Planning and Problem Solving Prior to Divorce in Dallas
Divorce planning is easy to misunderstand. Many people think it refers to the manipulation of assets prior to the dissolution of a marriage so that you keep more of the marital property. At the law firm of Laurence A. DePlaza, P.C., however, we address a different range of problems and issues before the petition for divorce is filed. To learn how you can benefit from divorce planning and preparation without compromising any ethical values or principles of fairness, please contact a family law attorney at our office in Plano.
If you are reasonably certain that your marriage is over, you owe it to yourself and your family to get a clear understanding of just what divorce is all about. In our experience, many of our clients know very little about the Texas statutes and rules relating to the division of property, the resolution of child custody or child support issues, or a spouse's eligibility for alimony. Even in high net-worth divorces, our clients sometimes turn out to know very little about the family finances or investments, because these matters are handled by the other spouse or by advisers.
Our lawyers work closely with you prior to divorce to make sure that you have a solid understanding of your legal rights and responsibilities with respect to property, support, and access to your children. We can help you gather basic information about your assets and liabilities, and assist with identifying and planning for potential problems concerning child custody and visitation. The many specific tasks we can help with include:
- Assembling and interpreting financial documents
- Performing preliminary valuations of family business assets, partnership interests, or unique assets such as art collections or classic cars
- Advising you about the enforceability and effect of prenuptial agreement terms
- Developing sound opinions as to whether particular assets will be regarded as marital property to be divided or as separate property to be excluded from the marital estate
- Gathering information about each spouse's strengths and weaknesses as a parent for insight into possible child custody and visitation issues
- Identifying counseling or therapy resources for clients with special needs or problems, as well as services for your children
Although proper divorce planning and review of your circumstances prior to filing for divorce can give you an advantage in disputes over marital property or child custody issues, it can also protect your interests and help you define your objectives. It can also help you plan for your life after divorce.
For further information about our ability to help you through pre-divorce advice and divorce planning, please contact AV-rated* Texas divorce attorney Laurence DePlaza or his associate Sheila O'Connor, in Plano.
* CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Ratings evaluate two categories--legal ability and general ethical standards.
