Family Law

Are you having legal issues regarding marriage, adoption, divorce, or, you are seeking custody of children?   Without question, some of the most emotionally charged issues in all of law fall under the domain of family law.  Once-loving spouses now face the prospect of having to "go it alone" and fear of the unknown becomes a dominant force in the parties' lives.  We focus much of our practice on family law, so we can guide you through your family issues no matter what they are.

Our services in this area include both contested and uncontested divorce proceedings, collaborative family law, child custody issues, child support issues, property division issues, modifications, enforcement of child support, enforcement of visitation or access, CPS (Texas Department of Family & Protective Services) cases, spousal support, name changes, establishment of paternity, adoptions and termination of parental rights.

Adoptions

Although adoptions fall within the area of family law, adoptions are of special interest to Ms. Rinker.  Whether you are contemplating an adoption-by-agreement, a step-parent adoption, or a contested adoption with termination of parental rights, we will help you understand your options and guide you through the process.  

Probate Administration

In Texas, probate is a term loosely used to describe the various legal proceedings that distribute a decedent's estate to the heirs.  Since probate is not mandatory in Texas, your first inquiry with your attorney should be whether or not you need to probate a loved one's estate.  Your second inquiry should be to determine which variety of Texas probate proceedings is the least time consuming and least expensive method for you to administer your loved one's estate.  If your loved one left a will, the attorney who assists you in the probate process does not need to be the same attorney who drafted your loved one's will.  Probate law also comes into play if you are facing the unpleasant prospect of a will contest or a lawsuit regarding breach of fiduciary duty of an estate administrator or trustee.

Our services in this area include independent administration of estates, dependent administration of estates, heirship proceedings (determination of heirs when the decedent did not leave a will), distribution of the Decedent's property to the heirs, will contests and breach of fiduciary duty litigation for both estate administrators and trustees.

Guardianships

Are you considering a guardianship to protect an elderly parent in failing health or diminished mental capacity who is no longer able to take care of himself?  Or perhaps you are considering a guardianship for a child with developmental disabilities who has reached (or will soon reach) the age of 18 and lacks the mental capacity to live on his own without supervision?  A Guardianship of the Person (oversight of personal and medical care) and a Guardianship of the Estate (oversight of finances) may be the right answer, however less expensive and less burdensome alternatives may also give you the ability to accomplish your goal. 

Our services in this area include applications for guardianships, contested guardianships, temporary (or emergency) guardianships, guardianship alternatives, and legal assistance in the administration of ongoing guardianships.

Probate Litigation

Our services in this area include will contests, will construction suits, trust disputes, claims regarding improper probate estate administration, claims relating to fiduciaries and breaches of fiduciary duties, claims related to beneficiary designation on life insurance policies and other non-probate assets such as retirement accounts. 

Serving Montgomery County, Texas, including Magnolia, The Woodlands, and Conroe.

Do you have questions about our services?

Contact us at (936)441-9969 (metro Houston) or via our contact form.