Austin LGBTQ Family Law Attorney

Dealing with the Unknown

Since the Obergefell decision, new law continues to develop around the impact of this decision. For example, can a common law marriage exist back to a date before Obergefell was decided? Another issue is that our child custody laws are not written with gender-neutral language. This calls into question whether Texas law recognizes that a child born during the marriage has two mothers or two fathers.

In a child custody or divorce case, it is imperative that you work with a lawyer who understands these complicated legal issues. Our attorneys have experience with these cases and can advocate for the needs of your case.

Child Custody and Parental Rights

Texas child custody laws present unique challenges for LGBTQ parents. Current state laws often use language that doesn’t fully address the reality of families with two mothers or two fathers. Our attorneys work to establish and protect legal parent status for non-biological parents and secure proper adoption rights for same-sex couples.

Divorce and Property Division

Same-sex couples have equal rights in Texas divorce proceedings. Our experienced attorneys handle all aspects of divorce, including property division between same-sex spouses and child custody arrangements. We work to establish fair child support calculations and modifications while ensuring proper division of shared assets and debts.

Adoption and Surrogacy

LGBTQ individuals and couples can build families through adoption and surrogacy in Texas. Our firm provides comprehensive legal support for second-parent adoptions, joint adoptions by same-sex couples, and stepparent adoptions. We also assist with surrogacy agreements and donor arrangements to ensure your parental rights are properly established and protected.

Our attorneys help with all necessary legal documentation, including birth certificate amendments and name changes. We ensure every detail is handled correctly to create permanent legal bonds between parents and children.

Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships

While Texas now focuses on marriage equality, some couples choose a civil union or domestic partnership. We help couples understand their options and create appropriate legal protections. This includes converting civil unions to marriages, establishing legal protections for unmarried partners, and creating comprehensive estate planning documents.

Our attorneys can draft cohabitation agreements and help protect shared property rights. We ensure unmarried partners have appropriate legal safeguards in place to protect their relationships and shared interests.