Many loving individuals cannot have children or want to open up their home to another child. Adoption is often a lengthy process with significant red tape. The adoption of a child is just one example of a family law matter that needs the careful attention of an experienced adoption attorney in Fort Worth with a personal touch. We can help you through the process so that you can share the gift of love with a special child.

Adoption is the legal procedure that allows a family to make a child a part of their family who is not biologically their own. We have Fort Worth adoption attorneys who offer adoption-related services that can help both adoptive and birth parents throughout all phases of the adoption process. When you are faced with an important life decision regarding a key family relationship, such as adoption, an experienced family law attorney’s advice, and assistance often proves crucial to your understanding of the issues involved.

If you need help with anything related to child custody in Fort Worth, including visitation rights and termination of parental rights, contact Hawkins & Walker today to discuss your circumstances and options. We can discuss your situation confidentially – the initial consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose.

Child custody is a delicate subject for all parties involved. A child’s welfare is of utmost importance, but parental rights have to also be protected. If you’re seeking custody of your child or if you wish to overturn a child custody ruling, we may be able to help you.

Visitation Rights

If you’re looking to modify visitation rights or would like to set the terms of visitation rights, call us today. Visitation rights set the limits and conditions for the family member that does not have direct custody of a minor. Visitation rights can be expanded or retracted, depending on the situation. If you’d like to modify visitation rights, we may be able to help.

Termination of Parental Rights

If you’re seeking to terminate parental rights, call us today to discuss the circumstance to determine if there is a case. Termination of parental rights is either voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary relinquishment of parental rights is done under the consent of both parents. To voluntarily terminate parental rights, you must meet several conditions. Involuntary termination of parental rights does not need approval or consent from both parents. Involuntary termination of parental rights is generally pursued to bar a negligent or abusive parent from assuming custody or influencing a child.

A family crisis can take its toll on relationships, but it does not have to tear your family apart. We understand how these uncertain times can be emotionally draining, which is why the family law attorneys at Hawkins & Walker, PC, approach each family law case with the individual attention you deserve. During these troubling times, you need clear guidance in making decisions because making the wrong decisions can have far-reaching, long-lasting, adverse effects on you and your family.

If you are contemplating a divorce, or if your spouse sued you for divorce, we can help. Divorce often presents difficult issues for a family to overcome; issues such as child custody, visitation, child support, spousal maintenance, property division, and outstanding debts require creative solutions that work for you and your family’s particular needs. Our Fort Worth divorce attorneys work hard to make sure that the agreements entered into are designed around you and your family’s needs while always keeping your goals and interests at the forefront. Let our knowledge and experience help you and your family make a smooth transition.

The post-divorce modification lawyers at Hawkins & Walker, PC, believe that the child’s best interest is paramount in any family law litigation. We can answer your questions and help you navigate through the process of seeking a divorce or representing you if you are the respondent in a divorce action.

Our divorce attorneys in Fort Worth are skilled negotiators and fierce advocates on behalf of our clients. We work diligently to save our clients the trauma and animosity of a courtroom battle through successful alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation. However, when you cannot reach amicable resolutions, we will aggressively represent our clients’ interests and their children in court.

Divorce Mediation

We provide divorce mediation services. Divorce mediation is a process wherein you and your spouse meet with a neutral third party, the mediator. With the mediator’s help, you work through the issues you need to resolve so the two of you can end your marriage as amicably and cost-effectively as possible. The mediator is there to help you reach an agreement with your spouse, even when communication breaks down.

Property Division

We can also help with property division, which is a primary consideration at the end of any marriage. What was formerly the property of a couple must now be divided between two individuals going their separate ways. There are two primary methods of property division:

Equitable distribution, as the name implies, splits the marital assets of a couple 50/50 or as close to equal as possible. This means that each spouse ought to receive half of the combined property in terms of monetary value.

Community property law is roughly the same, except that it only deals with property acquired during the marriage, excluding property acquired independently before the marriage.

Separation Agreements cover a wide range of topics and help put into concrete wording the terms of a divorce.

Domestic Violence Cases

Domestic violence classifies as any violence or abuse conducted within the confines of the home. Domestic violence is most commonly spousal, child, or elderly abuse, but other varieties exist. If you or a loved one suffer domestic violence in Fort Worth, call us today for confidential legal consultation, wherein we can discuss your options.

Restraining Orders

A restraining order is a legal injunction that demands an individual to perform or cease to perform a specific action under penalty of criminal or civil prosecution. For the most part, a restraining order stipulates that one party must cease interaction with another party.

Restraining orders are most often granted in cases of domestic violence, stalking, harassment, and sexual abuse.

If you’re seeking a restraining order in Fort Worth for any reason, contact us today to discuss your circumstances and explore your options. A Fort Worth domestic violence attorney can help you through your difficult situation. Call today for a free, confidential legal consultation.

If you’re looking for a family arbitration or mediation attorney in Fort Worth, contact Hawkins & Walker today to discuss the process, or to begin taking steps to set up an appointment.

Arbitration

Arbitration is a form of alternate dispute resolution. An alternate dispute resolution is any problem that is solved outside of court. In many cases, court can be avoided through arbitration sessions. The process works by listening to both parties in a dispute, weighing the evidence presented, and making a decision that will resolve the dispute. The decision of the arbiter is both legally binding and enforceable.
Arbitration is often sought when two parties cannot agree for some reason and therefore cede the decision to a third party that has been informed and holds no bias towards either side.

Mediation

Mediation is similar to arbitration, except that the mediator’s aim, as opposed to the arbiter, is not to decide for the two disputing parties but merely to facilitate communication between the parties to reach an acceptable agreement for both parties.

Mediation is also a form of alternate dispute resolution and is used when communication between two disputing parties is too acrimonious to allow cordial, constructive dialogue. The mediator is there to keep both parties on topic and to dissuade the conversation from devolving to the point of non-communication. It is preferred by those who wish to come to their own decision but are having difficulty.

For Fort Worth family arbitration or mediation, attorneys at Hawkins & Walker have practical experience resolving some of the more common disputes that may arise between family members.

Following a divorce and the finalization of the orders relating to child support and child custody, circumstances may change so that a modification of child support and custody order becomes necessary. The experienced Fort Worth family law divorce modification attorneys at Hawkins & Walker, PC, can help you seek any modifications to the original divorce decree.

Some of the things most commonly modified after a divorce include:

• Visitation Rights
• Child Custody
• Termination of Parental Rights

Children are often the most contentious subject of any divorce. When parents divorce, terms are set for the rights of both parents in regards to the children. These terms are set with the parents’ rights in mind, but with the child’s welfare as the top priority: what is best for the child?

That said, the original terms of a divorce may stipulate parental rights that are not to the best interest of the child and may therefore need to be modified.

If you would like to seek to change the terms of your ex-spouse’s visitation rights, custody terms or even wish to pursue a termination of parental rights, we may be able to help. Our experience in family law can help you achieve what is best for you and your children.

A parent who seeks to modify a custody or visitation order must show that circumstances have changed significantly from when the court entered the original order. If there is a significant change in the ex-spouse’s job or income paying support, a modification might be appropriate. A minor dispute between parents would not be grounds for changing the order. Also, any changes to child support must comply with Texas Family Code guidelines.

Perhaps the most troubling issue that could result in child support and custody modifications is the prospect of one parent moving. In reviewing the request and subsequent modifications, the courts will look at the child’s existing relationship with the parent who is not moving and how the move will affect the child. The courts will focus on the child’s best interest when determining whether a modification is appropriate.

The Tarrant County post-divorce modification lawyers at Hawkins & Walker, PC also believe that the child’s best interest is paramount in any family law litigation. We can answer your questions and help you navigate through the process of seeking a modification when necessary or representing you if you are the respondent in a modification action.

Our Fort Worth post-divorce modification attorneys are skilled family law negotiators and fierce advocates for our clients. We work diligently to save our clients the trauma and animosity of a courtroom battle through successful alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation. However, when you and your ex cannot reach amicable resolutions, we will aggressively represent our clients’ interests and their children in court.

If you need a marital agreement in Fort Worth, contact Hawkins & Walker today to take the first steps.

Though it may sound pessimistic, marital agreements are an essential legal safeguard should a marriage go wrong. Divorce rates are higher than ever, so marital agreements help to safeguard you and your interests in the case of divorce.

In the case of divorce, a marital agreement can save a lot of time and money. They cover a wide range of topics but generally set out specific guidelines for property division in the case of a failed marriage.

We can help make agreements before or after marriage. If completed before marriage, it is called a premarital agreement. If after marriage, it is a postnuptial agreement.

We can also answer any questions you have on Marital Property Law and help you with property division or property settlements.

If you are getting married or have recently been married and are looking for a prenuptial in Fort Worth, make sure all your bases are covered and allow us to help you with a marital agreement. Ideally, you’ll never have to refer to a marital agreement, but you’ll be glad you have one if you face a divorce.