Austin Family & Divorce Lawyer
Family Law and Divorce Attorney in Austin, TX
Family Law Specialist Advocating for all Clients
Looking for a Central Family Law Attorney?
As a knowledgeable Austin family law attorney, Shane M. Boasberg provides comprehensive support to clients navigating complex family law issues in Texas. Our experienced Austin family lawyers are dedicated to providing personalized legal strategies to address the unique challenges faced by individuals in difficult family situations. Our law firm fully recognizes the numerous intricacies and unique challenges that can arise in these cases, and we are committed to delivering exceptional legal representation for divorce cases tailored to each individual situation. Our extensive experience as seasoned Austin family law attorneys enables us to effectively and diligently tackle intricate child custody and visitation matters, safeguarding our clients’ rights while ensuring they remain informed and actively engaged throughout the divorce and property division process.
Introduction to Our Firm
At our Austin family law firm, we understand that family law matters can be emotionally challenging and complex. Our experienced family law attorneys are dedicated to providing compassionate guidance and expert advice to help clients navigate the legal process. With a deep understanding of Texas family law, we offer a client-centered approach to ensure the best possible outcome for our clients. Our practice areas include divorce, child custody, child support, and property division, among other areas of law.
About Us
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, with satellite offices available by appointment in Williamson County and Houston, The Law Offices of Shane M. Boasberg, P.C. is dedicated to fiercely advocating for its clients. Our service area includes Austin, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Round Rock, Manor, Buda, Kyle, San Marcos, New Braunfels, and other cities across Travis, Williamson, Bastrop, and Hays Counties.
Our Austin family law firm specializes in all aspects of family law, including divorce filings, temporary orders, mediation, and trial representation. Regardless of your relationship status—whether you are a spouse, former spouse, partner, grandparent, or child—our priority is to protect your legal interests and assist you in navigating the complexities of the situation. Our attorneys are board-certified, representing a high standard of expertise and accomplishment in the legal field.
With extensive experience spanning many years and a strong commitment to professionalism, we carefully tailor our wide range of legal services to meet your unique needs and specific concerns. This ensures that your legal matters are handled with the utmost care, diligence, and attention to detail, providing you with the support and guidance you deserve during challenging times. We are also prepared to assist individuals dealing with domestic violence, offering legal protections such as protective and restraining orders.
You are not just another case; we genuinely believe in treating every client with the utmost respect and care. Whether you are filing for a divorce or seeking to modify an existing court order, you can confidently rely on my firm’s extensive expertise and unwavering commitment to securing the desired verdict in the court of law. We understand the complexities of family law and are here to guide you every step of the way.
If we can’t settle your case before trial through negotiation or mediation, we have the experience and skill to try the case in Court. Jury verdicts represent the accurate measure of value in the legal profession. Our primary objective is to uphold and enhance the highest ethical standards among our dedicated staff and experienced attorneys while fulfilling our moral obligations to our valued clients. We are committed to providing top-notch legal representation, ensuring that ethical behavior and moral integrity are fundamental in fostering trust within our practice.
Divorce Process in Texas
The divorce process in Texas can be complex and time-consuming. For divorcing couples, it is crucial to ensure that property division and child support are handled fairly and justly. Our Austin divorce attorneys can help you understand the legal process and provide a fair outcome. We will guide you through every stage of the divorce process, from filing the divorce petition to negotiating a fair settlement amount.
Work with a Central Texas Family Law Attorney
In Texas, divorcees can petition for alimony or spousal support. Both alimony and spousal support are regular payments made by one spouse to support the other during or after a divorce proceeding. Working with an experienced family law attorney in Austin, TX is crucial for effective legal representation and guidance through these family law issues. An attorney's expertise in family law can help navigate the complexities of divorce and courtroom proceedings, avoiding common legal mistakes and thereby improving the chances of achieving a favorable outcome. The payment amount is based on the unique needs and earning potential of both spouses.
There are several differences between alimony and spousal support:
Alimony: The payment given to a spouse during the divorce proceeding as maintenance and a way to help a spouse recover financially. Alimony is also known as spousal support or spousal maintenance in the state of Texas.
Spousal support: Regular, court-mandated payments that last after the divorce to supplement a spouse's income or provide for him or her.
What the Court Considers when Awarding Support / Alimony
The court does not simply award alimony to any spouse who requests it without careful consideration. The court understands that, in many cases, the paying spouse may face significant financial difficulties and that the payments involved may not be feasible. Austin family law attorneys are highly skilled experts in navigating the emotionally charged and intricate nature of family law cases, such as divorce proceedings and custody disputes. They offer personalized, client-centered legal representation designed to alleviate stress and strive for favorable outcomes for their clients, ensuring their rights and best interests are protected throughout the process.
For this reason, the court will typically look at a variety of factors, including:
The financial resources of each spouse at the time of the divorce
The length of the marriage
The age, employment history, earning ability, and physical and emotional health of the spouse
Child support obligations
Use of community property funds
Each spouse’s education and employment skills
Any acts of adultery committed in the relationship
Any patterns of family violence
The property that each spouse brought to the marriage
Whether or not one spouse acted as a homemaker in the marriage
Whether the spouse seeking support contributed to the education or training of the other spouse
Do you qualify for spousal maintenance?
The court can order spousal maintenance if the spouse seeking the payment does not have enough property at the time of the divorce to provide for his or her basic needs. Usually, the courts will consider alimony if one spouse was convicted of committing family violence against the other spouse during the marriage. Additionally, if the spouse seeking support is unable to earn an income due to a disability, the court is typically generous in awarding spousal support.
Spouses can also qualify for support if they were married for ten years or longer and cannot earn enough income to maintain the standard of living they experienced before divorce. Also, if the spouse seeking support has custody of a child with a physical disability, spousal support is common in addition to child support.
How Courts Award Custody
When determining custody arrangements, the courts carefully examine various factors, prioritizing the child's best interests and closely evaluating each parent's ability to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for their children, even when they are separated. Suppose one parent attempts to secure sole custody of the children while another is contesting this motion. In that case, that parent must provide substantial evidence to prove that the other is unfit for parenthood in any significant way. In cases where both parents collaborate through the process and formally request joint custody, the courts will thoroughly scrutinize this request, emphasizing that both parents must be willing to work together harmoniously and maintain open lines of communication to implement a joint custody arrangement effectively.
How We Can Help You
Family law matters can be extremely complex and often involve highly emotional circumstances. When your future and children's lives hang in the balance of a crucial decision made by a judge, you must ensure you hire a skilled family lawyer from The Law Offices of Shane M. Boasberg. This will help provide professional negotiation, objective advice, and effective courtroom representation to protect your rights and interests during this challenging time.
Equitable Distribution Laws in TX
Equitable distribution is also commonly referred to as property division. This is the essential process of separating and differentiating one's assets from those of the spouse during the often challenging divorce process. Ensuring that all aspects of property division are handled fairly and in compliance with the law is essential. If you seek professional assistance in determining equitable distribution in your specific case, please do not hesitate to reach out and call the Law Offices of Shane M. Boasberg, where experienced legal support is available to guide you through this complicated process.
What does equitable distribution mean?
Equitable distribution in the context of divorce does not necessarily imply that both spouses will equally share their assets on a strict 50/50 basis after the dissolution of their marriage. Instead, the courts will carefully evaluate each situation to determine what is considered fair for both spouses, while ensuring that neither is left at a significant disadvantage. For example, one of the most contentious issues that couples often argue about is the marital home—specifically, to whom it truly belongs after the divorce. Other vital questions will emerge, such as who will be responsible for paying off any remaining debts incurred during the marriage.
Child support
Do you have questions about child support in the state of Texas? Whether you are preparing for a divorce or you were never married to your child’s other parent at the Law Offices of Shane M. Boasberg, we can help you understand the Texas child support guidelines and let you know your options. We can assist you with both establishing and modifying child support orders. It is possible to obtain a child support modification only if a substantial change in financial circumstances can be shown.
In Texas, child support is calculated according to the statutory guidelines outlined in the Family Code. The law uses several factors to determine the final amount of child support to be paid to the child or children’s primary custodian, including the net income of the noncustodial parent:
The number of children
Net income of the non-custodial parent
Monthly health insurance expense and who pays for it
Child custody and visitation
Part of the divorce process for couples with children involves determining child custody. Understanding the legal aspects of custody arrangements is crucial to achieving a favorable outcome. Splitting up time between your children can be one of the most challenging decisions. To achieve a better outcome, it is essential to understand the various types of child custody available. If you are going through a divorce and are concerned about your custody options, The Law Offices of Shane M. Boasberg can assist you in achieving your goals.
Sole Custody
When a parent is awarded sole custody of their children, they are the only parent with the legal authority to make decisions regarding the children. Such decisions could include medical treatments, the school the child attends, and which after-school activities to participate in. A parent with sole custody has the child living with them full-time, allowing them to make decisions about their child's everyday needs.
Joint Custody
Parents could choose from a variety of different options that fall under the broad umbrella of joint custody, allowing them to create an arrangement that best suits the unique needs of their family and the well-being of their children.
Joint Physical Custody
In this particular arrangement, your children will have the opportunity to enjoy two separate residences, where they will spend a minimum of 35% of their time with each parent. This setup enables a balanced and meaningful relationship with both parents, promoting a sense of stability in their lives.
Joint Legal Custody
When parents decide they would like joint legal custody, the children have one primary residence but both parents have the legal right to share such decisions as medical treatments, religious upbringing, and the schools the children attend.
Other Combinations:
Ultimately, as parents, you have the responsibility to determine what works best for your unique family situation. This means you can thoughtfully choose any combination of the various options available to you, whether it be shared physical custody or shared joint custody, in order to create a parenting arrangement that best suits your needs and those of your children.
Let's Chat
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