the process could take much longer. Some divorces take more than one year to finish. It all depends.

Q. How do I find a divorce lawyer?

  • An excellent way to find a lawyer is to get recommendations from friends and family members who have gone through a divorce. Contact the lawyers and set up a consultation to meet with them in person and get an idea of their personality and experience. You can also search online or use legal directories to find lawyers near you.

Q. Do I need a reason for the divorce?

  • Divorces can be based on “fault” or “no-fault” grounds. In Texas, most divorces are considered no-fault based on “insupportability.” This means that you and your spouse have a conflict of personalities and do not wish to be married any longer. If you want the court to make a decision based on fault, then you would need a reason. Adultery, cruel treatment, abandonment, and confinement in a mental hospital are possible grounds.

Q. How is property split in a Texas divorce?

  • Texas is a community property state, meaning all marital property is split 50/50 in a divorce. The only exceptions are gifts and inheritances. Even if the parties have separated but have not yet finalized their divorce, any property accumulated before the divorce decree is considered marital property.

Q. Can I get alimony?

  • Unlike some states, Texas is strict when it comes to alimony. The state allows for limited alimony if there is sufficient proof that one spouse cannot support themselves. The couple must have been married for at least 10 years, unless there also is either domestic violence or a special-needs child involved.

Q. If I divorce, do I have to go to court?

  • Many couples want to divorce but dread going to court. If you and your spouse can agree on all the issues in your divorce, then you can reduce the amount of time you spend in court. Unless you can take advantage of the use of an Affidavit to provide your case-ending testimony for an agreed Decree of Divorce, you will more than likely have to attend court at least one time. However, this process usually takes just a few minutes. You just need to answer some questions from the judge. Your lawyer will prepare you for this.

Q. What is the difference between a divorce and an annulment?

  • Both a divorce and an annulment end a relationship. However, a divorce ends a valid marriage. An annulment, on the other hand, ends a marriage that was never valid in the first place. There are several reasons why a marriage could be null and void. Possible reasons include bigamy, fraud, intoxication, lack of mental capacity, impotence, underage parties, and blood relationship. Even if the marriage was not valid, there may still be children involved. This means that a judge may order child support and child custody.

Contact Our Lawyers

If you are going through a divorce or need legal assistance with another family law matter, contact our experienced family law attorneys. We are committed to pursuing fair and equitable resolutions while minimizing the financial and emotional cost associated with divorce. Call our Pearland divorce lawyers at 281-747-6346 to schedule your initial consultation, or email us.