Call to Schedule a FREE Initial Consultation:
5262 S. Staples Street, Suite 280
Corpus Christi, Texas 78411
Telephone: (361) 991-4LAW (4529)
We help avoid conflict and minimize stress for the child and the parent
CHILD CUSTODY
All parents want to do everything they can to protect their relationship with their children. The end of your relationship with the other parent does not have to necessarily mean any loss to the role you play in your child's life. We can help you preserve your relationship with your child whether your child custody proceedings are part of a divorce or if they are stand-alone proceedings.
In Texas, child custody is broken down into two components:
- Decision making — A central aspect of being a parent is making choices regarding your child's upbringing on such key issues as education, health care and religion. The presumption of the law is toward awarding joint decision-making power unless there is some reason not to, such as a history of abuse. The state of Texas prefers to create co-parenting situations.
- Physical custody — The parent who the child resides with is said to have physical custody. The other parent is referred to as having visitation rights.
Helping people reach the resolution they need regarding child support
At Spivey Law Firm, we know how difficult it can be to go through the child support process. We work to keep our clients educated and involved throughout so that they can make the right choices for their own future and the future of their children.
We also offer our skilled assistance to those who need to modify or enforce their child custody agreement, as well as those who have questions regarding paternity.
CHILD SUPPORT
Child support in Texas is determined through a formula that is contained in the state guidelines. The formula is very straightforward.. The state's adherence to the formula means that there is often little that can be done to change child support obligations once the determination has been made unless there has been a substantial change that merits a modification.
The best opportunity for having an impact on the determination of child support obligations is at the front end of the process. While income is a variable that needs to be entered, what constitutes income is not as simple an issue as many people would believe. We can conduct a thorough analysis of what aspects of your income should and should not be considered for the purpose of determining child support obligations.
We will look at such factors as:
- Overtime
- Bonuses
- Military per diem
- Health Insurance Costs
- Social Security Income
- Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)
Personal attention when you need it most
At Spivey Law Firm, our attorneys are committed to helping our clients effectively pursue the child support obligations they need to be able to meet both their own financial needs, as well as their child's. We are skilled at rigorously analyzing the varying components of our clients' incomes. We understand how to disentangle the various parts of your income so as to ensure that you are being treated appropriately by the law.
PATERNITY LAW
With more and more couples beginning families without being married, there is a growing need for representation that can help people through the process of establishing paternity. Paternity can be established by:
- Presumption — Under certain conditions, such as being married at least 300 days prior to the birth of the child, a husband is presumed to be the father.
- Acknowledgement — A man can sign a valid Acknowledgment of Paternity and voluntarily establish paternity.
- Court order — Either the father or the mother can ask the court to adjudicate the father's paternity.
There are many reasons why either the father or the mother would seek to establish paternity, including:
- A mother may wish to establish paternity to ensure that the child receives child support and any other benefits available to the child.
- A father may desire to establish paternity to gain child custody and visitation rights. If paternity has not been established a father has no legal right to make choices regarding the raising of his child.
Our attorneys understand how important establishing paternity can be
The rights and obligations paternity confers can be necessary for a child to be fully supported financially and emotionally. We are dedicated to helping fathers and mothers work to establish paternity and any subsequent agreements such as those regarding child support or child custody and visitation. Let us help you effectively navigate the paternity process.
How We Can Help:
- Divorce, Spousal Support, Property and Debt Division
- Child Custody, Support, Paternity
- Wills, Trusts, and Probate
- Modification and Enforcement
Because parents continue to be a child's parents even when they are no longer together, we try and help people reach an amicable resolution regarding child custody and other family law issues.
Our depth of understanding of the nuances of the child support guidelines allows our clients to secure the most appropriate child support obligations for their specific circumstances.
Contact Spivey Law Firm
When you need to establish paternity, choose an attorney who can help you find peace of mind and the confidence you need to move forward with your life. The Nueces County paternity lawyers of Spivey Law Firm, offer the skill and experience you need.
To schedule a FREE initial consultation,
call 361-991-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.