Divorce involves a complex set of issues. Two lives that have been interwoven together must be separated in as efficient a manner as possible. Personal property, homes, retirement plans, and financial assets must be divided. Custody of children, child support, and provisions for health insurance must be arranged. On many occasions, the parties to a divorce are able to resolve these issues on their own. If so, an uncontested divorce may be possible. When the parties cannot agree on the best way to establish individual lives a contested divorce may be necessary.
Contested matters frequently embody controversy regarding children. Possession and time to be spent with the children frequently leads to disagreement. When possession is an issue, it could be that the best interests of the children would be served by a unique custody arrangement allowing for maximum time to be spent with each parent. On the other hand, under certain circumstances it may be best to restrict one parties' access to the children.
Money and property often form the basis for contention. One spouse may be entitled to more than one-half of the parties' community estate. Alimony may be appropriate. Financial assets may be hidden. Business interests may need to be divided. Such issues often generate conflict that requires an experienced divorce attorney capable of handling a contested divorce and taking the case to trial.
Regardless of the issues at hand in your personal life, Craig Barlow has handled contested and uncontested divorces since 1988. Uncontested divorces are handled as a simple procedure. The parties agree on the terms of their divorce. Craig Barlow files the petition for divorce, prepares the divorce decree based on the parties agreement, and travels to court with you to complete your divorce. Contested divorces are evaluated and handled on the basis of the issues and facts that arise in each individual case. Highly contested and aggressively fought divorce cases are welcome and handled with precision and expertise.
Adoption
Adoption is a legal process whereby a legal parent-child relationship is established between two persons that are biologically not parent and child. Frequently, a stepparent by marriage adopts a stepchild as a means of establishing legal bonds for the reinforcement of emotional bonds that form in the family unit. Also, adults often adopt an unrelated child as an addition to the family. As part of the adoption process, it is also sometimes necessary to terminate the rights of a biological parent in order to clear the path for adoption.
The adoption procedure in Texas State Courts is complex. The Courts require the preparation of a social study to determine whether the adoption is in the best interest of the child, and the Court may appoint an attorney ad litem to represent the interests of either the child or of a parent whose rights are set for termination. Preparation of the documents necessary to complete the adoption, and coordination of the social worker and the ad litem require diligence and a familiarity with the specific procedures utilized in the adoption process in the particular county where the adoption is set to take place.
Craig Barlow has completed numerous adoptions in both Collin and Dallas Counties, and he is knowledgeable as to the procedures and the requirements utilized by each Judge in Dallas and Collin Counties.
