At Diggs & Sadler, we know how difficult navigating family law disputes can be. Our Round Rock divorce lawyers have more than 125 years of combined experience helping Texans resolve complex family law cases. At our Round Rock law office, Attorney Kristy Banda leads the way with insight and talents that have earned her multiple recognitions from Super Lawyers® Rising Stars℠.
The divorce process can be incredibly involved and often involves other types of family law issues such as asset division and child custody. Our Round Rock divorce attorneys regularly help clients navigate divorces that include a wide range of complicating factors, such as the presence of foreign citizenships and valuable property.
If you need help navigating your divorce in Round Rock, TX, call Diggs & Sadler today to discuss your situation.
The Divorce Process in Round Rock, Texas
Every divorce is unique, but every divorce in Texas will follow the same steps, more
or less. Kristy and our team of divorce lawyers in Round Rock can help you navigate
divorce proceedings that are typical, unusual, straightforward, or complicated.
You
can lean on us for legal counsel and moral support in all situations.
The usual divorce process in Round Rock will include:
Meeting residency requirements: Before you can file for divorce in Texas, you must live in the state for at least
six months. To file for divorce in Round Rock, you must also live in Williamson
County
for at least 90 days.
Filing for divorce: Kristy can help you create the divorce petition, sometimes called divorce papers.
This petition outlines what you want from the divorce. Once it is drafted and
reviewed,
it will be filed with the right family law court.
Serving the papers: The divorce papers must be officially served to your spouse. Otherwise, they could
try to deny that they ever received it. Once they get the divorce papers, they
have
just 20 days to respond. Not sure how to officially serve divorce papers?
Let Attorney
Banda help you.
Entering discovery: The discovery process of a divorce will consist of cataloging your important finances,
assets, and income, and then exchanging that information with your spouse, who
will
have outlined the same information for you. Kristy will then review the provided
documentation for any discrepancies or concerns.
Attend mediation: Most divorce cases will advance with court-required mediation to settle any disputes
without the need for litigation. You can count on Kristy to act on your behalf
in
mediation and to find an amicable resolution for you and your spouse.
Enter litigation: If mediation ends without an agreement—a stubborn spouse might refuse to cooperate
at all—then Kristy can advise you whether you should proceed to litigation. Some
cases can return to mediation, but others must go to trial, which is riskier and
more expensive. She will always look for the most reasonable and beneficial path
forward for you.
Should I File for No-Fault Divorce or Fault-Based Divorce?
Your divorce can be filed as no-fault or fault-based. It depends on the specific
reasons why you want to end your marriage. Attorney Kristy Banda can discuss with
you the best option when you file and how that can influence the case going forward.
What are the differences between no-fault and fault-based divorce?
No-fault: In a no-fault divorce, you and your spouse both agree that your marriage has become
“unsupportable,” so you would rather end it than spend time and energy trying
to
repair what can’t be fixed.
Fault-based: In a fault-based divorce, you will specifically blame your spouse for wrongdoing
that made you feel like a divorce was necessary. Legally recognized forms of fault
include cruel treatment, adultery, abandonment, and more.
To keep the divorce proceeding as calm as it can be, Kristy usually prefers to file
a no-fault divorce first. If there is good reason to point to a specific form of
fault, then the divorce petition can be changed later to fault-based. For example,
if you accuse your spouse of stealing from a joint financial account for illicit
gains, then it could influence the court when deciding property division.
What Is a Contested Divorce?
When the respondent receives the divorce papers, they can decide to accept it as
it is or challenge it. Rejecting even just one part of the divorce papers will
make
the divorce contested. Further mediation or discussions will be necessary
to reach
a conclusion, with the potential of the case escalating to litigation.
If the respondent agrees to all parts of the divorce, then the divorce is uncontested.
An uncontested divorce can conclude sooner and usually has a lower overall cost
than
a contested one. If your divorce is uncontested, work with Kristy, who can
help take
steps to ensure it stays that way as it proceeds.
Additional Divorce Services We Offer
Kristy and her team at our Round Rock family law office would be happy to help you with:
Asset division. Our attorneys will fight fiercely to protect your property and ensure you pursue
an outcome that helps you maintain financial stability post-divorce.
Our Travis County based clients often have questions about the splitting of their
more complex assets. Read more about:
Child custody. For parents, the prospect of dealing with a legal dispute that could impact the
parent-child relationship can be daunting. Our lawyers will advocate for your
rights
and results that enable your child to thrive.
LGBTQ+ family law. LGBTQ+ individuals sometimes face unexpected complications when dealing with family
law cases such as a divorce or adoption. Our lawyers can help ensure you receive
fair treatment and work towards an outcome that's right for you.
At Diggs & Sadler, our divorce attorneys in Round Rock leverage a team-based
approach to help clients. When you work with us, you gain the knowledge of 12 experienced
family lawyers like Attorney Kristy Banda. Whether you need legal counsel that
will
fight fiercely for your rights in court or help you pursue a more peaceful
solution
through mediation, our team is here to develop a comprehensive case strategy
that
suits your needs.
Get Attorney Kristy Banda on Your Side Today
Your divorce will change your day-to-day life. The extent of those changes and whether
they feel like good things will depend on how the divorce is handled and how it
concludes.
Simplify the divorce process and give yourself a fair chance of getting
what you
want out of divorce by teaming up with our divorce lawyers today.
A divorce in Round Rock can take a few months, a year, or longer to finish. It depends
on the details of the divorce and whether it is contested. When working with
Diggs
& Sadler, you can take confidence that Kristy and her team will do
what they
can to avoid any unnecessary delays.
Can I afford a divorce attorney?
We always try to keep our legal rates and attorney fees competitive, so everyone
in Round Rock has access to an incredible divorce attorney. Predicting the
total
cost of a divorce is difficult, though, because every case is different.
For example,
if a case goes to litigation, then it will include court costs
and fees that otherwise
would have been avoided. Overall, though, the average
divorce in Texas can cost several
thousand dollars.
What does common-law marriage mean in Texas?
Common-law marriage in Texas is a form of marriage that does not involve the traditional
legal avenues. It can happen when both parties agree to be married, live together,
act as if they are married in public, and are legally allowed to be married
to one
another. Common-law married couples can seek divorces, too, just like
any other married couple.
Can filing for divorce affect my taxes in Texas?
Divorce can have significant tax implications, but it can also have a minimal tax
impact. Factors like property division, child support payments, spousal maintenance,
and more can all make a tax impact after your divorce. For more information,
we advise
that you consult a tax specialist or tax attorney.
How long do I have to respond to a divorce petition?
You have only 20 days in Texas to respond to a divorce petition once it is officially
served to you. If you do not return an official response, then the court will
likely
default the case in favor of the spouse who filed the petition.
Client Testimonials
Striving to Achieve the Best Possible Result
Reviews & Testimonials
At Diggs & Sadler, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.
"Call IMMEDIATELY!"
Michael is very knowledgeable and professional. I wouldn't have known where to start with my case without him! He takes his time and interacts with your experience followed by sound advice... He is a gem in the community.
- Eboni
"Wouldn't be in this situation without him!"
10 out of 10 I recommend working with Mr. Araj.
- Kristi
"Michael was always there for me, every step of the way."
Michael was always there for me, every step of the way.
- Steve B.
"Michael Araj is a star."
Highly recommend.
- William O.
"I’m amazed at her insight in handling complex legal issues and grateful for her aggressive approach."
I wish Kevin hired Judie Sadler to handle his divorce instead of the train wreck attorney he commissioned. Fast forward a few ...
- Donna Marie A.
"They care about their clients and fight for you"
They are extremely conscientious and smart and are excellent trial lawyers.
- Gina F.
"She is an ethical, honest and knowledgeable attorney"
We highly recommend her to assist with any issues you or your company may need.
- Kyle G.
"They are highly knowledgeable, professional and very client service focused"
I would highly recommend Diggs & Sadler to anyone needing family law representation in the Houston area.
