The Jackson Law Firm is proud to provide personal service coupled with integrity and respect. From valuing family businesses in divorce to adopting a new child, we are here to provide the experienced and effective representation you need.
Divorce can be stressful for everyone involved, but it doesn’t have to be when you have the right Austin divorce attorney by your side. Knowing you have a professional there to have your back is important. You’ll feel supported and better able to navigate the process from start to finish.
With the right attorney, divorce won’t feel as stressed or overwhelmed. You’ll feel empowered and like everything is right again with the world as you navigate your new single life.
When you use a qualified divorce lawyer in Austin, you are able to have a healthy balance between getting what is right during the divorce and ensuring all parties are protected. This is especially important if you have kids.
We know how hard court cases, depositions, and divorce settlements can be on everyone involved, but our attorneys work hard to ensure everyone is well cared for and heard during the case, getting you to a resolution as quickly as possible.
You are Our Number One Priority
It’s easy to feel like you’re lost in the shuffle when you deal with some law firms in Austin. You feel like a number and when you call, some people answering the phone don’t even know your name.
That’s not how you want to feel when you’re dealing with divorce. You want a caring ear and supportive people taking your calls, helping you get the information you need, and helping you complete your divorce case so you can move on with your life.
At our Austin divorce law firm, that’s exactly what you get. We treat each and every client like family. Everyone that answers the phone knows who you are and how to handle your questions or concerns. You won’t spend endless time sitting on hold or wondering if you’ll get the answers you need. We are quick, efficient, and most importantly, caring.
If you’ve ever felt like your voice was falling on deaf ears, we understand. You don’t have to worry about that when you work with our firm. We listen carefully to your questions, concerns, and even your frustrations. We know how stressful divorce can be and we want you to have a voice and a caring ear to hear it.
We are more than attorneys; we are people that care about your situation and want to help you get through it as easily as possible. We know there are certain stressors we can’t help during divorce, but what we can control we will.
With an experienced Austin divorce attorney by your side that listens and cares, you’ll know that you’re getting what you’re entitled to in the divorce case. If you have children, you’ll know that your children are protected and are getting what they need/want too.
We know that no one is exempt from the pain that divorce can cause, but we are here to help make the process as easy and as successful as possible.
We do What it Takes
At our Austin law firm, we do what it takes to get the job done. We know that no two divorce cases are identical. Each situation has its own conditions, issues, and concerns. We don’t assume there is a cookie-cutter way to handle your divorce. Instead, we talk, listen, and ask a lot of questions so we make sure everyone is on the same page.
Once we have a good handle on the situation, we decide how to proceed whether it’s an uncontested or contested divorce in Austin, TX. We have knowledge, resources, and tools to help you get the results you want out of your divorce.
Many divorces we handle are uncontested. Everyone is on the same page, and our clients just needed someone to represent them and make sure all their bases were covered. Other cases, however, are contested, difficult, and have to go to trial.
We have your back no matter where you stand. Whether your case is a walk in the park, or it has moving parts that make it feel more like walking through a jungle, we are here for you every step of the way.
Just because your divorce is final doesn’t mean you’ll never see the inside of a courtroom again. As life changes, you may find that you need post-divorce support, and we are here to provide it.
If we’ve already worked together, we know your case and can quickly get back to work helping you solve the issue that you’re facing now. Whether you need to modify your child support order because your spouse got a much higher paying job or you lost your job; you want to move your kids to another state, or you need any other changes to your custody agreement, our divorce attorneys are there for you every step of the way.
Our attorneys are here to help you from start to finish. We understand that divorce can be an ongoing process, especially if you have children or are getting paid alimony. Our attorneys will walk you through every step of the process, answer your questions, and ensure you feel supported from day one.
With the right Austin divorce attorney by your side, you know that you’ll get what you need in your divorce case. Whether you know what you want and have an uncontested divorce or you aren’t sure what you want and are fighting with your spouse over every detail, we will get you through the process with ease.
Contact us today at (512) 528-1900 to learn how we can help you get the divorce you need with the outcome you deserve.
Mr. Jackson was selected for inclusion in the 2012, 2014 and 2015 “Rising Star” by Superlawyers, a Thomson Reuters service.
Justin M. Jackson is a native Texan, spending his early childhood in Edinburg, Texas and later graduating from Round Rock High School. Mr. Jackson received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and obtained his law degree from St. Mary’s Law School, graduating magna cum laude (top 3% of his class).
While in law school, Mr. Jackson interned for Judge Emilio M. Garza with the Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and participated on the St. Mary’s Law Journal as a Staff Writer. Following graduation, Mr. Jackson worked for a respected law firm in San Antonio. In 2008, he opened the Jackson Law Firm.
Mr. Jackson was selected for inclusion in the 2012, 2014 and 2015 “Rising Star” by Superlawyers, a Thomson Reuters service. Their selection process is outlined here. No more than 2.5% of the total lawyers in Texas are listed as “Rising Stars.
Many thanks to Cara Surell for her expertise and professionalism in handling my immigration case. She did a great job. The case has been resolved in my favor. I am absolutely pleased with the outcome.
Having recently moved to the North Austin/Cedar Park area, I more or less rolled the dice on selecting a law firm to do some estate trust work for me. I couldn’t have chosen better! The Jackson Law Firm and lawyer Cara Surell handled my needs quickly and professionally. I truly felt that there was a genuine interest in my situation and a sincere desire to accomplish what I wanted and needed done.
Thank you to Cara and Lisa for making our Estate Planning process run as smoothly as possible. I’ll be recommending your firm to friends and family!
I had a family trust put together by Cara Surell, one of the Lawyers in the Jackson Law Firm. I must say, I was very impressed and satisfied with the knowledge, speed and professionalism exhibited during this process. I am very satisfied with the results and would highly recommend this law group.
The Jackson Law firm was very supportive in my time in need in my initial divorce. He turned the tables around on the opposing council. I was denied my visitation but the Jackson Law Firm helped me get my visitation. Justin Jackson was very informative in the rules of family law and in the end he helped me get my rights to my kids. Thank you Jackson Law Firm in every thing you did for me it was much appreciated.
Justin, I want to thank you for believing in me. On the very first day you made it clear that “truth will triumph in the end” – I had serious misgivings about it since I felt those ideologies only exist in an Utopian world. During the entire process the opposing counsel tried so hard to wear us down, spewed venomous invective but you never pandered to them. You always chose the righteous path – that made me angry at times to question our stand. TRUTH TRIUMPHED!!! We won! YOU ARE A GREAT CHESS PLAYER MY FRIEND – You had them completely fooled with your boyish charm, fledged approach…underneath that camouflage there is a highly astute & insightful mind – they failed to see it. You are a good man with strong character & ethics. I salute you!
Consult our attorneys for custody disputes and more. Arrange an initial consultation with our divorce and estate planning lawyers by calling our offices at (512) 528-1900, or send us an email. We respond to all messages promptly. Credit cards are accepted, and after-hours appointments are available by request.
view all questionsThis is not an uncommon question from new clients. In an effort to save money, expedite the process, and maintain transparency, spouses may attempt to hire one attorney to initiate and finalize their divorce. According to the ethical rules governing lawyers, this is not permissible. A lawyers cannot give legal advice to both sides. In these situations, we recommend that one spouse hires a lawyer to prepare all of the divorce paperwork, from the petition for divorce to the final decree of divorce, with the input of the other spouse. Then, prior to signing the final decree of divorce, the other spouse may hire an attorney to review that documentation to ensure that it complies with their agreement. This is usually done at a significantly reduced fee since most of the work has already been done. Or, should that not be necessary, the other spouse may choose not to hire an attorney and instead, may feel that he/she sufficiently understands the wording in the documentation and forego additional legal fees altogether.
No. Until you and your spouse are formally divorced, you are still considered married. There is no “legal separation” in Texas. Dating tends to complicate the divorce by angering the other spouse and adding unnecessary resistance to potential agreements. Furthermore, it is very confusing for the children for you to start dating shortly after separating.
This question requires a lengthy response. In short, the court is required to make a “just and right” division of the “community property.” Emphasis should be placed on community property. As any property outside of this classification is not subject to division whatsoever. “Community property” is all property possessed by the spouses and accumulated during the marriage, except what is “separate property”-that which was obtained by one of the spouses through gift, inheritance, or prior to the marriage. All property possessed by the spouses is presumed to be community property unless a spouse proves by clear and convincing evidence that the property is actually separate property. It is possible to meet this burden of proof, but it requires substantial documentation and evidence. The court is also guided by other factors in determining the “just and right” division, including but not limited to whether there was fault in the breakup of the marriage, the relative earning capacities of the spouses, and the needs of the children.
No. Texas law does not provide for alimony in cases of divorce. Instead, it is termed “spousal maintenance,” and consists of court-awarded periodic payments from the future income of one spouse for the support of the other spouse after the divorce. Spousal maintenance is not awarded very often and relies on a list of factors. The Texas Family Code places a cap on spousal maintenance at the lesser of either 20% of the paying spouse’s gross monthly income or $5,000.00. The Texas Family Code also limits the duration of spousal maintenance to: 1. 5 years for marriages lasting between 10 and 20 years, 2. 7 years for marriages lasting between 20 and 30 years, and 3. 10 years for marriages lasting more than 30 years.
Yes. There is no marriage requirement to obtain child support. A case where one parent seeks child support from the other parent is termed a Suit Affecting the Parent Child Relationship and/or a Suit to Adjudicate Parentage.
It is our experience that sometimes, the parent paying child support may resist making such payments (to the extent such is even possible) due to the fact that they lack assurance as to how such payments are utilized. Nonetheless, child support may be used for any purpose and there is no requirement that the recipient provide any accounting as to how it is spent.
No. Child support will not automatically increase or decrease; it only changes when a court modifies the order. This is accomplished by filing a motion to modify with the court. The modification will be granted only under two scenarios: 1. if the new income amount is proven, the increased income would result in an increase in child support by at least $100 or 20% over the prior child support amount, and 3. it has been at least 3 years from the date of the prior child support order, OR 2. there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances since the date of the prior order.
The court is always guided by what is in the “best interests of the child.” To that end, the court is guided by a formula in the Texas Family Code which considers the monthly gross income of the person paying child support; deducts for federal income tax, social security, and health insurance for the child; and multiplies the result (“net resources”) by a percentage dictated by the number of children born in the marriage. For example, “net resources” are multiplied by 20% for one child, 25% for two children, 30% for three children, and 35% for four children. This calculation ultimately generates the child support payment. The formula applies to the first $7,500.00 in “net resources;” thereafter, the court may order additional amounts depending on the parties and the proven needs of the child. Courts also take into account whether the child is disabled or has special needs. As an additional factor, if the paying parent has a duty to support other children (from another relationship, for example), the percentages noted above are slightly reduced, depending on the number of other children.
In Texas, “custody” is not a term which appears in the Family Code- at least in the way people typically mean when they discuss “custody.” From our experience, clients initially assume that custody consists of the terms of visitation regarding a child. However, in Texas, the concept of custody is better analyzed as two distinct components: 1. conservatorship and 2. possession and access. As for conservatorship, the Texas Family Code identifies two schemes of conservatorship- Joint Managing Conservatorship and Sole Managing Conservatorship. Conservatorship deals with how major and day-to-day decisions are made concerning the child. In a Joint Managing Conservatorship, all major decisions are made jointly. In a Sole Managing Conservatorship, one parent has the exclusive right to make such major decisions. Most often, spouses agree to be designated Joint Managing Conservators because it shares many of the most important rights and responsibilities. The Texas Family Code provides that Joint Managing Conservatorship is presumed to be in the best interests of the children.
As for possession and access- that is the phrase which describes visitation. What is termed a “Standard Possession Order” is also presumed to be in the best interests of children. It outlines the days, weekends, and holidays each spouse is permitted to possess the children and splits time roughly in a 60/40 manner. However, the Standard Possession Order is not a firm rule and the spouses and their attorneys are free to arrive at a custom solution. Our lawyers are experienced in negotiating creative solutions to conservatorship and possession and access to suit your unique situation.
At minimum, there is a statutory sixty-day waiting period from the date the suit for divorce is filed until a court will grant the divorce. Typically, it takes longer to obtain a divorce, especially when the parties are not in agreement on all issues. In these instances, the attorneys for both spouses will often conduct “discovery,” an ordered process where the spouses are required to answer questions and produce documents at the request of the other attorney. Discovery is designed to provide a degree of disclosure to the other side and additional peace of mind in negotiating and finalizing a divorce settlement.
Texas is a “no fault” state, which means that a person seeking a divorce is not required to prove that his or her spouse is at fault in the marriage. A “no fault” divorce is the most common variety of divorce, stating that “the marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities between you that has destroyed the legitimate ends of the marriage.” The Texas Family Code does, however, provide several “fault” divorce grounds, including adultery, cruelty, conviction of a felony, abandonment, living apart, and confinement in a mental hospital. There are also possibilities to void the marriage in extremely unique circumstances. At least 80% of our cases are pursued on no-fault grounds as it tends to reduced hostilities between the parties.
