San Antonio Family Law Attorney
Many legal issues can affect your family. Several laws and procedures must be observed if you are involved in a divorce, adoption, guardianship, or similar proceeding. This can add substantial complexity to delicate family relationships, especially when the people involved do not have legal experience.
This is where a San Antonio family law attorney can help. Attorney David J. Rodriguez has 30 years of experience providing family law services. He can advise you of your rights and responsibilities under the law and represent you in seeking an amicable resolution to your family law problem.
What Is Family Law?
Family law is an umbrella term that refers to those areas of the legal system that govern family relationships. Although the term is often used in connection with divorce, family law covers a much wider range of subjects. An experienced family law attorney can represent you in any matter affecting your marriage, children, or relations with close relatives.
Adoptions
If you want to adopt a child, working with a qualified San Antonio family law attorney is critical. Adoptions are often more complicated than prospective parents realize. Several legal formalities must be carefully observed, even in relatively straightforward situations--such as a stepparent looking to adopt a stepchild.
learn moreChild Custody & Visitation Rights
Child custody can often be highly contentious for parents involved in a divorce or for parents who never married. Every parent wants to do right by their child. But this may lead to disagreements with the other parent over who can provide the best home and guidance for the child.
learn moreChild Support
Every parent in Texas has a duty to provide financial support for their minor children. Child support disputes are common in divorce cases. Even parents who were never married may need to establish the non-custodial parent’s obligations under the law.
learn moreDivorce
Divorce is never an easy process. Even when spouses agree the marriage is over and can reach an agreement on certain key issues, a legal process still needs to be followed. And even a relatively low-drama divorce may still have certain disagreements that must be resolved through mediation or litigation.
learn moreProtective Orders
When a relationship breaks down to the point of abuse, you need the law to step in and protect you. Protective Orders are sometimes necessary to keep you safe from your partner, which is why it is essential to get one in an expedited manner. Working with an expert family law attorney who will assist you in getting a protective order for your well-being is crucial.
learn moreSpousal Maintenance
The end of a marriage often leaves one spouse at a significant financial disadvantage. This usually occurs when one spouse stays home to care for children or run the household while the other spouse maintains full-time employment.
learn moreHere are just some of the family law services we provide at the Law Office of David J. Rodriguez, PLLC:
Why Do You Need a San Antonio Family Law Attorney?
But working with an attorney does not mean you are looking to prosecute. An attorney's first responsibility is to act in their client's best interests. There are several benefits to working with an experienced attorney, including:
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Understanding the Law
Attorney David J. Rodriguez has been handling family law matters for clients in San Antonio for 30 years. He understands the underlying statutes and regulations and the legal system of family law in Texas. He knows how the courts work in San Antonio and how they can best serve his clients.
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Providing an Objective View
Emotions often cloud family law matters. This can make it difficult to think objectively or seek an amicable solution to a problem. A family law attorney can therefore help you by providing a more objective view of your situation. Attorney David J. Rodriguez can review the facts of your situation, explain your rights, and offer advice on what steps to take next.
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Saving Time & Money
In the long run, working with a skilled San Antonio family law attorney can resolve your legal problems quicker. Many family law disputes can be resolved through good-faith negotiation or mediation. Attorney David J. Rodriguez is committed to helping his clients find the right approach for their cases.
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Planning for the Future
Legal matters like divorce and child custody are not just about today. They are about planning for the future for both you and the rest of your family. That is why it is especially crucial to work with a San Antonio family law attorney who can help you keep a long-term view and work to develop legal solutions that can adapt to your changing circumstances.
So if you are involved in a current or potential family law dispute and require legal advice, contact the Law Office of David J. Rodriguez, PLLC, today at (210) 716-0726 to schedule an initial consultation.
Client Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
In San Antonio, Texas, child custody decisions are all about what's best for your child. The court considers key factors like the child's developmental needs, each parent's ability to provide care, and the child's own wishes if they're old enough. Importantly, decisions are made without bias towards a parent's marital status, gender, religion, or race. The focus? A decision that ensures your child's happiness, security, and overall well-being.
Yes, even if you were never married to the other parent of your child, you can still receive child support in San Antonio, Texas. Texas law ensures that all parents, married or not, have equal rights and responsibilities towards their children. To pursue child support, custody, or visitation rights, start by filing a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR). The court focuses on the child's best interests, taking into account factors like the child's needs, each parent's ability to provide care, and living situations. Your relationship status doesn't affect your entitlement to child support.
While Texas law doesn't mandate an adoption attorney, it's strongly advised to engage one, especially in complex processes like adoption. A knowledgeable San Antonio family attorney brings invaluable expertise, ensuring you navigate state-specific adoption laws efficiently and effectively. Their guidance simplifies the legal complexities of adoption, providing clarity and support every step of the way. Opting for legal assistance in adoption is a wise choice for a smooth and successful journey.
In Texas, legal separation is not recognized. Unlike many states where couples can be legally separated but remain married, Texas lacks this provision. However, couples who decide to separate before a divorce can take steps to protect their rights during this period. While formal legal separation isn't an option, Texans can create a separation agreement, addressing crucial issues like alimony and asset division, similar to those in a divorce.
In Texas, child custody is categorized into two distinct types: legal and physical custody. Legal custody involves the right to make significant decisions for the child's upbringing, including their education, healthcare, and religious instruction. Physical custody, in contrast, is about where the child resides and includes their everyday care.
- Sole Custody: This occurs when one parent holds both legal and physical custody, meaning the child lives primarily with them. The other parent might have visitation rights but lacks decision-making power in the child's life.
- Joint Custody:Joint custody can be shared in terms of legal decisions, physical living arrangements, or both. Joint legal custody allows both parents to make key decisions together, while joint physical custody means the child spends time living with both parents according to a specific schedule.
The guiding principle for any custody decision in Texas is the child's best interest. It's important to remember that these arrangements can adapt to changing circumstances, always with the child's welfare as the foremost priority.
