The Law Office of Kelly Koch

Divorce - How to Survive With Your Sanity

2010-09-02T10:29:00.000-05:00

According to the CDC 856,000 people went through a divorce in 2007. That was a seven year low, down from 944,000 in 2001. Of these numbers, approximately two-thirds of the time, the divorce action was filed by the wife.

What do you do when you are caught by surprise? There is no amount of hindsight that can make up for the shock and disbelief involved with discovering that the person who vowed to cherish you until death do you part, now is backing out on that commitment.

Divorce is a painful time. Love, hope and dreams you thought would last forever, end in a tangle of anger and sorrow. Sometimes there are warnings: the fights over money, sex, child rearing. Sometimes it is as unexpected as a bolt of lightning on a sunny day. Whatever the advance notice, it is hard to prepare emotionally for something so devastating. Mental health professionals acknowledge the correlation between divorce and depression. The loss is similar to the death of a loved one.

In addition to the psychological trauma of divorce, there are the practical concerns: child custody, division of assets, alimony and child support. In addition to facing the loss of a life partner, the divorcing couple is facing the loss of a lifestyle.

Typically, the home is awarded to the parent with custody. But what happens if there is joint custody? How do you apportion furniture, personal property, even pets accumulated through the years? Is the grandfather clock your Aunt Agnes gave you on your eighteenth birthday, up for grabs with the rest of your possessions?

It would be nice to think that the person who vowed to love and cherish you until death do you part would exercise fairness and good judgment in the separation agreement. Good judgment, however, is not a defining characteristic of the emotional whirlwind that descends on divorcing couples. The feelings of resentment, betrayal and anger are much more likely to be in play.

Regrettable as the situation is, there is no use in hoping it will go away by itself. If you have exhausted all attempts at reconciliation, it is time to get an advocate to guide you through the legal minefield. Child custody arrangements and equitable division of assets go more smoothly when objective parties are guiding the negotiations.

Engaging an attorney to handle the details of separation and divorce does not mean that you are out to gouge your former love. You wouldn't operate on yourself if you needed surgery. You would turn to a surgeon…a good one. Choosing an attorney is the best thing you can do to salvage whatever fond feelings you may still have for each other. The details are handled by cooler heads and can be decided with more objectivity.

The Law Office of Kelly Koch, Corpus Christi Divorce Attorneys

Contact the Law Office of Kelly Koch today to schedule your consultation.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with evening and weekend consultations available by appointment.

The Law Office of Kelly Koch is located in Corpus Christi, Texas and provides family law representation to clients throughout South Texas from communities such as Corpus Christi, Robstown, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Sinton, Kingsville, Alice, Portland and Rockport.

Nueces County | Aransas County | Jim Wells County | San Patricio County | Clay County

Checklist: Documents to Show Your Divorce Attorney

2009-12-20T02:58:00.000-06:00

Corpus Christi Divorce Attorneys

Article Source: FindLaw.com

Divorce is complicated - legally, financially, and emotionally. In order to ensure the best possible outcome, gather the following documents together and provide copies to your attorney, along with any others he or she specifically requests. By so doing, the two of you can work together as partners to reach a resolution of your divorce that protects your and your children's immediate and long-term interests.

____ Individual income tax returns for past three to five years (federal, state, and local)
____ Business income tax returns for past three to five years (federal, state, and local)
____ Proof of your current income
____ Proof of spouse's current income
____ Prenuptial agreement
____ Separation agreement
____ Bank statements
____ Certificates of deposit
____ Pension statements
____ Retirement account statements
____ Trusts
____ Stock portfolios
____ Stock options
____ Mortgages
____ Property tax statements
____ Credit card statements
____ Loan documents
____ Utility bills
____ Other bills (e.g., school tuition, unreimbursed medical bills, music lessons for children, etc.)
____ Monthly budget worksheet
____ Completed financial statements
____ Employment contracts
____ Benefits statements
____ Life insurance policies
____ Health insurance policies
____ Homeowner's insurance policies
____ Automobile insurance policies
____ Personal property appraisals
____ Real property appraisals
____ List of personal property, including home furnishings, jewelry, artwork, computers, home office equipment, clothing and furs, etc.
____ List of property owned by each spouse prior to marriage
____ List of property acquired by each spouse individually by gift or inheritance during the marriage
____ List of contents of safety deposit boxes
____ Wills
____ Living Wills
____ Powers of Attorney
____ Durable Powers of Attorney
____ Advance Health Care Directives

Contact the Law Office of Kelly Koch today to schedule your consultation.

361 882-8000

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with evening and weekend consultations available by appointment.

Nueces County | Aransas County | Jim Wells County | San Patricio County | Clay County

Divorce Corpus Christi Texas

2009-12-13T16:44:00.000-06:00

Divorce Pain in Corpus Christi

While divorce is often a painful and lonely experience, anyone in Corpus Christi going through this difficult time has many resources at their fingertips.

Divorce is one of the most painful experiences some people will ever endure; yet more than a million people go through this process each year in the United States alone. Far more than dealing with the break-up of the relationship are all the day-to-day things that have to be dealt with, especially if there are minor children involved.

Child support and alimony can be difficult to resolve, as can issues dealing with custody & visitation, so it's important to get a good lawyer with plenty of family law experience. However, thousands of divorced couples have opted for the online divorce procedure, which can only be accomplished when both parties are in agreement concerning any property division, as well as child custody & visitation issues. Paperwork must still be filed with the court in the divorcing couple's jurisdiction; however, this is an option for people in all 50 states.

There is a lot of support for those recovering from the pain of divorce. Both online and in person divorce support and recovery groups can be found all across the United States, and thousands of men and women have found this type of support to be invaluable.

Choosing a Divorce Lawyer in Corpus Christi, TX

The spouse who is seeking the divorce often has an attorney long before the other spouse is even aware there will be a divorce. Sometimes spouses find themselves in the unenviable position of needing to find a divorce lawyer almost immediately. This can be a huge added stress to the already distressing situation of learning a divorce is imminent.

Divorce attorneys aren't hard to find, of course. However, it is an important decision to make, and your future could depend on your making the right decision. You'll want to find a family law attorney who has plenty of experience with divorce law. You can contact the American Bar Association for a referral in your area, and there are dozens of websites that offer their services, as well.

You may know someone who has been divorced and this type of referral can be the best kind. Talking with someone who has used a lawyer's services and is pleased is the best testimony to the attorney's capabilities. Resist the temptation to use the same lawyer as your spouse, regardless of how amicable the divorce proceedings are, as the attorney's only allegiance is to his or her client. You'll need your own attorney to protect your interests.
Article Source: http://articles.directorym.com/Divorce_Corpus_Christi_TX-r1036-Corpus_Christi_TX.html

361 882-8000

Kelly Koch Corpus Christi Divorce Attorney is located in Corpus Christi, Texas and provides family law representation to clients throughout South Texas from communities such as Corpus Christi, Robstown, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Sinton, Kingsville, Alice, Portland and Rockport.

Nueces County | Aransas County | Jim Wells County | San Patricio County | Clay County

Directions to see Kelly Koch Divorce Attorney

South Texas Family Law

2009-12-06T06:33:00.000-06:00

Corpus Christi, Texas Divorce Law Attorney

At the Law Office of Kelly Koch, we provide family law representation to individuals and families throughout south Texas. Our firm explains each step of a case to the client while instilling confidence and comfort. Whether husband or wife, petitioner or respondent, Kelly Koch has handled both sides of the docket and will put her experience to work for you. We encourage you to contact our firm to arrange your consultation regarding any of the following:

Divorce

Going through a divorce can be a stressful time. Decisions regarding property division, child custody, child support and alimony may be reached through settlement negotiations and mediation. Using these forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), people can have more control over the decisions that are made. However, we recognize some cases require a more aggressive approach. As a family law practitioner for the last 20 years, our attorney Kelly Koch has courtroom experience and vigorously protects her clients' rights in court whenever necessary.

Paternity

Our firm handles adoptions and paternity cases on behalf of mothers, fathers, stepparents, grandparents and foster parents. Paternity cases usually involve determining the parentage of a child for child support payments. Our firm works with the office of the Attorney General to ensure the amount of support is accurate. We have also helped clients formulate a repayment schedule for child support arrearages.

Adoptions

For those interested in adopting, we can guide you through the adoption process and help you create your new family.

Modifications & Enforcement

We also represent people who encounter post-decree problems related to child custody, visitation, child support and property division. Kelly Koch has experience in collecting and defending child support adjustments. She can also assist when visitation is being denied. Life does not happen in a vacuum, so that when changes occur, our lawyer Kelly Koch can help her clients make the appropriate adjustments.

The Corpus Christi Family Law Pratice, Texas and provides family law representation to clients throughout South Texas from communities such as Corpus Christi, Robstown, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Sinton, Kingsville, Alice, Portland and Rockport.

Nueces County | Aransas County | Jim Wells County | San Patricio County | Clay County

Your Divorce Who is in Control You Or Your Attorney

2009-12-03T18:57:00.000-06:00

Corpus Christi Texas Divorce Attorney Kelly Koch

Bringing you insightful articles to help you navigate this often painful experience

Who's In Control - You or Them?

By Stacy D. Phillips, certified family law specialist

Your Lawyer

The following is an excerpt from the book, Divorce: It's All About Control — How to Win the Emotional, Psychological and Legal Wars, by renowned family law attorney Stacy D. Phillips. In Chapter Four, Phillips helps the reader understand how those around him/her may be controlling their divorce, and offers advice. This excerpt is one in a series of six from the “Who's In Control — You or Them? See if you can pinpoint what type of divorce lawyer is handling your divorce case

Since everyone is different, I want you to ultimately decide what type of family attorney is best for you and how much control you want or need, to be comfortable in your dealings. Also, if you already have a divorce attorney in place, this is the perfect time to ask that very important question with regard to that family-law attorney relationship: Who is in control?

The "Warrior"

These divorce lawyers plow full speed ahead, usually winding up in a courtroom on a regular and repeated basis in each case. The Warrior likes competition and he likes to win. A Warrior is terrific when your last resort is a bonafide Legal War, but often times this species can create more havoc and chaos than good. I believe every good divorce attorney should have a Warrior "within" (I certainly do); but to behave bellicose 24/7 is not necessarily the answer.

The "Parent"

This type is the "father/mother figure." They are known to "caretake" throughout the divorce-law process; but just like Mom and Dad, they may have a tendency to tell you what is best for you and insist on your following their lead.

The "Wimp"

This type of family lawyer backs off from any confrontation, whether it is coming from you, opposing counsel, or the judge. He or she would rather just settle the case and collect fees. Beware of the Wimp, for he or she is not likely to take a stand when taking one is necessary. The Wimp is the type of divorce lawyer that wants no control. The Wimp would just as soon you keep control, preferring the path of least resistance

The "Lazybone"

The way in which this family lawyer type differs from the Wimp is that the Lazybone just cannot seem to get the job done. He or she is notoriously late in returning telephone calls, tardy in filing the proper paperwork, forever losing important documents, cannot seem to remember details, and, to the extreme, can also be known to nod off in a deposition or lengthy court proceeding. There is really no control problem with the Lazybone — he or she is often more than happy for you to take charge.

The "Egomaniac"

With this type, if he/she cannot run the show, they would rather have no show at all! They, like the Warrior, need to prevail. These types of divorce attorneys are incredibly conscious of what others think, and therefore may do an excellent job on a client's behalf, just to make one more overwhelming impression. The Egomaniac, however, is not apt to give away much control, preferring to use it as a means of saying, "See how perfectly my strategy worked out!"

The "Bait and Switch"

This type of divorce lawyer often rides on his or her laurels — a fine reputation or that of a celebrated one—but shuffles you over to a firm associate or partner. The Bait and Switch usually charges big bucks and may even try to warrant those hefty fees, though you come to find out that one of his/her divorce attorneys is actually working your case.

The "Partner"

This type of divorce attorney encourages the client to participate in his or her divorce process on all fronts. Teamwork is the bylaw of this attorney's approach, making sure the client plays an integral part in the making of all decisions. A strong partnership between client and attorney is established from the get-go. The Partner does the Control Dance well because he or she knows when to lead and when to follow. The Partner is always goal-oriented and results-driven.

Now that you have had a glimpse of the divorce-attorney categories in a broad sense (and sometimes they overlap), see if you can identify into which category (or categories) your family attorney falls. Know there is no right or wrong type in general, only a right or wrong type for you.

Stacy D. Phillips' book may be purchased through Amazon.com

About Kelly Koch Corpus Christi Divorce Attorney

2009-11-21T11:16:00.001-06:00

Kelly Koch received her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and was admitted to the Texas bar in 1989. She is also licensed in federal court. Kelly is a proponent of settlement negotiation and mediation as this allows clients to have more control over their futures and create the best plan for their family. However, with extensive trial experience, she is comfortable aggressively representing clients in a courtroom setting.
Kelly has been divorced and is remarried. Being part of a blended family of four, she is sensitive to her clients present and future needs. She has dealt personally with issues regarding divorce, parenting and step-parenting. She will be able to draw upon her professional and personal experiences to best help you through these uncertain times.
Kelly recently began a column in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
Law Office of Kelly Koch is a member of the following organizations:

South Texas Family Law Association
Collaborative Law Association
Coastal Bend Women Lawyer’s Association
Texas Family Law Association
Corpus Christi Bar Association
State Bar of Texas Family Law Section

We know you aren’t looking at this Website because your life is picture perfect. We can’t promise results, but can promise that we will act as your white water rapids guide through the treacherous waters of family court, by providing guidance to you regarding your personal situation.