Odessa, TX Divorce Attorneys

Key Takeaways:

• Texas is a community property state and divides assets according to a standard of what is considered “just and right.”
  

• Your divorce can take several different avenues, including contested or uncontested and fault-based or no-fault depending on the particulars of your marriage.
  
• Our Odessa divorce attorneys can guide you through divorce with care and strategic precision. 

Going through divorce is a life-changing experience. No matter your reasons for ending your marriage, it’s an emotionally complex process with no end to questions that need to be answered and loose ends that need to be tied up. When you find yourself overwhelmed with this process, our experienced Odessa divorce attorneys are here to guide you through necessary steps and key decisions.

At Robles Family Law Firm, we have almost two decades of experience fiercely advocating for our clients. We care deeply about your comfort and the future of your family, which is why we prioritize making strategic decisions that help your kids, support your needs, and make you feel like you are right at home with us. Our whole office is bilingual, so whether you need assistance in English or Spanish, you never have to worry about being misunderstood. 

Additionally, we have our own personal experience with divorce, which is why we prioritize the care and representation we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. If you are ready to get started, reach out to book a case evaluation and learn more about how we can support you through your journey.

How Property is Divided in Texas Divorce

Texas is a community property state, meaning any property acquired between a married couple after marriage is considered to be jointly owned. Separate property, as opposed to community property, is any property you owned prior to your marriage, inheritances, or specific types of gifts. Community property is divided in a divorce based on a standard of what is considered “just and right” by the court, whereas separate property is retained by its original owner.

Separate property can present a difficult conundrum when it comes to property division because of its tendency to become commingled with marital property. For example, you might have owned your home before the marriage, but if your spouse helped you make payments on it, they would have some claim to its value. Similarly, while your inheritance belongs solely to you, if you added funds to joint accounts or used portions to pay for marital expenses, it can be difficult to trace and divide the value. 

Business ownership can prove particularly difficult. Even though you might be the sole owner of your business, if your spouse contributed via marital funds, labor for your business, or support for the household, they might have a right to some of the value of your enterprise.

The “just and right” standard for property division means that the court will endeavor to divide your property fairly but not necessarily evenly. Our Odessa divorce attorneys work with you to determine the value of the property that is owed to you and create strategies that allow you to fight for your claim.

Getting to Know Your Divorce Options

The length and tenor of your divorce will be determined by the routes you choose.

When you are deciding the particulars of divorce, you need to choose if you want to pursue a fault-based divorce. Though Texas is a no-fault divorce state, you have the option to allege fault if you feel that you have endured a wrong that ultimately ended your marriage. Alleging faults grounds like adultery, addiction, or abuse can potentially influence outcomes related to property division or child custody. For example, if your spouse wasted marital funds on an affair or a gambling addiction, a judge might award you a larger share of the joint account or another valuable asset in order to offset the loss. 

Similarly, if your spouse is abusive or has a debilitating addiction, alleging these faults can influence custody decisions since the court always prioritizes the safety and best interests of the child. 

As you proceed further into the process, you’ll begin to sort through the particulars of ending your legal partnership. If you and your spouse are able to agree on all of the factors of your divorce – property division, child custody, and support – you can achieve an uncontested divorce. This type of divorce means that you do not need to go to court to get a ruling. Additionally, your experience will likely be quicker, less contentious, and more private. If you and your spouse share custody of children, the cooperation of an uncontested divorce helps you maintain a cordial relationship as you shift into co-parenting.

On the other hand, if you and your spouse cannot agree on one or more aspects of your divorce, it is considered contested. Mediation can offer an opportunity to resolve your differences and turn your divorce from contested to uncontested and avoid a trial. However, if you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement, your case must go to court. If litigation cannot be avoided, our Odessa divorce attorneys will build the strongest possible case on your behalf and advocate fiercely for your interests.

How Our Odessa Divorce Attorneys Give You an Advantage

At Robles Family Law Firm, we have the experience necessary to guide you through divorce and fight for the future you envision. We work with you closely to understand your goals and strategize for outcomes that set you up for success.

Whether you speak English or Spanish, you can always feel comfortable in our office since our entire staff is bilingual. We have our own experiences with divorce, and we always endeavor to make sure you feel right at home and have access to the representation we would want for ourselves and our families. Prioritizing your needs and comfort is one of our top concerns; you can trust that we’ll treat your family like our own. In fact, our clients often say that walking into our office feels like walking into grandma’s house.

We don’t want you to go through this experience alone. We want to help you achieve your goals, protect your children, and establish a productive relationship with your co-parent as you both move forward. 

Robles Family Law Firm Offers Supportive Divorce Guidance

When you are getting divorced, working with a caring and knowledgeable legal team can make all the difference. At Robles Family Law Firm, we know what it means to divorce – legally, emotionally, and financially. We always make sure you have access to effective legal solutions and have support for the sensitive matters inherent in the process. Reach out today to book a case evaluation and let us get to know you and your needs for divorce.