Divorce Lawyer Dallas, TX
Limited scope representation for Divorce
The divorce process can take one household and split it into two with additional costs that stretch the wallet and pocketbooks. Adding attorneys into the mix makes divorce a very expensive endeavor with financial implications that can literally break the bank. Limited scope representation for divorce allows a client to obtain legal representation for specific areas of their divorce case while saving them a considerable amount in financial funding.
What options are included in limited scope representation for Divorce?
Potential clients have the option to choose any of the following for a tailored limited scope representation with their Dallas divorce lawyer.
· Planning. Divorce is not a comfortable situation to be in. Many clients have never gone through a divorce and have no idea what to do or where to start. In fact, many clients have never stepped foot into a courtroom and do not know the procedures or what to file in their case. An experienced divorce lawyer will analyze your case and advise you of your legal rights. In the planning stage, procedural advice will also be given concerning the court case as well as advice given after an investigation of the facts concerning your case. The divorce lawyer will also obtain documents and review the correspondence and pleadings filed in your case. Of utmost importance is the formulation of strategy and trial tactics between the attorney and the client which takes place during the planning stage. The fee for the planning is hourly and the client can reserve as many hours as needed to plan for their case.
· Drafting the Petition. The petition is the pleading that gets the divorce process started. The information that is placed into a petition is determined based on the needs and wants of the client. Whether you need a petition drafted or an answer and counterpetition drafted we can help. A Dallas divorce lawyer will obtain all the documents needed to draft the appropriate petition for your case and will only draft the petition after reviewing all correspondence and pleadings provided by the client. We make every effort to get every pleading correct on the first try however if there are revisions needed we include two free revisions. The fee for the drafting is a flat fee.
· Reviewing. Some clients have already drafted all of their documents or have documents that need to be reviewed prior to filing or signing. An attorney will review all documents from the client and provide written advice after analyzing the documentation. The fee for the reviewing is hourly and the client can reserve as many hours as needed for the attorney to review the documents in their case.
· Drafting the Decree. An attorney will obtain all the documents needed to draft the decree for your case and will only draft the decree after reviewing all correspondence and pleadings provided by the client. We make every effort to get every pleading correct on the first try however if there are revisions needed we include two free revisions. The fee for the drafting is a flat fee.
· Prove Up. Proving up a case in front of a Judge can be a daunting experience for a client. An divorce lawyer will review all documents needed for a prove up and will advise the client to provide additional documentation if missing. The attorney will appear with the client in court to finalize the case in front of the Judge, coordinate with the clerk and get conformed copies of your decree and appropriate final documents from the court. The fee for the prove up is a flat fee.
What if I have kids?
The pricing is the same for divorcing clients who have children versus divorcing clients who do not have children. Texas combines the divorce and the SAPCR (Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship) if children were born because of a marriage. In this instance, whether it is planning, reviewing, drafting, or proving up we offer the same level of service.
What if there is an attorney representing my spouse?
Limited scope representation does not prevent you from talking with the attorney representing your spouse. In fact, in a limited scope representation you are responsible for all aspects of your case not covered by the limited scope representation. The attorney assigned on your limited scope representation agreement will not be speaking with the attorney representing your spouse however, you are free to speak about the interactions in the planning stage while you and the attorney are formulating a strategy and determining trial tactics.
What if I want full representation later on?
Limited scope representation does not stop a client from obtaining full representation from the attorney assigned to their case. Sometimes, cases become too much to handle for a particular client. One of the great aspects about limited scope representation is you can change to full representation if any aspect of your case gets too much to handle. Another aspect is the attorney will already have knowledge about your particular matter and will be in a better position to represent you if full representation is needed. Ultimately, limited scope representation allows the client to budget their legal expenses and enables the client to figure out where they need the attorney to help them out the most.
What is the next step to take full advantage of limited scope representation for divorce?
Call 817-841-9906 or contact us online to schedule a free in office consultation. Once your consultation is scheduled ensure that you have everything you need to be prepared for the consultation. You will want to gather all of your documents that you have filed or received from the court. Make an outline of the particular questions you have for the attorney and/or the issues in your case. Bring all of that information to your consultation so that you can get the most out of your consultation. The more information you have to share with the attorney, the easier it is for you and the divorce lawyer Dallas, TX residents turns to, to come up with a limited scope representation that fits your needs.
If you are looking for divorce lawyers in Dallas, TX you can rely on, you should reach out to Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC today. The process of divorce typically begins through submitting a complaint or petition document to the local court. You may hear the end of a marriage referred to as a “divorce” or “dissolution of marriage.” A copy of the petition or complaint is then sent to the other spouse, usually by a process server or sheriff’s office, and the other spouse is given a certain period of time to respond to this petition or complaint. The spouse can either agree to the requests in the paperwork, contest it, or not reply at all.
After the divorce process has begun, both spouses may have questions about what they can expect next, such as whether proving fault is needed and factors that may prolong the divorce process. When you are unsure of the steps in a divorce process, you should reach out to Dallas, TX divorce lawyers you can trust.
Q: What does it mean if a divorce is “no-fault”?
A: More traditionally, one of the only ways to get a divorce from your spouse was to show evidence that he or she had done something wrong that was recognized as a reason for divorce. A spouse had to be at-fault for the marriage to be broken up. The most common reasons were:
- Infidelity
- Abuse
- Insanity, or
- Sentencing to Prison for a Felony
As you can imagine, this made it more difficult to get a divorce for a relationship that simply wasn’t working anymore. Significant time, energy and money had to be spent trying to prove that the other spouse was responsible. Now, all states have passed divorce laws to include “no-fault”, which permits separation simply because at least one spouse no longer wants to be in the marriage.
Q: What happens with “uncontested” divorces?
A: When a divorce is uncontested, this means there is no disagreement regarding why the marriage is ending as described in the complaint or petition. Both spouses agree to the separation, along with divorce settlement terms for topics like alimony, child custody, property, and debt division. Uncontested divorces where each spouse is in full agreement and participates willingly, may also be called a “consent” divorce.
Q: Are there any waiting periods associated with the divorce process?
A: Yes, depending on what state you live in there may be legal requirements you must fulfill before being able to request divorce. After filing the initial paperwork needed for divorce, each spouse may consider meeting with divorce lawyers Dallas, TX trusts to see that things are continuing to move forward as quickly as possible. These waiting periods described below may cause the divorce process to take much longer than perhaps both spouses may like:
-Residency Requirements: This is the duration of time that both spouses must be a state resident, and can range from no time requirement to 12 months.
-Separation Requirements: In several states, it is necessary that both spouses are living separately for a duration of time prior to obtaining a divorce, and can range from no time at all up to 36 months.
-Divorce Filing: It may be required that a specific period of time passes between submitting the petition/complaint for divorce, and the scheduled court hearing or final judgement. This waiting period may range from none up to 90 days.
Reach Out To Dallas, Texas Divorce Lawyers
Thank you to our friends and contributors at Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC for their insight into family law and how to start the divorce process. If you have any more questions, get in contact with the divorce lawyers Dallas, TX trusts today!
