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High-Conflict Divorce Attorney in Houston, Texas

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Facing a high-conflict divorce can feel like navigating through an endless storm, with emotions running high and resolution seeming far off. It's important to know that you don't have to face it alone. Our divorce attorneys at C.Y. Lee Legal Group have seen how these disputes can escalate, transforming a difficult situation into a complex maze of legal issues and emotional distress.

That's why our dedicated team in Houston, Texas, is here—to not only provide legal advice but to be your ally in this challenging journey. Our goal is for you to regain your peace and start anew, so no matter what you are facing between you and your ex-partner, get in touch with our firm for support.

Understanding High-Conflict Divorce

Divorce is already a challenging process. When heightened conflict becomes a part of the equation, it can be particularly daunting. A high-conflict divorce is characterized by intense disagreements, emotional turbulence, and an inability to reach amicable resolutions.

It can involve ongoing litigation, heavy involvement of court-related professionals, and a high degree of animosity between spouses. The disputes in these cases tend to revolve around contentious issues such as child custody, alimony, and division of property. The divorcing parties are often unable to reach amicable resolutions. It's crucial to seek professional legal assistance in high-conflict divorces to navigate the challenging path ahead.

Furthermore, the children, if any, might bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict, affecting their emotional stability. The ongoing hostility and constant disputes can significantly impact their emotional well-being and overall quality of life. At our firm, our divorce attorney’s aim is to minimize this impact, advocating for a resolution that puts the children's best interests at the forefront.

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No-Fault vs. Fault-Based Divorce

In Texas, the law recognizes two categories of divorce: no-fault and fault-based.

No-Fault Divorce: In a no-fault divorce, neither party has to prove misconduct on the part of the other spouse. This often results in a quicker, less contentious divorce process.
Fault Divorce: However, in high-conflict divorces, where disputes are already prevalent, fault-based divorces may be more common. Fault-based grounds for divorce include cruelty, adultery, abandonment, conviction of a felony, and mental illness.

Understanding the difference between these two types of divorces can significantly impact the dynamics of a high-conflict divorce. It can determine the approach we take in your case and how we navigate the legal proceedings, especially because it's very common for high-conflict divorce cases to also be fault-based.

Division of Marital Property & Debt

In Texas, the division of marital property and debt follows the "community property" standard. This means that assets and debts acquired during the marriage are generally considered jointly owned.

In high-conflict divorces, this can become a significant source of contention, particularly when there are substantial financial interests at stake. In Texas, all assets and liabilities accumulated during the marriage are considered community property and subject to division between the parties. It doesn't only include tangible assets like real estate, cars, or household goods, but also intangible ones such as retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, and even business interests.

The division of these assets and liabilities is supposed to be "just and right," which usually implies an equal (50/50) split. However, several factors could lead to an unequal division, such as earning capacity, contribution to the assets, the interests of minor children, and fault in the breakup of the marriage.

We aim for a fair and equitable division, advocating for a settlement that respects your financial needs and future security. We employ various strategies, such as tracing to separate community property from separate property, valuation of assets, and negotiation or litigation for a beneficial division.

Debt division can also be a complex matter in high-conflict divorces. According to Texas law, marital debt is divided under the same "just and right" principle. It encompasses all liabilities incurred during the marriage, whether it's mortgage, credit card debt, or loans.

Child Custody & Support

Child custody and support are often the most emotionally-charged aspects of a high-conflict divorce. Disagreements over what's best for the children can lead to prolonged court battles and emotional strain for all parties involved. The court's primary focus is always on the child's best interests, considering factors such as the child's relationship with each parent, their physical and emotional needs, and the ability of each parent to provide a stable environment.

Alimony Disputes

Alimony, also known as spousal support, can be another contentious issue in high-conflict divorces. Determining fair and just alimony payments involves assessing the financial needs and earning capacities of both parties, which can be a complex process. Disputes may arise when one party believes they're entitled to a certain amount of alimony while the other disagrees.

Our Approach to High-Conflict Divorces

In a typical divorce, our approach usually involves gathering evidence to prove fault if there was one, with the goal of ensuring that it influences the court's decision on important matters, such as alimony, child support, division of assets, and more. Our focus would be on reaching a peaceful settlement while protecting our client's interests.

In high-conflict divorce cases, our approach is centered on thorough preparation, strong negotiation, strategic litigation, and empathetic guidance, always prioritizing the emotional well-being of the children involved and the fair division of marital assets and debts. Our approach would also include an emphasis on these aspects:

Communication. Given the heightened emotions and frequent disputes, our first step would typically be to establish clear lines of communication.
Respect. We would work to create an environment where all interactions between the parties are respectful and productive, even when disagreement arises.
Diligent Litigation. When necessary, we would advocate vigorously for our client's rights and interests in court. Our goal is for our clients to get the best possible solution, and we are willing to fight for them just as diligently.
Collaborate. We strongly encourage collaboration with other professionals such as mediators, therapists, or counselors to minimize conflict and find amicable resolutions.
Conflict Strategies. We would provide you with strategies for managing conflict, while we take on the task of negotiating with the other party to reach a resolution. This can involve mediation or collaborative law approaches to avoid exacerbating the conflict.

Our family law attorney’s primary goal in such cases is to minimize the emotional strain and to reach a resolution that is in the best interests of everyone involved, especially children.