ere at The Law Office of J.L. Bell we will guide you through the family law process, keep you informed of all legal developments, advise you of possible outcomes, and then move forward according to what you, our client, decide to do. Complex divorce and family law cases can last months, or even years. We understand this can result in stress and anxiety and we are devoted to helping you get through this time in a manner that is as smooth as possible.
Allow The Law Office of J.L. Bell to assist you during this difficult time.
Texas courts give all divorcing couples the opportunity to decide on the terms of their divorce themselves, such as child custody, property division, and other critical matters. When a couple cannot agree on these terms, however, the court must step in to assess the couple's circumstances and decide on the terms for them. This is known as a contested divorce in Texas.
In an uncontested divorce, the spouses do all of the decision-making themselves without the court intervening. With the help of The Law Office of J.L. Bell, clients have the ability to peacefully decide the terms of their divorce, and get an idea of how their lives will be once the process is complete. No matter which position you are in, you can be confident that you have a law firm backing you that genuinely cares about helping you achieve favorable results efficiently and effectively.
Prior to getting married, there is often a misconception that prenuptial agreements are a sign of mistrust in one’s spouse, yet this is often not the case. Having a prenuptial agreement in place simply allows you and your partner to have a clear understanding of the division of your assets in the event your marriage prematurely ends.
Texas is considered a community property state, which means that the total amount of income earned and any property that was acquired during the marriage is community property and therefore belongs to both spouses, even if it is solely in one spouse’s name. When dividing assets and property in a divorce, everything earned during the marriage will be divided among the two spouses.
Texas allows property to be divided in any way that the judge considers to be “just and right.” This means property does not have to be divided 50/50. All sorts of things can lead to the division being unequal, including child custody, a disparity in earning capacities, and time out of the workforce in support of the other spouse’s career. Judges will also usually try to keep the children in their home if possible, which means that the custodial parent will usually retain the family home if it’s financially possible.
The division of property and assets is often extremely complex without proper guidance from an experienced attorney. Here at The Law Office of J.L. Bell, our firm can navigate this process on your behalf and ensure that you capably seek the assets you deserve during your divorce.
Here at The Law Office of J.L. Bell we understand your children are the most important people in your life. We also understand how emotionally draining and overwhelming child custody cases can be—especially if they involve having to go to court. If you are currently facing a child custody battle, it may benefit you to contact an educated and experienced attorney. Whether your case must be handled through the use of litigation or can be resolved amicably with the use of mediation, you can count on The Law Office of J.L. Bell to assist you. We possess a great deal of experience handling custody cases and are prepared to assist clients no matter how complicated the situation may be.
Child support is a set monthly payment that is paid by a non-custodial parent to a custodial parent to provide for the regular expenses of the child/children. In Texas, physical custody always determines who will pay child support. The parent who has physical custody will always be the recipient parent and the parent who does not have physical custody of the kids (regardless of whether or not he or she has legal custody) will pay the child support if ordered by the court.
In Texas, courts calculate child support payments based on a percentage of the non-custodial parent's income. Here, we can estimate how much the state will expect you to pay in minimum child support by doing a simple calculation or help you to estimate how much you can expect to receive in child support.
The court will evaluate all wages, salary, commissions, tips, overtime and bonuses as income for calculation purposes. This also includes any government benefits, severance pay or retirement benefits. The courts will also factor in alimony, gifts, prizes, and other costs. The court will then affix a percentage which will be the amount you are required to pay monthly for child support
Child Protective Services (CPS) investigates and intervenes with any reports of abuse and neglect of children. Termination of your parental rights is a potential outcome of a CPS case. If the court determines you are a danger to your children, they will formally terminate your rights as a parent. Termination means the parent and child no longer have a legal relationship. Our firm can help defend you against accusations of neglect and abuse. If CPS is threatening to terminate your parental rights, we can help. The Law Office of J.L. Bell can assist you through the legal process with CPS and advocate on our behalf in mediation or in litigation. Let us help, so you don’t lose your kids.
Contempt of Court
Parental rights can be difficult to terminate; this is usually only granted by the parent’s consent, or when it can be proven that the parent is no longer fit to serve in that capacity for their child. If you wish to pursue one of these reasons as grounds for terminating parental rights, you should speak with an attorney to learn more about your options. Not everyone may pursue this option, even if grounds for having parental rights terminated exist; you must be involved with the child in some way, including serving as a guardian or conservator previously.
Some instances in which you may be able to terminate parental rights include:
llow the attorneys at the Law Office of J.L. Bell to assist you in preparation of a Last Will and Testament, Living Will, Power of Attorney, or Succession.
We understand that estate planning is a sensitive task. The Law Office of J.L. Bell can ensure your assets are distributed as you intend. We can also ensure that you receive the discretion, confidentiality and promptness that you deserve. We offer customized estate planning packages with competitively priced rates.
Whether you need a simple straight forward estate plan or you have substantial assets to protect, which requires a more sophisticated plan, we will put together a package that works best for you. All of your estate planning documents will be reviewed by an attorney at our law firm to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. After meeting with one of our attorneys you will be able to rest assured knowing that all of your estate planning needs have been met and all of the associated documents have been properly executed
If you or someone you love are in need of an experienced estate attorney, call (713) 423-5962 or contact us here, to schedule a free consultation today.
e understand how criminal charges can be a life altering and scary experience. Here at The Law Office of J.L. Bell we take pride in helping clients find ways to maintain freedom, keep convictions off their record, and utilize pretrial intervention programs. We can handle all criminal charges, including:
Prosecutors in Texas are known for aggressively pursuing criminal charges against those who are accused of buying, selling, or manufacturing drugs. Convictions can carry serious consequences that include lengthy terms of imprisonment, large fines, and a criminal record that can create numerous hardships when it comes to employment, housing, or professional licensing. The Law Office of J.L. Bell is passionate about helping people just like you fight drug charges, and can work to help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case. We can provide an honest and thorough evaluation of your case, when you call (713) 423-5962 or contact us online to receive a free consultation
Aggravated Assault: When you are accused of an assault related crime, The Law Office of J.L. Bell will conduct a thorough evaluation into the charges and the evidence that is to be presented against you. We will determine whether the actual act that was committed fits the elements of the crime that is being charged. Law enforcement officers will often charge someone with aggravated assault, even if the act did not involve a weapon or did not result in the victim suffering serious harm. We will dissect the series of events that led to the time of the alleged assault and meet with witnesses in order to better understand what happened, no matter if it occurred at your home, a bar, or another public place. If a victim or witness statement is determined to be fraudulent or contradictory, The Law Office of J.L. Bell will argue for an entire dismissal of the charges. In some cases, we can successfully petition for a reduction in charges if a threat was made without any actual physical violence. We may be able to demonstrate that you acted in self-defense if there is sufficient corroborating evidence to support this.
In Texas, a conviction for family violence is considered a misdemeanor. However, this does not mean that the punishments for this crime are less severe. In fact, they are among the most stringent punishments that are handed down for any misdemeanor crime. They can include, but are not limited to:
Jail or prison time: A person convicted of family assault can face up to one year in jail. If they have a previous charge of family assault on their record, they could face up to 10 years in prison.
Fines: A first-time conviction of family assault can incur fines of up to $4,000. A second conviction can lead to fines of up to $10,000.
Protective orders: In many cases, a judge will issue a protective order that prohibits any contact between the defendant and the victim for a specific period of time. Any violations of this protective order will result in additional penalties.
Loss of gun ownership rights: If a person is convicted of family violence, they may lose their right to own or use a firearm. If they already possess a firearm, they have to turn it over to police. Violating this condition can result in felony charges.
- The majority of family member assault or domestic violence charges are initiated when one party calls the police and reports that they have been attacked or that they fear they are in imminent danger of assault. Often, this report is the sole evidence that the prosecution will use if the case goes to trial. An experienced assault of a family member lawyer knows that eyewitness testimony is often misleading, and that some assault reports may not stand up to scrutiny. In the absence of physical evidence, such as scars or bruising, a domestic violence attorney can construct a defense based on the questionable reliability of the alleged victim.
Terroristic Threat: It is not uncommon for someone to make a threat against another person, place or community. Not all these threats are considered terroristic or even illegal. The Texas Penal Code defines terroristic threats as when a person threatens to commit violence with the intent to:
- Cause a reaction to this threat by a volunteer organization that deals with emergencies
- Cause a person to feel fear of imminent danger
Prevent the use of a public place to which citizens otherwise have the right to free enjoyment
- Impair or interrupt the use of public communications
- Disrupt public water, gas or power utility supplies
- Influence the activities of any branch of state or federal government
The prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the threat falls underneath the laws of a terroristic threat.
You should also be aware of the fact that you have only 15 days from the date of your arrest for DWI to request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing regarding your driver’s license. If you do not request this hearing, your driver’s license will be automatically suspended. For immediate help on your DWI, contact The Law Office of J.L. Bell will take the time to investigate your case and present a strong defense on your behalf. Contact our office today at (713) 423-5962 for a free consultation.
In Texas,a conviction for these crimes can have devastating, long-term consequences. However, an arrest does not mean that you will be convicted. Seek experienced legal representation as soon as possible. The Law Office of J.L. Bell will take the time to investigate your case and present a strong defense on your behalf. Contact our office today at (713) 423-5962 for a free consultation.
- There are many ways to defend against these charges. In some cases, it is possible that an alleged offender is innocent and was mistakenly identified as the perpetrator by law enforcement. Law enforcement officers may have relied on unreliable eyewitness testimony, or even lineups, to determine alleged offenders, without any proof that the person committed the crime.
No matter the facts behind your criminal charges, you do not want to fight these charges alone. A conviction for these crimes could have dramatic consequences on your life, including the inability to find and maintain gainful employment, vote, and the inability to obtain certain kinds of governmental assistance, such as housing and education.
Most of the time, we learn from our mistakes and continue on with our lives. Sometimes, however, our mistakes follow us around wherever we go.
When you are arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime, it shows up on your criminal record, which is available for anyone to see. Regardless of how you’ve changed and improved your life after this “mistake,” your criminal history can continue to haunt your employment, educational, housing, and financial opportunities for years to come.
So how can you finally put your past behind you and move forward with a clean slate?
- Depending on the offense and the circumstances surrounding that offense, you might be eligible to have your record sealed or expunged. A sealed record means the public will be unable to see it, but law enforcement officials and other government agencies will still have access. When your record is expunged, it will be entirely eliminated – as if it never existed in the first place.
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