Bailey & Galyen Attorney Interviewed on The Legal Hour
Bailey & Galyen’s Andrew Griffin, a family law attorney with the firm’s Mansfield office, took time earlier this month to sit down with Keith Spencer of The Legal Hour. Andrew brings more than 15 years of practice experience to his clients, focusing his representation on issues related to divorce, including child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, and the division of marital debts and assets under Texas community property law.
The Importance of Legal Counsel in a Family Law Dispute
Griffin cited statistics indicating that nearly two-thirds of all family law matters are handled pro se (without legal counsel), and spoke about why it’s critical to have a licensed and experienced family law attorney by your side throughout the process:
- Your soon-to-be ex-spouse is likely to have legal representation by an attorney who is ethically bound to protect their best interests. Even though you may have a good relationship with your ex, your ex’s lawyer won’t consider your needs or desires. You can’t expect any assistance from the judge, either.
- Without an attorney, you run the risk of spending a lot more money to resolve a dispute, particularly with respect to children. Because you can’t predict the future, it’s essential to establish parameters about legal and physical custody, and about the details of visitation. Griffin has seen many parties try to work out details of custody and visitation on their own in an effort to avoid attorney fees, only to pay a lot more to resolve a dispute down the road.
The Potential for Substance Abuse Issues in a Family Law Matter
Spencer and Griffin also talked about the alarming rise they have seen in substance abuse within marriages and as a cause for divorce. Griffin emphasized the importance of dealing with such issues directly and honestly. In his experience, that kind of clear communication offers the greatest possibility of a positive outcome, particularly when minor children are involved.
Contact the Experienced Family Law Attorneys at Bailey & Galyen
For aggressive and compassionate advocacy in any divorce or family law dispute, contact us by email or call our offices. For more than 40 years, we have helped people in Texas find solutions to custody, visitation, support, and property disagreements.
We offer a free initial consultation to anyone involved in a family law controversy. You can reach us by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will meet with you evenings or weekends, if necessary. Se habla español.