How to Find the Best Family Law Attorney in Fort Bend

When you are in a legal battle that could overhaul your family life the way that a divorce can, you want help from the best. Your attorney should be well-versed in all family law matters and be ready to take on any challenge you might face in a hearing or negotiation. 

The Stout Law Firm, PLLC, is one of the best family law firms in Texas. We have decades of experience in family law matters, and we have multiple award-winning family law attorneys who can protect your interests in a divorce case. In addition to our extensive experience and renowned advocacy, we have great compassion for our clients as they move through their legal matters. We treat each client’s case with the utmost care.

What You Can Expect When You File for Divorce

Once you file for divorce, multiple aspects of your life become subject to a court ruling, including:

  • What amount of your property is marital, and what amount is separate;
  • What share of the marital property you will receive;
  • What custody and parenting time rights you will have;
  • Whether you or your spouse is entitled to receive alimony; and
  • What amount of child support you or your spouse will pay.

Having an experienced Fort Bend divorce attorney can help ensure that the court handles each of the above-listed matters in a way that protects your interests. 

Dividing Marital Property

Not every divorce involves child support and child custody matters, but every divorce addresses property. When you divorce, the court must first determine what property of yours is separate and what property is community or marital property. 

In general, marital property is whatever you acquire while married, and separate property is:

  • What you acquired before your marriage;
  • What you obtained during your marriage by devise, descent, or gift; and
  • Any personal injury awards you received for losses during your marriage, except for any portion of an award that is for a loss of earning capacity during your marriage.

And whatever property of yours is marital, the court divides according to what is just and right.

Sussing out what property is up for distribution and how much you should keep can be a fact-intensive analysis that requires you to gather large amounts of evidence to support your position. You might need to provide financial statements, witness testimony, and property titles and leases. Each Fort Bend divorce attorney at The Stout Law Firm has more than 10 years of experience and is well-equipped to help you keep the largest share of your property after the dissolution of your marriage.

Child Custody and Child Support Matters

If you and your spouse share a minor child, the court must make determinations about your parenting rights and child support—these matters go hand in hand. Texas divorce courts decide child custody based on what is in the best interests of each child involved. And once the court establishes each parent’s custody rights, it decides the amount of child support parents will pay. Support amounts depend on the financial resources of each parent, the amount of custody each parent has, and the needs of the child.

Alimony

Despite what many may assume, alimony is not a factor in every divorce. In general, a spouse must ask for alimony or spousal maintenance in Texas, and the court grants it only if the requesting spouse will lack resources after divorce. Our experienced attorneys can review the facts of your case and make the best arguments to help you win the support you need.

Other Divorce Matters

Aside from the matters of property division, support, and child custody, some divorce cases might require orders regarding additional issues such as:

We are well-versed in these issues and know how to win extra protection for you in your family law case.

Meet Lead Fort Bend County Divorce Lawyer Angela Stout

Angela stout

Check out Angela’s full bio »

Angela Stout is a top family law advocate and prolific legal educator in Texas. Ms. Stout began practicing law in 2007 earning her Juris Doctorate degree from South Texas College of Law.

Ms. Stout has additional credentials that give her the edge in representing family law petitioners and respondents in every circumstance. She was admitted to the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2015. And the University of Houston Law Center AA White Dispute Resolution Center certified Ms. Stout as a mediator.

Check out Angela’s full bio »

Other Practice Areas

Texas Divorce Statistics

Around the state of Texas, the divorce rate has decreased from 2019 to 2022. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of divorces per 1,000 in Texas went from 2.1 in 2019 to 1.9 in 2022. There were peaks and valleys during this span of time, with the lowest divorce rate being 1.4 per 1,000 in 2021. While divorce rates may be declining in Texas, they are still significant, and there are still several services spouses can use for support during the process.

Approved Family Help Centers

In difficult times following a divorce, there are a number of resources that can support you. Here are some trusted resources to contact:

Filing for Divorce in Fort Bend County

To start your divorce case, you can file a divorce petition with the Fort Bend county courthouse, which is located at:

301 Jackson St
Richmond, TX 77469
(get directions)

Once your case is open, you may have to attend trial to obtain a divorce and all legal relief that you need. However, some couples can limit their trial obligations by negotiating prenuptial or postnuptial agreements that cover their divorce terms.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Lawyers Serving Fort Bend County

Many rules regarding the division of property and alimony in a Texas divorce are default rules. This means that if you and your spouse agree, you can make your own rules about the distribution of your marital property and financial resources. You can do this by negotiating and signing a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement.

With a divorce agreement regarding property and alimony rights, a couple may not have to spend many hours or days in court arguing about what they should receive in their divorce decree. But Texas family courts do not enforce divorce agreements unless they are just and right. A knowledgeable pre-marital agreement attorney or postnuptial agreement attorney from our firm can help ensure that the provisions of your agreement are enforceable.

Contact a Fort Bend County Divorce Attorney to Discuss Your Legal Options

When the issue of divorce arises in your marriage, consult an experienced Fort Bend County divorce attorney from The Stout Law Firm as soon as possible. A divorce lawyer from our firm can put your mind at ease by reviewing the specific facts of your case and protecting your unique interests. And even if you and your spouse don’t follow through with the divorce, one of our attorneys can help you set up legal safeguards in your marriage to serve you well into the future. If you need help, you can call us or submit your questions to us online.