Divorce can happen to anyone, and it can involve any number of causes and contributing factors. Houston Family law attorney Holli Palmer at the Law Office of Holli M. Palmer has extensive knowledge and compassion you can rely on to help you get through these life-altering challenges, whether the choices are yours to make or are imposed upon you. Navigation through the Texas Family Court system can be daunting, and you should have a divorce attorney with whom you are comfortable.
We know you may be feeling confused or intimidated as well as emotionally stressed. Holli Palmer will provide you with solid information and practical ideas to help you begin confronting your toughest problems constructively. We offer a low-cost initial consultation focused on your needs and we can do that either in person at our northwest Houston office. We also offer a telephone consultation in cases where you may be out of state, or out of the country.
We represent people across the full spectrum of life in the Houston and Conroe areas and elsewhere in Texas, from the working class to military personnel and people with multimillion-dollar estates. This includes caring counsel and assertive representation with the focus squarely on your priorities.
If you have very young or school-age children, issues of child custody and visitation may be foremost in your mind, along with the prospect of getting by financially on your own. Even if children are not an issue, property division and spousal support outcomes may impact your life for many years to come. The attorney you choose can make a critical difference. We invite you to view our divorce do’s and don’ts as you evaluate options.
Our firm is not a general practice law firm. We focus only on family law issues such as divorce, child custody - and all other family-related matters. Our office will provide you with the necessary information regarding the overall process from filing, mediation, and possible settlement. If settlement is not possible, then we will prepare you for trial and present your case in court. Contact Houston family law attorney Holli Palmer and get the answers to your questions regarding your divorce or child custody case.
If you are able to reach agreement with your divorcing spouse on custody and property issues, we can provide all the services required for an uncontested divorce. Our fees in such cases are reasonable, and lower than the costs for a contested divorce.
Your divorce may call for much more than simply filing an uncontested decree, however, and we are equipped to provide strong advocacy on all issues. Through negotiation, mediation or other means, family law attorney Holli Palmer will work hard to help you emerge from this emotionally taxing time in the best possible circumstances. In intensely contested cases, she is a proven trial lawyer.
Whatever your greatest concerns – custody of your children, ending abuse, coping with a high-debt load, getting your fair share of property or others – you can contact us for help finding the best solutions and taking action.
Some of the greatest misconceptions about divorce in Texas revolve around our family courts’ standards and practices in awarding spousal support (sometimes referred to as alimony).
Attorney Holli M. Palmer, supported by our capable legal team, can effectively represent your interests in temporary hearings and divorce negotiations, mediation or litigation involving longer-term spousal support. Beginning with your initial consultation, you can benefit from our knowledge and experience in this critical area.
The Texas Family Code allows our courts to order temporary spousal support — as well as child support — while a divorce is pending. In many cases, such an order stipulates that the noncustodial parent is responsible for paying the mortgage or other bills.
Spousal support/alimony awards, although possible, are not easily obtained in Texas, and strict guidelines apply. In very general terms, circumstances such as a marriage longer than 10 years, combined with very limited earning capacity for the spouse seeking support, or a documented history of domestic violence in the marriage are required. The award of spousal support is highly dependent on the specific circumstances of your case. Such orders may be applicable to men, when the woman was the primary breadwinner in the marriage.
At the Law Office of Holli M. Palmer, we can provide a complete assessment of the circumstances in your case, offer counsel for negotiation of a settlement and do the necessary research to build your case for the best attainable outcome. Holli is adept at presenting creative solutions according to your priorities, such as proposing property division settlements that offset one party’s need for temporary spousal maintenance.
If you believe long-term spousal support is justified in your case, or your spouse is seeking this type of support, you should definitely get counsel from a a trustworthy family law attorney. We offer a low-cost consultation to help you set realistic expectations and decide how to proceed in your divorce. Contact our Houston law office today to learn more about how we can help.
Whether your divorce involves millions in assets or more debt than property, your immediate and long-term financial future may be at stake in your divorce. Our Houston family law practice, led by family law attorney Holli M. Palmer, is an excellent resource for understanding all your rights when it comes to property division pursuant to a divorce in Texas.
We will assess your marital and separate assets thoroughly and defend your rights aggressively in settlement negotiations, mediation or at trial if necessary. To begin the process with your initial consultation, contact our law offices today.
In legal terms, Texas is a community property state - this includes assets as well as debt. Simply stated, this means both spouses share equally in all property and assets accumulated during the marriage — including 401(k) plans, IRAs and pensions. This does not necessarily mean that property or debt is exactly split 50/50, though, but that the judge will make sure that each spouse gets an equitable distribution of the assets. Property and assets you brought into the marriage, or those you received as a gift or through inheritance during the marriage, may be treated as separate property, exempt from division in your settlement. As a Houston law firm that handles only family law-related cases, we are equipped to help you understand what is involved in your property and debt division during a divorce.
In reality, many nuances and disputes can make arriving at mutually acceptable marital asset division much more complex than that definition suggests. Through extensive experience in handling divorces throughout Texas, for people with multimillion-dollar estates as well as those with modest assets, we have become adept at dealing with issues including:
In addition to our in-house knowledge and resources, we have connections to top-notch resources including CPAs, tax specialists, forensic accountants and specialists in computer forensics. Consequently, we are well-equipped to build your case for just and fair marital asset division — even if this outcome hinges on proving your divorcing spouse has hidden assets, squandered assets or amassed substantial debt without your knowledge.
You can ask family law attorney Holli M. Palmer the key questions about all aspects of your pending divorce and property division settlement. Her experience also enables Holli to pursue angles you may not have considered.
RETIREMENT
As a general rule, retirement accounts are split evenly in a divorce no matter who earned or contributed more. But property division is never quite that simple. To ensure that you get your fair share of the "nest egg," we analyze all the relevant legal and financial issues.
The Law Offices of Holli M. Palmer offers knowledgeable representation for retirement account division and all facets of contested or uncontested divorce. Our northwest Houston attorney can advise on which funds are subject to distribution and retirement assets as a trading chip in the property settlement.
Contact us today to arrange a low-cost consultation. We represent divorcing men and women in greater Houston, surrounding counties and statewide Texas.
Texas law requires equitable distribution of marital assets, including retirement savings. This applies to 401(k), corporate pensions, IRAs and other qualified plans, including military pensions.
All money accumulated in retirement accounts during the marriage is divided equally:
Retirement funds are divided according to a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO). We have this prepared by an outside professional who specializes in the complex rules and calculations. The QDRO defines what percentage of the total nest egg you are entitled to. That sum can then be used in negotiating the property settlement. As an example, one spouse might sign over a portion of his or her QDRO in exchange for keeping the house.
Holli Palmer practices exclusively in divorce and family law, and is knowledgeable about the common pitfalls of retirement accounts:
DEBTS
With all of the complex issues involving the kids, the house and possessions, divorcing couples don't always think about their shared debts. Those don't go away. And you don't want to be on the hook if your ex-spouse fails to take care of business.
At the Law Offices of Holli M. Palmer, we take everything into account. We consider debt division in the big picture of divorce and property division. Our goal is to ensure financial balance, to avoid liability for the spouse's obligations, and to suggest creative ways to incorporate marital debts into settlement negotiations.
Northwest Houston attorney Holli Palmer practices exclusively in family law, representing women and men of Harris County, Montgomery County and across Texas. Contact us today for a low-cost consultation.
Debts incurred before you married are usually (but not always) excluded in divorce. Most debts accumulated during marriage are considered joint debt, no matter whose name is on the credit card or loan papers. Sometimes the solution is simple: You pay off the MasterCard, I'll pay off the Visa. But most couples have a more complicated puzzle in debt division: charge cards, student loans, auto loans, mortgages, home equity loans and a house full of stuff bought on credit.
Secured debts must be handled carefully. It is not always possible to refinance the asset in one person's name. Creditors could come after you if your ex-spouse doesn't keep up with his or her payments. We work to clarify in the divorce settlement which spouse is responsible for which debts and shield our clients as much as possible.
Holli Palmer excels at creative negotiations to balance out the finances. For example, one spouse takes on all the credit card debt but gets a bigger share of the retirement assets. Or one party takes on the mortgage and the arrears, but keeps any equity when the house sells.
Our job is to make sure that any trades are fair and take into consideration future value of the asset and tax implications. Will you be able to afford the debt payments? Are you willing to let the spouse come out ahead in the long run in exchange for walking away without debts now?
