San Antonio Divorce Attorney

It’s understandable to feel worried about your future when you are facing a divorce. You may have a lot of questions about what you can do and who you should be talking to. Our legal team at Prince Contreras PLLC can offer you understanding, guidance, and resources during this difficult time. After all, no strong marriage ever ends in divorce.

Our devoted team of legal professionals is committed to providing all our clients with a personalized approach and dedicated representation to make sure your interests are always protected and your voice is heard. We can guide you toward a new chapter in your life that isn’t fraught with legal trouble or resentment.

Reach out to us at 210-227-7821 or contact Prince Contreras PLLC online for a free consultation with a valued team member.

Committing to San Antonio Family Law

At our core, Prince Contreras PLLC is more than a family law firm. We’re a group of devoted advocates for families facing all sorts of legal issues, including legal separation, child custody arrangements, child support matters, and divorce. We ensure that every client’s situation is properly acknowledged. Many of our clients come back to us for additional support, as we provide them with lifelong guidance and legal lifelines.

Personalized Approaches for All Clients

The last thing you want is to end up facing your divorce alone. The legal assistance of a focused, experienced divorce lawyer cannot be overstated. Ending your marriage can be an emotional ordeal. At Prince Contreras PLLC, we can offer you:

• Absolute guidance and support throughout your divorce.
• Compassionate lawyers who understand your concerns and focus on your needs.
• Constant communication to ensure you always feel informed and supported.

We believe that every client deserves our full, personalized attention. From the moment you contact our firm, whether it’s through a free consultation or in litigation, you are a priority for us. We take a client-centric approach that never wavers in every case.

Representation in Court by an Experienced Attorney Is Important

When a divorce finds its way into a courtroom, things can get particularly emotional and unpredictable. Our firm is recognized for our determination in litigation. We can help you develop a strong case and provide you with adaptive strategies, solutions, and the right kind of compromises when necessary. We have a considerable track record of positive outcomes in litigation. We are equipped to provide quality representation while safeguarding your rights.

Texas Divorce Laws

The state of Texas provides a distinct legal framework that allows for the dissolution of marriage with precision and fairness. Our family law attorneys use these laws as a basis for every client’s case.

We can guide you through the difficult journey of ending your marriage while also ensuring that you don’t make any costly mistakes. Texas law provides a very clear path to follow, whether your divorce is contested or uncontested. We can help you preserve your dignity in your divorce.

Residency Requirements for Divorce in Texas

Before you can pursue a divorce in Texas, you have to make sure that you meet the state’s residency requirements. Texas state law stipulates that you must be a legal resident of the state for at least six months and a resident of the filing county for at least 90 days before you can file for divorce. Additionally, while Texas permits a defense against the filing, they are rarely used and only applies if there’s a chance of reconciliation.

There Are Varied Grounds for Divorce in Texas

The grounds for divorce in Texas are varied, but all of them are fairly common; however, no two divorces are ever the same. Everyone’s reasons for pursuing the end of their marriage are different, and you should never let anyone tell you your reasons are less valid than someone else’s. Here are some of the most common grounds for divorce that may be claimed in Texas:

• Insupportability. This is generally a form of no-fault divorce. Basically, the marriage has weakened due to discord or conflict, and it has deteriorated beyond saving. In this case, it’s usually both spouses who agree to amicably divorce as they both realize there is nothing left to preserve in their marriage.

• Adultery. Adultery is a common cause for divorce in every state in the country. When one partner is unfaithful, either physically or emotionally, the resulting betrayal can have serious repercussions not just to the marriage but to both partners’ families, job performances, and social circles. Adultery destroys trust, which can be impossible to restore in a relationship when broken.

• Cruelty. Some marriages end because one partner mistreats the other to the point of no return. Cruelty often encompasses both physical harm and emotional distress. The aggrieved spouse may have a specific breaking point. Once it’s reached, that will likely be the end of the relationship.

• Abandonment. In an abandonment situation, one spouse willingly leaves the other for a period of at least one year with no intention of ever returning and does so without their spouse’s consent. It’s understandable for the other spouse to choose divorce at that point.

While Texas state law recognizes other fault grounds as well, these are generally the most common reasons seen in divorce cases across the state. If you choose to file on fault grounds, that could be a strategic decision that could end up leading to a more favorable settlement for you when it comes to asset division and alimony. Our priority is to secure a favorable outcome for you that honors your interests, whether that happens through negotiations or litigation.

Military Divorce in San Antonio

Military divorce brings an entirely new and unique set of challenges that a civilian marriage simply won’t have. This is especially true when one spouse is deployed. Military service is a proud tradition seen throughout San Antonio, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t introduce certain issues into a divorce. Relocation, military benefits, and more all need to be addressed carefully. Our firm is perfectly equipped to handle your military divorce quickly and accurately.

It’s important that you take a practical and strategic approach when handling a military divorce. Certain external factors must be addressed. Our experienced legal team understands the specific needs of military personnel, and we are committed to helping service members work through their divorces. It’s vital that we approach certain elements carefully, such as:

Jurisdiction and Military Benefits Can Impact a Divorce

In a military divorce, the very choice of jurisdiction can be enough to impact the divorce proceedings substantially. Depending on the details of your case, you may be able to choose among multiple jurisdictions, including the state where the military spouse is stationed, their home state, or a state that’s mutually agreed upon by both spouses.

The same can be said for the division of military benefits, which won’t be easy. The stakes are often quite high, and the calculations required to split the benefits fairly are often intricate. The court has to take many contributing factors into account, including the total length of the marriage, the duration of the military service, and any overlap that occurred between the two, among other factors.

Additional consideration must be given to the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA), which governs how military retirement pay is divided in divorce. Under this law, a former spouse may be entitled to a portion of military retirement benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and overlapped with 10 years of military service. We will evaluate whether you qualify under USFSPA and advocate for a fair division of these benefits.

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)

Service members currently on active duty have an additional legal protection they may be able to exercise. It’s called the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, and it acts as a shield that provides multiple protections that acknowledge the demands of military service. This law offers active servicemembers the ability to request a stay of civil legal obligations for multiple kinds of cases, including:

• Divorce proceedings
• Foreclosure proceedings
• Eviction proceedings
• Civil legal matters
• Various tax obligations

Through the SCRA, active duty military personnel are able to devote their complete attention to their military duties by letting them delay certain legal actions. We can help active duty military personnel postpone such actions and secure strong legal representation when the time comes.

Seeking Alternative Dispute Resolution

It’s important to keep in mind that not every divorce is a contested legal nightmare. Sometimes, couples grow apart and realize that. Sometimes, two people are able to work together to end their marriage in a way that doesn’t hurt anybody or leave anyone destitute. We can provide divorcing couples with the option to resolve their differences in an amicable way through alternative dispute resolution (ADR). There are multiple ADR methods you may want to try:

Mediation Is One of the Most Common Ways to Go Through a Divorce

One very common ADR method that couples attempt during a divorce is mediation. Essentially, mediation is a facilitated negotiation. Both spouses sit down to discuss the details of their divorce with the help of a neutral third party called a mediator. The mediator does what they can to move the conversation along in a way that’s productive and addresses every topic that needs to be addressed. At the end of it, the couple may choose to abide by the mediator’s advice or not.

It can:

• Reduce the stress and emotional impact of your divorce.
• Provide a platform for both spouses to work toward a mutually beneficial resolution without having to go to court.
• Lead to a faster resolution, since all couples are able to go at their own pace.
• Offer certain customizations that litigation simply cannot provide.
• Reduce the financial strain of a divorce, as mediation is often much cheaper than litigation.
• Put control of the divorce entirely in your hands.

At Prince Contreras PLLC, our experienced mediators often employ a tried and true technique of separating parties and their lawyers to foster effective communication. This ensures that every voice is heard and given the time to fully address their concerns. Mediation can often be used as an alternative to traditional litigation that offers couples the chance to talk things through together outside of a courtroom.

Collaborative Divorce

Another potential ADR method that’s quite common in San Antonio is collaborative divorce. This is a method where both spouses and their lawyers commit to solving the divorce together cooperatively and without going to court. The collaborative divorce process involves sharing information openly and actively working together to reach a mutually beneficial conclusion. This is often done when children are involved. Both parents want to do what’s right for them.

By choosing to move forward with a collaborative divorce, families can openly resolve their differences without becoming resentful. Collaborative divorce often preserves relationships and builds a foundation for future interactions. After all, there’s nothing that says a divorce has to breed bitterness, resentment, and hatred for an ex, especially if you have to co-parent with that person for the next decade.

Reach Out to a Divorce Lawyer Today

When you are struggling with your divorce and you don’t know who to turn to for help, consider reaching out to Prince Contreras PLLC for help in navigating these uncharted waters. Our firm is synonymous with personalized focus and client-centric care. You will receive our complete commitment to your case, along with comprehensive legal support and compassionate guidance.

As we help you work through your divorce, whether it’s contested or uncontested, you will want experience, empathy, and strength behind you completely. Many of our clients return to us with additional needs because they know exactly what they’re going to get: Absolute trust, focused knowledge, and advocacy for your rights. The last thing you want is to end up in court alone against a seasoned legal professional without any legal help.

At Prince Contreras PLLC, we understand exactly what you’ll need to see your divorce through to the end. You don’t have to face your legal troubles alone. Take the first step toward reclaiming your life with the help of an experienced divorce lawyer. Call us at 210-227-7821 or reach out online to discuss your case with a trusted member of our team in a free consultation.