TEXAS DIVORCE LAWYERS KINGWOOD | SUGAR LAND| HOUSTON |
 |
Most people do not enter a divorce looking for a fight. However, if you are not assertive in the early stages of the case, the fight might find you.
At the law firm of Martin & Lilly, our lawyers believe in providing aggressive representation from the start of your divorce or legal separation case. That means pursuing temporary orders that will protect your community property and put you in a good position for the child custody you want.
| |
HOW DOES THE DIVORCE PROCESS BEGIN? |
 |
Someone Files for Divorce
Filing first for Divorce can be an advantage. Usually, you get to present evidence first at trial. If you file first, you are known as the Petitioner. If you file second or you simply respond, you are usually referred to as the Respondent. The pleading filed is called the Original Petiton for Divorce.
| |
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE PETITION IS FILED? |
 |
Temporary Orders
If you are the victim of physical or emotional abuse, we can immediately take steps to protect you or the children through a temporary restraining order or a protective order.
Temporary Orders also allow us to freeze bank accounts and retirement plans, so that one spouse cannot maliciously devastate the community estate.
Also, issues such as child support and spousal support can be first taken up the Court at the Temporary Orders hearing. The Court will determine visitation and custody of the children through the pendency of the divorce.
|
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TEMPORARY ORDERS |
 |
Discovery
During discovery, you find out everything possibe about the issues pertinent to your divorce. You discover community and separate property. Sometimes only one spouse knows this information. You may have significant property that will require division.
You may want to investigate suspected grounds for divorce such as infidelity and abuse.
You may want to discover information about marital torts that you may want to assert.
Also, during this period of time if children are involved, positions are clarified on who wants custody and what is in the best interests of the children.
The goal of discovery is to find out everything you can about the divorce so that there are no surprises at trial.
|
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DISCOVERY? |
 |
Mediation
Mediation is usually required before any temporary orders hearing. But that mediation usually does not resolve the case, because no discovery has been done. So after the discovery phase, most Divorces are ripe for mediation. Most cases settle through the mediation process, but you must be prepared to go to trial if mediation fails. |
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER MEDIATION? |
 |
Trial
When mediation fails, the result is usually a trial. This is where all the preparation pays off. Either a judge or a jury will decide all your disputed issues, including child custody. The two pictured to your right very well might be the attorneys during trial. | | |
|
|
With offices in Kingwood, Sugar Land and Houston, the lawyers at Martin & Lilly serve clients throughout the greater Houston area including, Kingwood, Sugar Land, Houston, Humble, Spring, Atascocita, Baytown, Deer Park, La Porte, Pasadena, Missouuri Ciyt, Rosenberg, Conroe, The Woodlands, Liberty, Huffman, Splendora, Porter, New Caney, Cleveland, Liberty, Galveston, Clear Lake, Seabrook, League City, Texas City, Bellaire, Katy, South Houston. We serve Harris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, Galveston County and Liberty County. |
