June 19, 2019

Four Positive Circumstances When Family Law Attorney Services May Be Used

Check out some positive circumstances in which family law attorney services may help you and your family.

Hiring a lawyer can be a stressful event. After all, Texas alone has over 70,000 lawyers licensed to practice law. Unfortunately, most people only need lawyers on during their worst days, whether they are going through divorce, bankruptcy, child custody, or criminal defense. But what about the good days? Although a "family law attorney" is often synonymous with "child custody lawyer" or "divorce lawyer," family law attorney services may also be needed for more positive events, too. Here are four positive circumstances where family law attorney services may help:

Name Changes

Name changes are governed by statute in most states, including Texas. Certain kinds of name changes, such as a name change in an adoption or a divorce, can be filed as part of the underlying proceeding. Other types of name changes, such as a name change following a marriage, can usually be handled through a filing with a court clerk. Other name changes may be more involved and may require a person to file a petition requesting the name change and appear at a court hearing. Some people find that hiring a family lawyer to prepare the filings and track any necessary court appearances will make the process much easier.

Prenuptial Agreements

Most states, including Texas, have laws that allow prenuptial agreements. A prenuptial agreement is a contract that is entered into prior to a marriage that defines the division of property in the event that the married couple ever divorces. While a prenuptial agreement may sound scary, it is often best to discuss whose property is whose while the couple is in the most positive mindset.

But prenuptial agreements have other benefits, too. In the event that an agreement cannot be worked out between a couple, both parties then have the opportunity to work on their disagreements before getting married. Family law attorney services include negotiating and drafting prenuptial agreements, as well as making sure prenuptial agreements are valid under applicable state statutes.

Adoption

Each state has different laws governing adoption. These laws often include requirements that the adopting parent must meet prior to adopting a child. These requirements can include preparing an adoption petition, submitting to an adoption evaluation, and attending court hearings. These laws also govern the situation when a child is adopted from another state or foreign country. Although adoptions can take time and effort to complete, a family law office can assist in the adoption and help keep the process moving forward.

Surrogacy

Adoption is not the only way for parents to have a child. In the event that a couple chooses to have a surrogate mother to carry their child, family law attorney services include negotiating and drafting surrogacy agreements. A surrogacy agreement is a contract that sets out the arrangement between a couple and the surrogate mother. Most states, including Texas, have laws that define the qualifications and duties for the surrogate mother, the types and form of compensation that can be paid to the surrogate mother, and the process for establishing the couple's parental rights. Because of the complicated set of laws that govern surrogacy, both the couple and the surrogate mother should consider a family law attorney to assist in navigating the surrogacy process.

Rather than dreading the circumstances that triggered the hiring of a family lawyer, these are the circumstances that can be viewed positively. For more information, rely on the experience of White Legal Group today.

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