Megan B. Rachel, Attorney At Law

Family Law, Divorce, and Child Custody Law Firm

214-396-2048

Divorce

Family Bonds: Why You Should Hire a Divorce Attorney

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We are told that love should last forever, but the fact is 40 to 50 percent of all marriages in the US fail. Unfortunately, you are now a part of that statistic, and there are many reasons why you need to hire a divorce attorney like Megan B. Rachel, Attorney At Law Family Attorneys.

Why You Should Hire A Divorce Attorney

The first thing that you should know is 91 percent of all family cases involving child custody end up being settled outside of court. This means that they are settled during mediation and other pre-court settings with the help of attorneys.

What you should remember is the attorney who is well-versed in Texas Family Law, like the good people with Megan B. Rachel, Attorney At Law Family Attorneys, will understand the needs of your children as well as yours. There are a lot of intricacies that need to be addressed that you might not think about.

This could include more than just child support but financial decisions that are not included in child support, such as money for college or schooling supplies. These types of expenses are not taken into consideration when talking about child support.

It should be noted that most cases involving parents usually end in joint managing conservatorship. This means both parents will decide some of the biggest decisions of a child’s life, such as health and education. Of course, there are some exceptions that require more knowledge of your case and wishes, making it even more important that you hire an attorney.

Remember that Megan B. Rachel, Attorney At Law is right in the middle of Collin and Denton county. This means that we are here to help families in these counties as well as the surrounding areas, like Plano or even Frisco just to name a few. Give our team a call to find out what we can do to help your family during this difficult time at 214-396-2048.

Reasons Why You Should Hire A Divorce Attorney

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Two of the most challenging things about divorce is, you not only need to deal with the emotional dilemma of the separation, but also the burden of protecting your rights in a case. A broken marriage can be a real mess, especially if both the parties are not on the same page. But either way, you need proper representation in order to seek a fair outcome. You definitely need to hire a specialize and credible divorce attorney to deal with every legal issue surrounding your case, ranging from the creation of legal documents to presentation of your case in family court.

Hire a local divorce attorney:

Even though the laws are usually the same throughout the state, most courts have a personality of their own. That’s why it is so important to hire an attorney who has experience dealing with a judge who might have their own, differing opinion of how the law is interpreted. Most experienced attorneys have been in front of all the judges in a specific family courthouse. And they know the personalities of specific judges, and often can predict how they will rule on a specific issue. Furthermore, they have likely built a level of trust with the judge, which can be highly beneficial when presenting your case. This is the primary reason to appoint a divorce attorney, when your case is going to be heard in a Denton court.

An inexperienced family law attorney might not be up to speed on the latest laws, or procedures. This can end up costing you even more money in the long run. And it could actually hurt your case, because the judge can become easily annoyed with your attorney’s lack of knowledge.

Significance of hiring a credible law firm:

You need to hire someone who specializes in family law. An experienced divorce attorney to help you in understand the legal complexities of your case. Especially when there are child custody or property disputes. Such matters are often loaded with complex financial calculations and legal obligations that may become bigger issues if your attorney is ot highly skilled in those areas.. Experienced lawyers with a detailed understanding of each aspect of your case can help solve complicated issues with the least amount of hardship, thus saving you time and money.

Whether you require a divorce attorney for uncontested, or a contested divorce with child custody or property division issues, you need to make sure your attorney has a reputation that garners trust and reliability in the community.

Compassion, motivation and consultation:

When looking to hire a divorce attorney, then you should are ask a lot of questions. It is recommended that you carefully prepare a list of your concerns. Some of the best lawyers is understand their responsibility towards their clients and should answers all your questions with compassion and honesty. The journey from deciding to separate from your spouse, to a final judgement is really difficult, especially when children are involved. You will likely face several bumps in the road along the way that could hamper your motivation. A lawyer with a complete understanding of a client’s psychology can to be the best weapon for someone dealing with complexities of a divorce.

Lawyer’s fee:

Even if you have financial issues. Hiring the cheapest divorce attorney can be a be a huge mistake. Inexperienced lawyers may reduce their rates in order to attract clients and obtain experience. Therefore, an attorney who charges a higher rate, may end up saving you money because they are able to quickly and efficiently navigate through the legal system. Experts recommend that people should research both the experience and the fees before hiring a divorce attorney.

The Rachel Law Firm has been a trusted name in family court for many years. They’ve earned their reputation by providing excellent legal counsel at reasonable rates. Call now at 214-396-2048 to obtain expert assistance resolving all of your divorce issues, no matter how complex.

Things You Should Discuss With Your Divorce Attorney in Denton

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Once you’ve decided to end your marriage, it’s a good idea get in touch with a divorce attorney prior to making your decision public. Your divorce attorney in Denton can provide you with several things you can do to protect yourself and your rights. And even more importantly, they can advise you on what not to do. The last thing you want to do is something that will ultimately hurt your case. When you hire a reliable divorce attorney in Denton, half of the challenge is already met, because you can trust that their advice is accurate. At that point, all you have to is to help them make most of their efforts to represent your case.

Hopefully this is the first time you have been confronted with the complexities of a family law case. But even if it’s not, you might not be aware of all the laws. Or maybe the laws have changed. A specialized, experienced divorce attorney in Denton has probably been dealing with issues similar to yours on a daily basis. So it’s very helpful how you communicate with your attorney. How you explain your case to your lawyer and help them understand the details of the case is very important.

Here are a list of things that you should openly discuss with your divorce attorney to help them strengthen your case:

Explain the grounds for divorce and possible complexities:

You probably know your spouse life better than anyone. So likely, you are the best person to explain their behavior and other characteristics. This will help your divorce attorney in Denton to strengthen your case. If you do not share the in-depth details of your marriage, then your attorney will have a difficult time helping you the way they should. All consultations are private and confidential. So even if you haven’t officially hired your divorce attorney in Denton, you should confide in them so they are able to get an accurate picture of the case they will be representing, and provide accurate counsel to you. If you don’t have that kind of comfort level with an attorney you are consulting with, it is highly recommended that you find a different attorney.

If you have chosen a compassionate and understanding divorce attorney in Denton who you are comfortable with, then the chances of surprises popping up are greatly minimized. Honestly explaining all the components of your case can help your attorney form a strong case that will hopefully result in a positive outcome for you.

Clarity is important:

Having clarity about what you want is very important. Hiring the best divorce attorney in Denton can only help you win, if you know that what you are seeking. In cases where child custody matters, visitation, or property division are involved, then you need to have realistic ideas about how you would like to see those issues resolved. Without having clarity, your attorney, no matter how efficient, will have difficulty helping you to win your case.

Megan B. Rachel, Attorney At Law has been a trusted source of legal representation your years. When choosing a divorce attorney in Denton, you’ll find they are compassionate and reliable. You’ll feel comfortable discussing the innermost details of your life. To get in touch with Megan B. Rachel, Attorney At Law for a consultation, please call 214-396-2048.

Avoiding common financial mistakes in divorce

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On behalf of Megan B. Rachel, Attorney At Law posted in Divorce on Wednesday, July 9, 2014.

Texans who’ve been through divorce know it’s as much a financial process as an emotional one. Getting a bad deal on property division and alimony can affect a person financially for years to come. One financial writer recently put together a list of common financial mistakes people-especially women over age 50-tend to make in divorce.

One of the most common mistakes is not fighting hard for a share of a spouse’s retirement benefits. Retirement assets can be divided between the spouses by means of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order. A QDRO is a court order allowing some of the assets to be transferred to the other spouse, and a new account opened in that spouse’s name, while maintaining the tax advantages of the plan.

Another mistake spouses commonly make is fighting to keep the house instead of a share of the other spouse’s retirement benefits. The house may have emotional value, but it’s future value is hard to predict. Maintaining the house will also likely cost some money over the years. Assets in a retirement plan, on the other hand, might be substantial and it is more likely they will increase in value.

Finally, it can be a mistake to fight for alimony instead of a piece of the retirement plan. Especially in Texas, alimony is limited and its duration is short. It is also considered taxable income.

Spouses over 50 who are contemplating divorce need solid legal and financial advice. Avoiding common financial mistakes can make a big difference in the quality of post-divorce life.

Source: Forbes, “The Big Money Mistake Divorcing Women Make,” Kerry Hannon, July 3, 2014

Actress Emilie de Ravin, husband to divorce

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On behalf of Megan B. Rachel, Attorney At Law posted in Divorce on Wednesday, July 16, 2014.

Texas fans of the TV show “Lost” may remember actress Emilie de Ravin, who appeared in the series.  De Ravin has also appeared in the popular shows “Once Upon a Time” and “Roswell.” Unfortunately, her personal life does not appear to be going as well as her professional life: last week her husband of 11 years filed divorce papers in Los Angeles.

Her husband listed irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.  In states like California or Texas, which allow no-fault divorce, irreconcilable differences, sometimes referred to as insupportability, is the only ground that has to be alleged.  The couple has no children, so they will not have to deal with issues of child support and child custody.  They will, however, have to deal with the issue of property division.

The couple resides in California, which is a community property state like Texas.  In a community property state, property acquired by either party during the marriage is generally considered community property and therefore must be divided between the parties.  The division is not necessarily 50-50 as the judge has the discretion to make any division that is fair and just to both parties.

Not all property acquired during a marriage is community property.  Property that a spouse inherited from a deceased person, or property received as a gift, for example, is considered separate property and stays with the spouse who owns it.  Property acquired before the marriage is also considered the separate property of its owner.

A couple about to go through a dissolution of marriage has a lot of difficult decisions ahead of them.  But by remaining civil to each other and working with experienced professionals, they can get through the process with a minimum of stress.

Source: Los Angeles Times, “Emilie de Ravin of ‘Lost,’ husband Joshua Janowicz divorcing,” Nardine Saad, July 11, 2014