Best Divorce Lawyers in Carrollton

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Carrollton, Texas?

  Citizens may call 972-466-3333 or *247 on their mobile device to get in touch with the Carrollton Police Department.

• Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Carrollton, Texas?

  You can personally obtain a copy of your accident report at the Carrollton Police Department, which is located at 2025 E. Jackson Road, Carrollton, TX 75006.

• How is child support calculated in Carrollton divorce cases?

  Support is usually dependent on the paying parent's income, not the receiving parent's. While the court can evaluate both parents' abilities to maintain the children and their financial resources, most judges in Carrollton will follow the child support guidelines for the support-paying parent. After calculating the net resources of the child support paying parent, the court sets the child support amount by percentage: 20% for 1 child, 25% for 2, 30% for 3, 35% for 4, and 40% for 5 or more.

• When a couple gets divorced in Carrollton, how will their properties be divided?

  Community property must be split fairly considering all relevant facts by law. A "fair" split typically divides the net worth of the communal estate, not the individual item. If fair, the Carrollton court can deviate from 50-50. If one spouse makes $200,000 and the other earns $20,000, the court may give the lower-earning spouse more of the communal estate. Lastly, courts can unequally partition a community estate in favor of an innocent spouse if the other spouse is at fault in the divorce, although this is rare.

• In Carrollton, what must be done to get a divorce?

  The divorce procedure begins with the filing of a Complaint by the petitioner. The petitioner must next serve a copy of the Complaint and Summons on their spouse, also known as the respondent, who has twenty days to provide a response. If the respondent does not file an Answer within sixty days, the court grants the divorce on the conditions specified in the Complaint. If the defendant responds, the court will set a hearing and proceed with the matter.

• Is legal separation recognized in Carrollton, TX?

  No. However, while Carrollton and the rest of Texas do not recognize legal separation, there are options available to couples who honestly desire merely a separation and are not yet prepared to file for divorce. For this type of situation, one party can work with a lawyer, draw up contractual agreements concerning all pertinent marital issues, and then petition the courts. This may also involve documents such as community property division, Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship, and partition and exchange agreements.

• Following a divorce in Carrollton, can a child choose who he or she wants to live with?

  In a non-jury trial, the court "shall" interrogate a child 12 years or older and "may" interview a child under 12. The court might ask the minor about custody, access, and other issues. The child can also choose who decides where they live. Even when the court interviews the child, it is ultimately up to the court to determine what is in the child's best interest and is not required to honor the child's choice.