Plano Divorce Lawyer | Beal Law Firm

Are you looking for trustworthy divorce lawyers in Plano to help you navigate the multitude of challenges and stressors that can arise when filing for divorce? Beal Law Firm has been helping thousands of clients with family law cases since 1992. We work with clients in Collin County, Uvalde County, Rockwall County, Kendall County, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, and all over Texas. We have experience dealing with all kinds of intricacies that are involved in the divorce process, including issues like child custody, division of personal and business properties, and modification of previous court orders.

Division of Property and Assets

Texas is one of nine states that recognize items and property gained during marriage as “community property” between spouses. Community property is defined as anything acquired during the marriage. Examples of community property include items such as:

jewelry that was not explicitly given as a gift
the family home or other real estate
Furnishings
cars or other vehicles
debts and mortgages

Separate property is anything that was acquired prior to the marriage or in specific ways, such as anything gained from an inheritance, proceeds from certain elements of personal injury claims, or property designated as separate property in a prenuptial agreement.

In Texas, the court is the one who decides how the community property should be split between the spouses. The property division is meant to be equitable between the spouses, and many factors must be taken into consideration. It is important to note that equitable does not mean equal. In fact, most divorces do not end with a true 50/50 split.

Factors that the court considers during property division include:

young children
age gaps
a significant disparity in earned income
faults causing the breakup of the marriage, like adultery or drug abuse or domestic violence

Knowledgeable divorce lawyers serving Plano from Beal Law Firm are well-equipped to help you understand the nuances of this process, especially if things turn ugly from a vindictive spouse that can threaten to take everything that matters to you.

Child Custody Options After Divorce in Texas

Unfortunately, it is common for children to be caught in the middle when you and your spouse decide to get a divorce. Determining child custody is one of the most delicate decisions in a divorce. It is a common myth that once they are of a certain age, your children can choose which parent they would like to live with. While the children’s wishes are important to consider, the court does not necessarily use that as the primary deciding factor – and is certainly not required to.

In order for the court to grant you custody of your children over your spouse, you must provide evidence that staying as the primary caregiver is in the best interest of your children. For example, if your child has specific educational, psychological, or physical needs, you should demonstrate to the court that you can ensure those needs are met. Additionally, the court will encourage you and your spouse to cooperate in coming up with a plan together for the ideal parenting schedule between the two new households. However, if your spouse claims that you are refusing to comply, you must be ready to provide evidence that you are not the one causing trouble.

On the other hand, if you and your spouse are able to work amicably together and don’t plan on living very far apart after the divorce, joint custody, known as a joint conservatorship agreement in Texas, can be an excellent option for you and your children. If no factors during the divorce process, such as a history of neglect, violence, or drug abuse, indicate that one parent should have sole custody over the other, joint custody is what judges in Texas believe is best for the quality of life of your children.

While each case has its unique factors influencing the terms of child custody, many divorces that result in joint custody involve both parents having the right to contribute to major decisions in the child’s/children’s lives, including

Psychiatric and medical decisions
Religious and academic education
Extracurricular activities like sports or musical education

Even if you and your spouse are not on the best of terms with each other, formulating a plan for co-parenting under joint custody can be achieved. The court can assist by setting up rules for how you and your spouse can interact to avoid future conflicts and maintain harmony as you raise your children post-divorce.

As you can see, there are many nuances that determine the custody of children during a divorce. An understanding and proficient Plano divorce attorney from Beal Law Firm can help you gather the evidence you need and make this often tricky process less challenging.

Modifications to Prior Court Decisions

Suppose you or your spouse’s financial or living circumstances change after the official court decisions of your divorce. In that case, you can petition for modifications regarding child support, child custody, and spousal support.

For example, if you need to relocate and your children’s primary residence is with you, you may need to modify the terms of your child custody agreement to let your spouse’s home become the primary residence. A Plano divorce attorney from Beal Law Firm can support you in adjusting the necessary court orders to help you maintain harmony and healthy relationships with your former spouse and your children.

Our Dedication to You

We have been serving clients throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area and all of Texas for over 30 years. In 2007, we transitioned to working exclusively in family law cases as they can be some of the trickiest ones involving many aspects of civil law. We are committed to reviewing every detail of your case to provide ethical and realistic legal assistance that will lead you to the best possible outcome. Our divorce lawyers in Plano are ready to partner with you through this life-altering process so you can focus on preparing for a better future for you and your family.

Our Availability

Our Southlake location is our main office. This location is available for walk-in visits at the following hours:

Mon: 7:30am - 7:00pm

Tue: 7:30am - 7:00pm

Wed: 7:30am - 7:00pm

Thu: 7:30am - 7:00pm

Fri: 7:30am - 7:00pm

Sat: By Appointment

Sun: By Appointment

If you are looking for divorce lawyers in Plano, our closest office will be either our Dallas or Frisco virtual offices, with perceptive and experienced attorneys ready to help you in person by appointment. However, we can also serve any of our clients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area through phone or video calls. Feel free to reach out to us through our contact page for more information.