McKinney is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. It makes sense for families who want to live around the Metroplex. The city boasts many good schools and green spaces, economic growth in nearby North Texas cities, and a beautiful downtown. When couples in the city decide to end their marriage, there are many heated disputes over who gets the kids and who keeps the house in McKinney. Experienced family law attorneys can help find common ground or fight to ensure your best interests.
At the Youngberg Law Firm, our family lawyers can be aggressive when the situation calls for it. However, our team can also assist with mediation and collaborative divorce when Collin County families want to spare emotions, save money, and do what’s best for co-parents and children.
Don’t delay. The sooner you get in touch with the Youngberg Law Firm, the sooner we can provide the help you need. Our lawyers bring more than 40 years of experience to every case. To request a consultation with our family law attorneys serving McKinney, TX, contact our law firm today.
What Is Family Law?
Family law deals with all legal issues related to marriage, divorce, and domestic relationships. This includes:
- Prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements
- Divorce
- Division of property (assets and debts)
- Spousal maintenance (alimony)
- Child support
- Child custody
- Parental visitation
- Domestic violence/spousal abuse
- Adoptions
Why You Need a Family Law Attorney
While not all family law disputes need an attorney, it’s often best to at least consult with a family lawyer serving McKinney if your marriage is ending or there is an issue involving your ex or your children. A family law attorney can provide peace of mind in numerous ways.
- Guidance Through the Texas Family Code: Family lawyers know the nuances of the Texas Family Code and can explain which laws are relevant to your case.
- Knowledge of How Proceedings Unfold: Your attorney can give you a rundown of various proceedings so you know what to expect and how to prepare.
- Help with Deadlines and Paperwork: Family law attorneys can make sure any paperwork is filled out correctly and filed within key deadlines.
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution: Many divorces and other disputes are emotionally charged. Your family lawyer can keep discussions focused and objective to avoid heated exchanges that undermine your side.
- Protection of Your Rights and Interests: When terms or resolutions are unfair, a family law attorney can explain why and advocate for your best interests when it matters most.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
A prenuptial agreement is a written contract that couples enter into before marriage. A prenup outlines the rights and obligations of each spouse regarding property, debts, and other financial matters. Postnuptial agreements are like prenups, though they are drafted after a couple is married.
Common issues addressed in a prenup or postnup include property division, debt responsibility, business ownership, and other financial arrangements.
Do I Need a Prenup or Postnup?
You may or may not need a prenup/postnup depending on your assets and potential inheritance. Some couples find that these contracts offer peace of mind in the event of a divorce.
The Youngberg Law Firm can answer any questions you have about prenups and postnups and help you draft these documents if you feel they serve your needs.
Divorce
Getting divorced can be one of the most difficult things you’ll ever do. Even if you’re on good terms with your ex and want to keep things amicable, you may be overwhelmed by the process.
The Youngberg Law Firm is here to provide answers and careful guidance as your marriage comes to an end. Our family lawyers can help you navigate proceedings and be able to plan ahead for your future after your marriage.
Guidance Through Complex Divorces
No two divorces are alike, and some can be quite complicated. If one or both spouses are members of the military, getting a divorce can be tricky, especially if one of the spouses is on active duty or deployed. Issues can also arise among international couples, especially when children are involved.
Our family lawyers serving McKinney can provide clear answers and guidance for your situation. We’ll use our decades of combined legal experience to identify the best way forward for you.
Division of Property
Dividing property can be a complicated and contentious process. Courts will divide assets and debts in a manner that is “just and right,” but that isn’t always straightforward. There are different types of property to consider.
- Community Property: Community (marital) property refers to all assets and debts acquired by either spouse during the course of a marriage.
- Separate Property: Separate property refers to all assets and debts that belonged to one spouse before marriage.
- Commingled Property: Commingled property is when separate property gets mixed with community property. Examples include inheritance or separate funds being deposited into a shared bank account, or a house purchased before marriage becoming a family home.
Assistance for High-Net-Worth Couples
When high-asset couples have retirement accounts, investments, crypto/digital assets, or other high-priced valuables, it can lead to major battles over who gets what. No matter your income bracket, the Youngberg Law Firm can fight for what’s fair and protect your financial future in a divorce.
Spousal Maintenance (Alimony)
In some divorces, one spouse may be ordered to pay spousal maintenance to their ex. While alimony is not part of all divorces, a spouse may be eligible for spousal maintenance if the spouse is unable to support themselves financially after marriage.
Texas courts will consider a spouse’s age, education, employment, the length of the marriage, and other factors when determining the duration and amount of spousal maintenance awarded.
Child Support
Child support payments are made by one parent to another to cover the essential costs associated with raising a child. Our family law attorneys serving McKinney can make sure children receive financial support to cover:
- Food
- Housing
- Clothing
- Medical coverage
- Other necessities
Child support calculations are generally based upon the paying parent’s net income after taxes and health insurance premiums. Courts will also consider if a child has special needs or if a parent has extraordinary financial circumstances.
Child Custody/Conservatorship
In Texas, child custody is referred to as conservatorship. There are two common types of conservatorship.
- Joint Managing Conservatorship (JMC): The most common form of conservatorship, this means that both parents share in decision-making responsibilities. This includes educational needs, medical care, and religious upbringing.
- Sole Managing Conservatorship (SMC): Sole managing conservatorship is when just one parent gets to make decisions about a child’s upbringing. This may be ordered when the other parent has a history of violence or neglect.
Parental Access and Visitation
Parents can seek possession and access if their child primarily lives with their ex. Schedules can vary based on numerous factors. Our family law attorneys can help work out a fair visitation schedule so you can be a positive influence in your child’s upbringing.
The Best Interests of the Child
In any decision over conservatorship and parental visits, Collin County courts will always consider a child’s best interests. This means the overall safety, health, happiness, and well-being of a child. The Youngberg Law Firm will similarly focus on your child’s best interests.
Fathers’ Rights
Many dads in McKinney face an uphill battle when it comes to custody disputes and visitation rights. There may be a presumption that mothers are inherently more loving and nurturing, but that is not always the case. This is why fathers’ rights have become more important for men all over Texas who simply want to be the best dads possible.
Dads Deserve Facts Instead of Stereotypes
The Youngberg Law Firm knows you are a capable parent and can provide a loving home for your children. When North Texas dads face harmful gender stereotypes, our family lawyers make sure to provide facts and a focus on the kids and their best interests.
Modification and Enforcement of Orders
Life can change after a divorce, though court orders hold exes to their obligations. If your ex has failed to pay spousal maintenance or you need to change your child support obligations, there are ways to enforce court orders and make fair changes.
The Youngberg Law Firm can help hold spouses accountable and seek modifications when they are needed.
When to Consider a Modification
Common reasons to modify a court order include:
- There’s been a change in someone’s financial situation
- There’s been a change in someone’s health or wellness
- A parent needs to relocate for a job or personal reason
- A parent has been accused of abuse or neglect
- A parent has remarried
- A child 12 years old or older wishes to change their conservatorship arrangement
If your life has changed and you’re unsure if you need to modify a court order, just contact our family lawyers serving McKinney, and we can let you know.
Domestic Violence
All allegations of domestic violence need to be taken seriously. This applies to survivors of spousal abuse or child abuse as well as people who’ve been accused of abuse or neglect.
As your family law attorneys, our goal is to make sure survivors of abuse are safe and protected from further harm. For anyone accused of abuse, our lawyers can discuss the allegations without judgment or stigma as we provide representation.
Protective Orders
Protective orders can prohibit abusers from directly or indirectly interacting with the people they’ve harmed. Our family lawyers serving McKinney can help survivors of spousal abuse or child abuse obtain a protective order and discuss what steps they can take next to get out of a dangerous environment or relationship.
Impact on Divorce and Custody Cases
Any allegations of child abuse or spousal abuse can have major effects on child custody, visitation rights, the division of property, and alimony.
If you’re the survivor of domestic violence or have been accused of domestic violence, you will have a fair advocate at the Youngberg Law Firm on your side.
Family Law Mediation
A divorce or family law dispute doesn’t have to become a fight. Many couples and exes in McKinney have used family law mediation to resolve disputes without having to go to court.
During mediation, a neutral third party (the mediator) sits down with both sides in order to find common ground and create a mutually agreeable outcome.
When to Consider Family Law Mediation
Mediation isn’t right for all family law disputes in the McKinney area. However, some people may benefit from the ability to spare feelings and maintain a cordial relationship with their ex. You should consider mediation for a family law dispute:
- When you and your ex are willing to communicate
- When you and your ex want to save time and money
- When you and your ex want to reduce conflict to effectively co-parent
- When you and your ex want matters to be resolved in private
- When you and your ex want to have more control over the end result
As our family lawyers work on your case, we can let you know if mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution is worth considering.
Why Trust the Youngberg Law Firm for Your Family Law Needs
No two family law cases are the same. Some cases are best resolved through mediation and collaboration, while others require aggressive family law attorneys who won’t back down from a fight. The lawyers at the Youngberg Law firm excel at both approaches. Our team has more than 40 years of combined experience and can design a legal strategy that best meets your needs.
- We Know the Courts Around McKinney: Our family lawyers are familiar with Collin County courts, judges, and procedures. This insight helps us prepare for complex issues, including the division of commingled assets, accusations of spousal abuse, child visitation schedules, and modifications to existing orders.
- You Work Directly with Our Family Lawyers: At the Youngberg Law Firm, you won’t be passed off. Clients work directly with their attorney. You’ll receive direct communication, updates, and answers to your questions throughout the process. Our lawyers feel that this level of involvement is essential when guiding clients through difficult disputes.
- We Understand the Needs of Families in Collin County: Based in nearby Denton County, the Youngberg Law Firm understands the needs of families who live in the Metroplex. This is important when discussing property values, finances, and other regional factors that could be important in your case.
Contact Our Family Law Attorney McKinney, TX Law Firm!
If you’re going through a divorce, fighting for custody of your child, trying to protect your assets, or need attorneys who respect the rights of fathers, you need the Youngberg Law Firm on your side. Our team is ready to fight for you. To request a consultation with our family law attorneys serving McKinney, TX, contact the Youngberg Law firm today.