Services

Divorce

The often-quoted statistic that one half of all marriages end in divorce has been reduced over the last few years, but still the divorce rate in America is more than twice what it was 40 years ago.

In Texas during 1999 (the most recent reporting period), 72,445 divorces were finalized in the state. That's second to Florida among states reporting divorces and equals almost 200 divorces each day.

Divorce is an overwhelming experience for those parents and children going through the process. The professionals at Amberson & Dunn will work hard for you during this time, so that you will emerge financially and emotionally intact.

Post-Divorce Modifications

The most common modifications involve child custody, visitation and child support. The requirement for almost any modification is that a material change of circumstance take place between the last court hearing and the modification. This means there is a basic change in the lives of the parents or children, which makes a modification of the terms of the divorce desirable.

We realize that some changes to the divorce decree are significant but aren't considered modifications. For instance, one party to a divorce may hide a piece of property so that it will not become part of the divorce settlement. In such cases, if the other party is able to locate the property, he or she can petition the court to reopen the case and take the found property into consideration in the total settlement.

Child Custody

The custody of children is one of the most hotly contested issues in family law. Under the laws of Texas and many other states, joint custody is increasingly preferred when both parents are considered acceptable. Joint custody divides parental rights and duties but does not necessarily provide equal periods of possession.

This law firm understands the emotional strain put on parents and children by a child custody action. We explain the pros and cons of such a move and help our clients make the right decision.

Visitation Issues

In most jurisdictions, both parents have significant access to their children after a divorce if they have been involved parents during the marriage. The visitation schedule is often tied to a standard possession order and by what is in the best interest of the child.

Prenuptial Agreements

For those concerned about the possibility of divorce down the road, premarital agreements or "prenups" are a perfectly reasonable response. Prenups are most popular with people who enter a marriage with large assets. Some of these assets are not easily divisible, such as an interest in a family owned business or a large tract of real estate.

Paternity

Proving paternity has become much easier because of DNA fingerprinting. Such technologically advanced techniques can establish paternity to a 99 percent probability.

Amberson & Dunn use such methods to prove that a man is the father of a child in order to gain support for the child. This law firm also represented fathers who wanted to provide support but were rebuked by mothers who wanted to restrict their parental rights.

Complex Property Arrangements

The largest and most complex business deal most people will ever be involved in is a divorce. Drawing from education including a JD, MBA as well as a CPA, Amberson & Dunn have experience in dealing with the complexities involved in dividing a marital estate, of Federal tax law, and property law. Our clients are constantly amazed at the amount of money in dispute in their divorce. We understand that even those clients who live modestly may divide a net worth of several million dollars, considering the value of homes, retirement accounts and closely held businesses. In our cases, this law firm works closely with experts in real estate, business valuation and appraisal to determine what property is worth and to secure a just and right division of the marital estate.

Asset Partition

An asset partition can be a perfectly legal and highly effective means of preserving the assets of one spouse from claims made against assets controlled by the other. Amberson & Dunn can assess a client's situation and determine if the partition of assets would make an appreciable difference.

Asset Tracing

An increasingly vital part of a sophisticated family law practice is the ability to trace assets that may have been hidden by one party to a divorce.

Asset tracing is a talent shared by members of our firm. Finding hidden assets may mean the difference between financial viability and a life of struggle for a client and his or her family.