San Marcos, TX Family Law Attorney

Compassionate Family Law Attorney Serving Families Throughout Hays County, Texas

Family law covers the legal side of some of life's biggest milestones, some harder than others. At Brandon Wong & Associates, we handle everything from divorce and custody to alimony and paternity. Attorney Brandon Wong brings over 15 years of legal experience to these cases and more. Our San Marcos, TX family law attorneys will explain your options in plain terms, then handle the filings and hearings so you always know where your case stands.

Divorce and Property Division Under Texas Law

A Texas court cannot grant a divorce until at least 60 days have passed since the petition was filed. However, the waiting period can be waived in certain family-violence cases. Contested cases take much longer than that.

You do not have to leave everything unsettled while you wait. Temporary orders set the rules during the case. They can cover who stays in the home, a schedule for the children, support, and who pays which bills. These temporary orders hold significant weight in family court. Judges often carry a workable temporary arrangement into the final decree.

Texas is a community property state. Most property and debt acquired during the marriage belongs to both spouses, and the court divides it in a way it considers just and right. That does not always mean an even split.

Family Law Issues Related to Children in Hays County

Texas statutes do not use the word custody. What many states call "legal custody," Texas calls conservatorship. This is the right to make decisions for your child. "Physical custody" is possession and access, which means the visitation schedule. Together, these concepts cover child custody.

Texas has a default schedule called the standard possession order, and courts start from the assumption that it is in the child's best interests. In most cases, it means you get alternating weekends, a weeknight during the school year, alternating holidays, and an extended stretch in the summer. You and the other parent can agree to something different if that schedule does not fit your work hours or the distance between your homes.

Child support is calculated from the paying parent's monthly net resources using set percentages that rise with the number of children. Support and possession stay separate.

Many contested family cases are resolved before trial, often through court-ordered mediation. A court may order mediation, but it is not required in every case. A mediated agreement can become binding when it includes the required non-revocation language and signatures.

Legal Protections for Unmarried and LGBT Families

Texas recognizes informal marriage under certain conditions, so if you live with a partner and have never married, you may have more legal ties than you realize. Brandon Wong & Associates can help you draft a cohabitation agreement that puts your understanding about a shared home, accounts, or debts in writing before a dispute starts.

We also handle LGBT family law issues, covering divorce and all other related matters, such as child custody and support.

If you plan to marry, talk to us about a prenuptial agreement. This lets you and your future spouse decide in advance how property and debt would be handled if the marriage ends.

Establishing Paternity in Hays County, Texas

If parents are not married when a child is born, Texas does not automatically treat the father as a legal parent. Paternity is the process that fixes that.

Establishing paternity gives a father standing to ask for conservatorship and possession. It also gives the child the right to support, to inherit, and to access medical history and benefits. Signing the hospital acknowledgment form is the simplest route. It carries real legal weight, and the window to challenge it is short. If parentage is genuinely in doubt, resolve it before signing rather than after.

Adoption and Long-Term Planning for Your Child

Adoption creates a permanent legal parent-child relationship. Depending on the type of adoption, the rights of another parent may need to be terminated before the adoption can be approved. In a stepparent adoption, the rights of the parent married to the adopting stepparent remain in place. Stepparent adoptions, relative adoptions, and agency placements each follow different requirements.

International adoption adds another layer, because federal immigration requirements and the laws of the child's home country apply alongside the Texas process. Families adopting or raising children with special needs may also need orders that address long-term care, benefits, and decision-making authority once the child becomes an adult.

Contact Our San Marcos, TX Family Law Attorney

At Brandon Wong & Associates, you work directly with the attorney handling your case rather than a rotating team. We prepare your filings correctly the first time, push for temporary orders that hold up, and get you ready for mediation so you are not deciding under pressure. Contact our San Marcos family law attorney at 210-201-3832 to discuss your situation. We have earned numerous 5-star reviews for our compassionate counsel and strong representation.