Texas Family, Divorce and Mediation Law Firm

Law Office of Kathy Black

802 Dominion Drive, Ste. 500 Katy, Texas 77450 USA

 (281) 398-5546
 (281) 398-5184

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Law Firm Overview

The Law Office of Kathy Black, located in Katy, Texas focuses on family law matters. We offer legal services for clients in the military and individuals living in Sugarland, Meadows, Richmond, Rosenbuerg, Fort Bend, Fulshear, Houston and surrounding area. Family law is the body of law that deals with a wide spectrum of matters affecting family relationships.

From pre-marital agreements that set the stage for a marriage and matters that address changes in family situations, such as adoptions, paternity, child abuse and obtaining restraining orders to during divorce, modifications and enforcement of child issues and issues related to breaking up a marriage, each falls within the scope of family law.

When divorce, domestic violence, child abuse, paternity or juvenile issues undermine the foundations of your family, legal advice and guidance from a trusted family law professional is an important first step to protect your legal rights and the best interests of your family. Attorney Kathy Black will explain your legal options and help you set realistic expectations given your circumstances. Making every effort to avoid costly court proceedings, we strive to resolve family law cases as amicably as possible through negotiations or mediation.

Well versed in Texas family law, Kathy Black employs negotiation and mediation skills to help clients resolve family problems outside the courtroom. Clients in the military appreciate Ms. Black's strong knowledge of the military and the service-related benefits available when a couple divorces. Clients that have one party employed in the oil and gas industry also have unique property division issues that Ms. Black has a wealth of knowledge relating to the appropriate division of these types of assets.

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Military Divorce, Grandparent Rights, Property Distribution, Spousal Support, Restraining Orders, Spousal Relocation

Practice Areas Description

- Family Law

At the Law Office of Kathy Black, located in Katy, Texas, our practice is devoted entirely to family law cases. We are regularly involved in diverse family matters, such as: divorce, child custody, mediation, alimony / spousal support, modifications / enforcement, distribution of property, qualified domestic relations orders, adoption, paternity, name change, restraining orders, Child Protective Service issues, attorney ad litem representation, amicus attorney representation and grandparents' rights.

- Adoption

At the Law Office of Kathy Black in Katy, Texas, we fully understand the anticipation and frustration inherent in the adoption process. Our firm regularly assists clients with a variety of adoption situations. We also work with the courts as an amicus attorney, representing the interests of an adoptive child. If you are interested in adopting a child, you can rely on our skills and knowledge of adoption law to protect your legal rights and act in the best interest of the child.

- Divorce

If you live in Texas and want to file for divorce, you must be a resident of the state for six months and a resident of the county where you wish to file for divorce for 90 days prior to filing for divorce. Either party can obtain a divorce on a no-fault basis by stating that there are "irreconcilable differences" between the parties. As long as both parties are in agreement regarding the divorce, they can stipulate in writing that the marriage be terminated. The legal process involves filing a petition for divorce with the appropriate family court. The petition is then served on the other spouse who is given a set time to respond. If the case can be settled by an agreement between the spouses with regard to property, child custody and support, the divorce can be finalized without a trial.

- Child Custody

When it falls to the court to determine issues of conservatorship and possession of and access to the child, it is a matter of Texas public policy that the best interest of the child shall always be the primary consideration. Barring evidence of ongoing child, drug or alcohol abuse, family violence or other criminal acts, Texas courts generally consider joint custody in the best interest of the child. As long as parents live within a reasonable distance of one another and are willing to cooperate, the court will arrange for both parents to share in the care and upbringing of children.

- Property Distribution

The Law office of Kathy Black, located in Katy, Texas, offers legal services in all aspects of family law, including the distribution of property and debt. As part of the divorce process, our law firm provides legal advice and guidance to protect your rights and best interests. Attorney Kathy Black works closely with accountants, when necessary to help you weigh the effects of tax consequences that come into play when selling or exchanging real estate, businesses, oil and gas assets, collections and investments. In order to arrive an equitable distribution, we work with you to: compile an inventory of assets and debts; determine net income; prepare balance sheet of marital and separate assets; consult with appraisers to arrive at accurate valuation of businesses, jewelry, artwork and collections; and analyze lifestyle and arrive at cost of maintenance.

- Paternity

A paternity proceeding is filed to determine the father of a child born out of wedlock and may be filed as a separate case or in conjunction with another case, such as divorce petition in which the husband or wife contest the paternity of a minor child. Who can file a paternity suit? A mother, an expectant mother, a husband, a man alleging that he is the biological father, a child, and a government or child-placing agency. Mothers generally take legal action to seek money — child support for the birth of the child and for on-going support, while a father may wish to establish a parent-child relationship to obtain custody or be granted visitation rights. A paternity suit must be filed within four [4] years after the child is born.

- Mediation

Mediation, a form of alternative dispute resolution, is an assisted negotiation process that allows opposing parties to settle aspects of their case outside the courtroom. Different from arbitration, mediation allows the parties to reach a voluntary settlement. With the help of a neutral third party, two or more parties openly discuss their differences and possible outcomes in a private setting and reach an agreement to solve their problem. While mediation is effective for many business and legal matters, contentious family law issues, such as child custody, support and division of property in divorce cases are particularly well suited to the mediation process. Not only is mediation less costly than a lawsuit, but the process is also confidential and non-adversarial. Because parents willingly collaborate, they are motivated to work together to establish a parenting plan.

- CPS / Ad Litem

While CPS operates with the best of intentions, the agency can overstep its bounds. The moment Child Protective Services becomes involved with your family, you will need an attorney to aggressively protect your legal rights and help you deal with accusations filed against you. Since the consequences of a child being removed from their family by CPS can be drastic, you need to have an attorney knowledgeable with the very specific sections of the Texas Family Code relating to CPS. In Katy, Texas, the Law Office of Kathy Black regularly represents clients in CPS cases in Fort Bend County. Whether you need legal help to prevent a child from being placed in foster care, termination of your parental rights, contesting removal of a child taken from your home or if you wish to gain custody of a child who is a victim of neglect, our firm provides skilled legal assistance.

- Child Support / Spousal Support

Among the areas of family law that frequently cause difficulty and require legal representation are child support, spousal maintenance and child custody. When parents divorce, child support is the amount the non-custodial parent pays monthly to provide financial support for their children. A court order or agreement between spouses typically establishes a support amount, based on Texas State guidelines. Over time, personal and family situations often change. Adjustments to a child support court order may be necessary if a parent relocates with the children, remarries, becomes ill or a child requires different educational or medical needs. At the Law Offices of Kathy Black in Katy, Texas, we regularly assist clients with an array of support issues. In addition to arriving at a support plan as part of a divorce settlement, we provide legal services when you need support modifications, order enforcement or support collection.

Attorneys

Ms. Kathy Black Attorney Adoption, Divorce, Family Law

More Information on Law Office of Kathy Black

Fort Bend County, Texas Family Law Attorney
Katy, TX Divorce Lawyer
Adoption Law Firm in Katy, Texas
Child Custody Attorney in Katy, TX
Katy, Texas Property Division Lawyer
Katy, TX Paternity Law Firm
Mediation Attorney in Harris County, Texas
Child Support Lawyer in Katy, TX
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