About Fort Worth Family Law

Family law differs from state to state. Family laws in Fort Worth follow Texas state law, particularly in terms of the requirements for filing for divorce and determining the specifics of helping couples reach agreement in how to move toward individual lives.

Fort Worth family laws and requirements for filing for divorce

Under family law in Fort Worth and throughout the state of Texas, when you file for divorce, law requires that you declare the grounds, or reason, for the divorce. Texas allows for divorce on both no-fault and fault-based grounds.

Fort Worth family laws allow you to file for a no-fault divorce if the marriage is intolerable due to discord or conflict of personalities that destroys the legitimate ends of the marital relationship and prevents any reasonable expectation of reconciliation.

Fort Worth matrimonial law also permits the following fault-based grounds:

Division of property according to family law in Fort Worth

Texas is a community property state. This means that Fort Worth matrimonial law generally attempts to divide property as equally as possible in divorce. But, it is important to note that not all property is considered to be community property under matrimonial law in Fort Worth. Just a few examples of non-community property include the following:

• Assets you owned prior to the marriage, as long as you kept that property separate during the marriage.
• Any income received as a result of separate property ownership remains in the hands of the property owner, provided that income was not combined with community money during the marriage.
• Fort Worth matrimonial law permits each spouse to retain any money or assets inherited from their own family members, provided the inheritance was issued exclusively to one spouse and was not combined with community property or money during the marriage.

Support issues according to family laws in Fort Worth

Family laws in Forth Worth and throughout the state can order alimony based on a number of factors, including the length of the marriage and the financial needs and resources of each spouse.

While state laws encourage parents to work out their own arrangements for child custody and visitation, specific rules are in place to make these decisions based on the best interest of the child when parents cannot reach an agreement. The amount of child support to be paid is based on a formula that issues payments from 20 percent to 40 percent of the net income of the paying parent, based on the number of children in need of support.

Contact the Fort Worth family Law Office of V. Wayne Ward P.C. today

When I became an attorney in 1977, my goal was to help people. That remains my priority today. My family law firm in Fort Worth represent clients in family law cases including divorce, child custody and support, and related issues. I am well-versed in alternatives to litigation such as collaborative law and mediation. Contact me today. I am ready to hear your story and determine how I can help you through this difficult period in your life.