- DivorceThe Texas Family Code contains all the laws that deal with divorce in Texas. I have over 37 years experience practicing law and I am ready to help you with your divorce, whether it is contested or uncontested. An uncontested divorce is the cheapest way to obtain a divorce since it means your attorney will not have to spend time negotiating the terms of the divorce with the other spouse or his/her attorney.
- Child SupportWhat is an occupational license??? When your Texas driver’s license is suspended or revoked (for reasons other than medical issues or delinquent child support), I can help you apply for an occupational driver’s license. This is a special restricted license that allows you to operate a non-commercial motor vehicle in three circumstances...
- Child Custody and VisitationThe Final Decree of Divorce will include a Possession Order that says when each parent will have access to the children. The number one rule of child visitation is that visitation will be as agreed between the parties, but if the parties fail to agree then visitation shall be as outlined in the detailed possession order. I am providing a Standard Possession Order (SPO) here for your information.
- Adoption
- PaternityPaternity - A court finding that a certain person is legally the father of the child. DNA genetic testing is commonly used to determine paternity now. If a woman claims you are the father of a child and you have some doubt about it, you can request DNA paternity testing to make certain you are the father before you are required to provide support for that child. If you believe you are the father of a child and you want regular visitation so that you can be involved in the child's life, then you can obtain an order requiring the mother and the child to submit to DNA testing along with you to find out if the child is biologically yours so you can establish a parent-child relationship.
- Premarital AgreementPrenuptial Agreements/Postnuptial Agreements. Texas law allows you and a potential spouse to enter into a prenuptial agreement that will control how your property is divided in the event that the marriage later ends in divorce. Similarly, Texas law allows a husband and wife who are already married to enter into an enforceable agreement that will control how their property is divided in the event that the marriage later ends in divorce. Call me if you are interested in learning more about these types of agreements.
- GuardianshipDid you know that you can make plans in a Last Will and Testament for the guardianship of your minor children in the event that you die before all of your children turn 18? If you are the only surviving parent, you can choose who you want to raise your children (subject to later court approval) and you can set aside assets for their education, food, shelter, and housing and any other possible needs that your children might have after you pass away.
- Spousal SupportTexas law allows for the possibility of one spouse receiving regular monthly payments from the other spouse to provide for his/her minimum reasonable needs while the divorce is pending and/or after the divorce is final. Chapter 8 of the Texas Family Code spells out all the details about spousal maintenance in Texas.
- AnnulmentAnnulments. Suits for annulment are much less common than suits for divorce in Texas and in most states. A suit for annulment, as opposed to a suit for divorce, is brought when there has been some legal impediment to the creation of a valid marriage. A legal petition requesting an annulment is based on premarital causes rather than post-marital causes. For example, if the marriage was entered into by a spouse who was actually younger than the minimum legal age to get married, or who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time the marriage took place, or who was mentally incapacitated at the time of the marriage ceremony, then the marriage can be annulled. A marriage that is subject to annulment is considered voidable--it is considered to be a valid marriage until one or both parties requests an annulment from a court and is granted an annulment. Once an annulment is granted, the marriage becomes void and is legally considered never to have happened. If an annulment is not granted, the marriage will be considered valid indefinitely unless you file for divorce and then terminate the marriage through the divorce process. Texas law specifies several grounds for requesting an annulment. Please call me to discuss the legal annulment of a marriage if you think you might qualify for one.
- Criminal DefenseThe overwhelming majority of criminal law cases settle before a contested trial, so why pay for a jury trial when you may not need one to get an acceptable resolution of your case? I offer free telephone consultations and reasonable rates for my legal services.
- DUI/DWINOTE: If you are taking part in a special DWI or drug court program, you may not need to file a petition. The judge for that court can provide you with an occupational license order as part of that program.
- Traffic ViolationsDo you have a pending traffic ticket in Williamson, Travis, Burnet, Bell, Milam, or some other nearby central Texas county??? If you have a regular (non-commercial) driver's license, I will represent you on a speeding ticket or other traffic ticket in Georgetown Municipal Court or in Justice of the Peace Court in Georgetown for only $900 in legal fees. If you have a regular (non-commercial) driver's license, I will represent you on a speeding ticket or other traffic ticket in other Williamson County courts (outside of Georgetown) for only $1,000 in legal fees. Why plead guilty or no contest to a traffic ticket and get a final conviction when you could contest the charges and possibly get a deferred adjudication or permission to take a six hour Texas driving safety class and get the ticket dismissed?
- Sex Crimes
- BurglaryWho wants to have to explain that, yes, you were in fact arrested for possession of marijuana, burglary of a building, indecent exposure, shoplifting, indecency with a child, or some other embarrassing crime, but that the State of Texas dropped its case against you because of insufficient evidence or because you completed a diversion program or for some other good reason???
- Theft
- MisdemeanorsPictured to the left: The Williamson County Justice Center at 405 Martin Luther King St reet in Georgetown, Texas. The legal system can be complex. It can be bewildering and quite frustrating to people who do not deal with it regularly. I am a very experienced attorney who has practiced law continuously in Williamson County since January 1985. I began work in Georgetown in January 1985 as a misdemeanor criminal prosecutor in Williamson County.
- Drug CrimesA conviction for DWI or for Possession of Marijuana or other illegal drugs will automatically suspend your driver’s license for a length of time that varies with the offense.
- Assault
- Murder
- ShopliftingKen has spent his entire legal career in Williamson County. He was an Assistant County Attorney in Georgetown from January 1985 to June 1986. As an Assistant County Attorney, he prosecuted hundreds and hundreds of misdemeanor criminal cases, including Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), theft, theft by check, shoplifting cases, assaults, assault with family violence, driving while license suspended, public intoxication, reckless driving, traffic tickets, weapons offenses, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, minor in possession of alcohol, probation revocations, and many other kinds of misdemeanor cases.
- Restraining OrderTemporary Restraining Order - Also known as a TRO. A common order at the beginning of a divorce that prohibits the other spouse from doing anything to transfer or destroy the property of the marriage or to cause harassment to the other spouse or the child.
- Forgery
- Kidnapping
- Prostitution
- Workers CompensationWage and salary income, self-employment income, severance pay, retirement pay, social security benefits (other than SSI), unemployment benefits, disability and workers' compensation benefits, alimony and spousal maintenance benefits, child support payments actually received, net rental income, interest income, capital gains, trust distributions, annuity income, gifts and prizes, and any other income actually received is included when determining net resources.
- Severance Agreement
- WillsDo you need help drafting a Last Will and Testament that will spell out instructions on how you want your property distributed after you pass away? I can certainly help you with that. It is very important that you have a valid Will and that you keep it updated with your current wishes.
- Power of AttorneyIf you have any questions about writing a Will, updating a Will, the Texas probate process, a durable power of attorney, a medical power of attorney, or a living will, please give me a call at 512-630-3745. I will be happy to speak to you about this on the phone or in my office. I can even make a house call to help you draft or update a Will if you cannot come to my office for some reason. Do your family a huge favor, do not put this off.
- Probate