Welcome to the Larson Law Office. One of the top questions people have when choosing a divorce lawyer is “Why should I hire your law firm for my divorce?” The reason to select Diana Larson and Erik Larson to represent you in your divorce is that, from day one through the end of your case, you will receive individualized attention directly from the skilled, tough Houston divorce lawyers you originally hired.
You Will Receive Highly Personalized Service at The Larson Law Office
At The Larson Law Office, if you hire Diana Larson and Erik Larson to represent you as your Houston divorce lawyers, you will get Diana and Erik. You can rest assured that you will not be directed to speak with a paralegal, secretary, or junior lawyer about your divorce case, as is commonly and routinely done at many other law firms.
And when your case goes to Court or to mediation, Diana or Erik will be there with you. Not some junior lawyer whom you have never laid eyes on before. Throughout your divorce case, Erik or Diana will personally be there to answer your questions. We will individually and thoroughly address your concerns with the importance they deserve.
Our commitment to highly personalized service and individually-tailored client attention is not empty jargon. If you hire Diana and Erik as your Houston divorce lawyers, you get Diana and Erik working directly with you on your Houston divorce case. From the very beginning through to the completion of your case. If you hire us, you get us.
This is where things begin to get better for you and your family. We will work closely with you to enable you to make the best decisions possible for yourself, your children, and your property.
You Will Receive Honest Evaluations and Creative Solutions with The Larson Law Office
We will realistically and honestly assess your situation. And then we will truthfully and thoroughly communicate with you about our assessments.
Erik and Diana will also educate and empower you with the knowledge you need about the Texas legal landscape of divorce, child support, child custody, property division, and spousal support, so that you can make informed decisions about your case.
We will advise you on how the past facts of your case will likely impact your case. Diana and Erik will also guide you on future strategies during your case to maximize your chances of obtaining the best possible result.
This is where you start to turn the ship toward a brighter, better future for yourself and your family. This is where things start to get better.
If you are currently in the midst of a divorce or you need assistance in taking the first step in filing for divorce, contact The Larson Law Office today.
You Will Receive Skilled and Dedicated Representation at The Larson Law Office
Diana Larson and Erik Larson are each rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell, which is its highest recognition awarded for ethical and professional achievement. Only a select group of lawyers are bestowed this distinction. Martindale-Hubbell has been conducting peer-review ratings of lawyers for over 100 years.
Additionally, in recent years Erik Larson and Diana Larson have been named to HTexas Magazine’s list of Top Houston Family Lawyers, and Houstonia Magazine’s list of Houston’s Top Family Lawyers. Diana and Erik also each are rated a 10.0 out of 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo.
If you are facing the breakup of your marriage and need legal assistance, call us now at 713-221-9088 to learn more about your rights and the divorce process in the Houston area.
Understanding Divorce Proceedings in Houston
If you are facing divorce in Houston, TX and need capable legal representation, contact The Larson Law Office.
In a divorce proceeding, one of the most common issues is to address the identification and division of community property. In general, community property refers to all debts and property incurred by either party during the course of the marriage.
The process of filing for divorce will also encompass identifying the separate property of each spouse to ensure that each item is accounted for. In some cases, this step can be tricky as one spouse may feel one item is his or her property and the other may disagree.
Our lawyers can guide you through this process and help you reach an agreement so that there are no uncertainties about what liabilities and assets belong to whom. Our experienced family lawyers can help you in determine if separate property exists, which is when liabilities or assets were incurred either before the marriage or by inheritance or gift. Our lawyers will also help you sort through reimbursement issues which can arise, for example, when community resources are used to improve a separate property asset. Or when separate property resources of one spouse are used to improve an asset that is community property.
Additionally, if you and your spouse have children together, our family law firm can help you address important issues including developing a successful parenting plan including conservatorship, visitation, child support, medical support, extra-curricular activities, day-care, school-related issues, passports for the children, alcohol abuse or drug abuse by the other parent, unreimbursed medical expenses, geographic restrictions, international travel issues, health insurance for the children, and other custody-related issues of the child or children that apply to your unique case.
Divorce Litigation versus Uncontested Divorce
Many people are unfamiliar with the differences between an uncontested divorce and divorce litigation. An uncontested divorce is one in which an agreement is reached between the parties prior to filing the divorce petition. An uncontested divorce agreement with children involved includes terms regarding child support, custody of the child and marital property division. However, approval from a Houston family court judge will be needed for finalizing an uncontested divorce order.
Even if you and your spouse feel that you are able to come to an agreement on an uncontested divorce, it may be necessary to have a divorce lawyer assist you should any questions or concerns arise, and to bring the case to a successful and smooth conclusion. Additionally, having an experienced divorce family lawyer by your side can ensure that any paperwork you sign is in compliance with the law, accurately reflects the agreement of both parties, and will be approved by the court.
On the other hand, in a contested divorce, the parties are not able to reach an early final agreement on child issues and property issues. They therefore enter the divorce litigation process to resolve those disputed issues. A contested divorce often begins with temporary orders (and perhaps mediation before the temporary order hearing), then moves through the discovery phase of the case with formal disclosure of financial and other information, potentially enters a second mediation phase before trial, and if the case has not yet resolved, it will end with a trial in front of a jury or a judge. A trial does not occur in every contested divorce. Instead, the vast majority of contested cases do settle, at some point, before the trial date is reached.
In other words, sometimes the parties decide to settle the divorce before or immediately after a temporary orders hearing. In other cases, the parties will settle a contested divorce after discovery has occurred, often at mediation. It is important to remember that although the parties may not begin the divorce process with an agreement on terms, that certainly does not mean that a final agreement based on compromise and settlement will remain out of reach as the case proceeds.
Discovery in a Texas Divorce – Do I Need a Houston Divorce Lawyer?
After the establishment of temporary orders, the parties may engage in discovery, or the term used for obtaining oral testimony and information via written requests, to obtain relevant documents and information on issues including the parties’ tax information, witnesses, legal theories, finances, personal property or real estate. A divorce lawyer Houston residents trust can help you secure and analyze potential documents or information and utilize them in your case if you wish to address issues such as alimony, child custody, child support or fault.
Additionally, an experienced lawyer can help you send written discovery requests. These formal, written questions known as interrogatories and document requests referred to as “requests for production” can help provide additional evidence so that you can better present your claim.
The Mediation Process
The formal negotiation process between two parties in an attempt to help both spouses reach an agreement is known as divorce mediation. While a mediator does not have the legal power to force a settlement between the parties, the mediator acts as a neutral third party to help both spouses find common ground in order to reach a settlement.
Mediation can occur almost any time. It may happen at the beginning of the case, before the discovery is finished or closer to the trial date after the discovery phase has ended. In some cases, a court may require mediation before a temporary orders hearing while others require mediation before the final trial. Divorce lawyers Houston residents count on can explain the importance of mediation in greater detail.