- DivorceIf you ever find yourself a party to a divorce you will need to be familiar with some of the basics in Texas divorce law. Here are TEN of the most common questions...
- Child SupportUnder Texas law, the noncustodial parent generally pays the entire child support obligation, based mainly on income, without any deductions for the custodial parent’s income or for time spent with the noncustodial parent – not that this would generally figure into the child support payment for an active duty servicemember.
- Child Custody and Visitation
- Adoption
- PaternityPaternity suits, or actions to determine parentage as they’re called in Texas, can be initiated in any of several ways. A woman might file the action in order to prove that a particular man is the father of her child. The state or a county might file the petition in order to hold a particular man responsible for support of the child. A man might bring the action either to assert his status as the child’s father, or to disprove his presumed paternity. I can represent either parent to a Texas parentage action.
- Premarital AgreementIf you need guidance or preparation of a proposed premarital agreement, or if you need an independent review of a draft agreement prepared by your future spouse, contact the Law Office of Douglas C. Smith for the dependable advice of an experienced Texas prenuptial agreement lawyer. I can explain to you just how your rights are affected by the proposed contract, or give you good ideas about protecting your own interests on fair and reasonable terms.
- Spousal SupportAlimony, also known as spousal support or maintenance, is the payment of money from a higher-earning spouse to a lower-earning spouse in order to provide for a subsistence level of support. In Texas, it is much more difficult for a spouse to receive an order for alimony.
- Legal SeparationA: A legal separation deals with property distribution and child support and custody issues without ending the marriage. While most states have some form of legal separation, Texas does not. In Texas, temporary orders concerning marital issues can be granted while a divorce is pending, but there is no provision for an indefinite legal separation.
- DUI/DWIIf you or a family member has been the victim of an accident involving a drunk driver, you should seek legal representation as soon as possible. Contact me, an El Paso drunk driving accidents lawyer, online or call (915) 593-6600 or (915) 256-0579 to schedule an initial consultation to discuss your case.
- Wrongful DeathTragically, many car, truck or motorcycle accidents prove to be fatal. When this happens, I can help surviving family members pursue a wrongful death claim. I understand that no amount of compensation can replace the loss of a loved one. However, we can help send a message that negligent and reckless behavior will not be tolerated.
- Restraining OrderAs an experienced West Texas family law attorney, I am thoroughly familiar with protective orders, restraining orders, and the enforcement of these instruments both through the court’s contempt power and through criminal prosecution. Violation of the terms of a Family Court protective order, even through disobeying orders to maintain certain distances or avoid telephone contact, is a criminal offense and is punishable by jail time.
- Corporate LawCorporate Governance: While most corporations will use an attorney to help with the process of incorporation, new businesses sometimes neglect the ongoing legal requirements to maintain their corporation status. Annual shareholder, director, and partner meetings need to be held, and recording of minutes and election of officers must conform to state requirements. As a small business planning lawyer, I help businesses meet their legal requirements.
- Business DisputesWhat about the cost of dealing with all these issues? Good lawyers are not cheap, but then again neither is any other consultant critical to your business. A brief consultation with a lawyer can often help to identify a business's legal needs. An investment in a lawyer's time, like a fire-code inspection or medical checkup, can help prevent major problems down the road. Contact my business law firm today to talk about how to protect your business.
- Trade Secrets
- Small Business LawSmall Business Law: The third area of our focus is small business law. We provide assistance to small business in addressing organizational and operational problems. We have also assisted small businesses in dispute resolution.
- Employment ContractEmployment Agreements: For many companies, especially technology companies, their employees' knowledge is an important asset. Too often, though, companies fail to protect these assets through employment contracts, such as non-disclosure and non-compete agreements. Inevitably, some employees will leave the company, and it's important to protect your business against the loss of trade secrets.
- Non-compete Agreement
- Personal InjuryAs an El Paso intersection accidents attorney at the Law Office of Douglas C. Smith, I have been serving clients throughout west Texas since 1981. I provide thorough, careful and professional counsel to each one of my clients and his or her family. I will let you know whether you may be entitled to financial compensation. I can answer your questions and help you understand whether pursuing a personal injury claim is in your best interest.
- Auto Accidents
- Estate PlanningThe Law Office of Douglas C. Smith provides probate and estate administration services to assure all an estate’s debts are paid and all assets are appropriately distributed. I also help families and individuals establish trusts and draft wills to assure your wishes are fully understood.
- WillsUnfortunately, problems can arise during the probate process, including allegations that the decedent was incompetent or under undue influence at the time of the last will and testament. I can help you deal with issues in probate, including any problems that could hold up the process.
- TrustsProbate and Estate Administration: In addition, we also serve clients with probate and estate administration matters. Probate is the legal process by which a person’s debts are paid and assets are distributed upon death. State laws and procedures vary greatly, so it is important to consult with us for our expertise in this area to ensure that the deceased’s assets are distributed correctly. We can also help you with wills and trusts that meet your family’s needs.
- Power of Attorney“There are new regulations that allow Texas Notaries to witness documents remotely during the Covid-19 Pandemic. We can use newly allowed permission to witness wills, powers of attorney and directives through two way conferencing. The notary does not need to be sitting next to the person signing these documents.”
- Probate