How Farias Law Helps People Facing Family Law Issues in Texas

Farias Law helps people facing family law issues in Texas by providing legal guidance on divorce, child custody, child support, property division, and enforcement disputes. Its attorneys help clients understand their rights, weigh their options, and prepare for negotiation or court.

Houston is a major legal and population center in Southeast Texas, and families in the area often face disputes involving finances, parenting, or marital responsibilities. Farias Law, PLLC in Houston, Texas, handles family law matters, including divorce, custody, child support, adoption, property division, modifications, and mediation.

Family law decisions can shape a household’s finances and relationships for years. Texas has its own rules and vocabulary for these cases, and knowing how they work makes it easier to prepare documents and arguments that address the real issues in dispute.

Here are the main areas where a family law attorney can make a difference.

Guidance Through the Texas Divorce Process and Property Division

Meeting filing requirements and timelines: Before a Texas divorce can be filed, at least one spouse must have lived in the state for six months and in the county of filing for 90 days, under Texas Family Code § 6.301. Even an agreed divorce generally can’t be granted until 60 days after filing, per § 6.702, with limited exceptions for family violence. An attorney can explain these requirements along with temporary orders, discovery, mediation, and trial, so clients know what to expect at each stage.

Dividing community and separate property: Texas is a community property state. Property either spouse holds during or at the end of the marriage is presumed to be community property, and a spouse who claims something as separate property must prove it by “clear and convincing evidence” under § 3.003. This often comes up with:

• A home purchased before the marriage but paid down with marital income
• Inheritances or gifts deposited into a joint account
• Retirement accounts that grew both before and during the marriage
• Business interests and debts taken on by one spouse

Understanding “just and right” division: Texas courts don’t automatically split community property 50/50. Section 7.001 directs the court to divide the estate in a manner it “deems just and right,” with regard for each party’s rights and any children. Legal counsel can help organize financial records, trace separate property, and present the facts that support a fair outcome.

Texas courts see a high volume of these cases. According to the Texas Office of Court Administration, 62,802 divorce cases involving children and 48,400 divorce cases without children were filed statewide in fiscal year 2024.

Help With Child Custody (Conservatorship) and Child Support

Clarifying conservatorship rights: Texas law uses the term “conservatorship” rather than “custody.” Courts can name parents as joint managing conservators or appoint one parent as sole managing conservator. Section 153.131 creates a rebuttable presumption that naming both parents joint managing conservators is in the child’s best interest, but a history of family violence removes that presumption. In every case, the best interest of the child is the court’s primary consideration.

Knowing the rights each parent keeps: Under Texas Family Code § 153.073, a parent appointed as conservator generally keeps certain rights unless a court order limits them. These include receiving information about the child’s health, education, and welfare, accessing medical and school records, consulting with doctors and school officials, and consenting to emergency medical treatment. An attorney can help make sure an order spells out these rights clearly.

Applying the child support guidelines: Texas guideline child support is a percentage of the paying parent’s monthly net resources: 20% for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, and so on, under § 154.125. As of September 1, 2025, the guidelines apply to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources, up from $9,200, according to the Texas Office of the Attorney General. Calculating net resources correctly, especially for self-employed parents or those with irregular income, is often where disputes start.

Modifying and Enforcing Family Court Orders

Life changes after a decree is signed. Parents move, incomes rise or fall, and children’s needs shift. Texas law allows courts to revisit orders in specific situations:

• Custody and possession changes: Under § 156.101, a court may modify conservatorship or possession if it’s in the child’s best interest and circumstances have materially and substantially changed, a child 12 or older has expressed a preference about the primary residence, or the primary conservator has voluntarily given up care of the child for at least six months.
• Child support changes: Under § 156.401, support can be modified after a material and substantial change. It can also be modified when three years have passed and the current amount differs from the guideline amount by 20% or $100. Modifications apply only going forward, so filing promptly matters.
• Enforcement: When the other party ignores a possession schedule or falls behind on support, an attorney can file an enforcement action and ask the court for remedies.

Resolving Family Disputes Through Negotiation, Mediation, or Court

Seeking practical agreements: Not every family dispute ends in trial. Negotiation and mediation let parents or spouses resolve disagreements while keeping more control over the final arrangement. In Texas, a mediated settlement agreement is binding once it meets the requirements of § 153.0071: it must be signed by the parties (and any attorneys present) and state prominently that it can’t be revoked. Because these agreements are hard to undo, having counsel review terms before signing is important.

Preparing for litigation: If an agreement can’t be reached, legal representation helps a client prepare pleadings, evidence, and arguments for court. Farias Law states that its family law practice handles matters ranging from divorce and custody disputes to enforcement and modification of divorce decrees.

Explaining realistic options: Every family’s facts are different. A lawyer can evaluate the circumstances, identify likely legal issues, and explain possible outcomes, so decisions aren’t based on assumptions about how a case will go.

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Making Informed Family Law Decisions in Texas

Family law problems rarely involve only one issue. A divorce may also involve custody, support, property, or enforcement concerns, and a custody dispute can affect both parenting schedules and financial responsibilities. Legal guidance helps people address these connected issues within the framework of Texas law.

For Houston-area families, choosing a firm that regularly handles the specific type of dispute involved can provide a clearer path through the process. The goal isn’t just to file paperwork but to understand the legal consequences of each decision and prepare for negotiation or court.

Farias Law helps Texas families navigate complicated family law matters by explaining the applicable law, addressing disputed issues, and providing representation through negotiation, mediation, or litigation. Understanding the options early helps people make more informed decisions about their families and futures.