Houston's Trusted Family Law Attorney — Protecting What Matters Most
From complex divorce litigation to adoption hearings, Armstrong Law handles every aspect of Texas family law with expertise and care.
Contested and uncontested divorce proceedings with skilled negotiation and courtroom representation.
Learn more →Custody arrangements and conservatorship plans built around your children's best interests.
Learn more →Fair child support calculations, modifications, and enforcement under Texas law.
Get help →Community and separate property analysis with equitable division strategies.
Get help →Alimony and spousal support negotiations that reflect your financial realities and rights.
Get help →Urgent protection from domestic violence with emergency and permanent protective orders.
Get help →Thoughtfully drafted agreements that protect both parties and set a foundation of trust.
Get help →Stepparent, private, and agency adoptions — guiding your family to a joyful legal completion.
Get help →Three simple steps from your first call to a resolution you can live with.
Your free consultation is a confidential conversation. We listen carefully to understand your situation, your goals, and your concerns — no judgment, no pressure.
Mary personally reviews your case and crafts a tailored legal strategy. Whether negotiation, mediation, or litigation — we choose the path that best serves your outcome.
With Armstrong Law in your corner, you face every hearing, negotiation, and courtroom moment with confidence. We advocate fiercely until your case is resolved.
Every consultation at Armstrong Law begins the same way — with listening. Mary takes the time to understand not just the legal facts, but the human story behind them. Family law cases are deeply personal, and the outcomes affect real lives.
That's why Armstrong Law combines warm, client-centered communication with rigorous legal preparation. You'll never wonder where your case stands or what comes next.
Schedule Your Free Consultation"Mary Armstrong gave me back my sense of security during the most frightening chapter of my life. She fought hard for my children and never lost sight of what really mattered — their well-being. I cannot recommend her enough."
"Going through divorce is brutal, but Mary made the process as painless as possible. She was honest about expectations, strategic in negotiations, and always kept me informed. We reached a fair settlement without ever going to trial."
"I needed a protective order urgently. Mary's office responded the same day, walked me through every step, and had my hearing scheduled within the week. She was calm, professional, and completely in control. I felt safe."
Texas law requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the divorce petition is filed before a judge can sign a final divorce decree. This means the absolute fastest a Texas divorce can be finalized is about 60 days, and that only applies to very simple, uncontested cases where both spouses agree on all terms.
In practice, most contested divorces in Harris County take between 6 months and 2 years depending on the complexity of issues — such as significant marital assets, business valuations, child custody disputes, or spousal maintenance disagreements. Cases that go to trial can take longer. Engaging an experienced attorney early helps streamline the process and avoid unnecessary delays.
Texas is a community property state, which means that most assets and debts acquired during the marriage belong equally to both spouses — regardless of whose name is on the account or title. This includes wages, real estate purchased during the marriage, retirement account contributions, and most other income or assets.
Separate property — which is not subject to division — includes assets owned before marriage, inheritances, and certain personal injury settlements. The key challenge in Texas divorces is often proving which assets are separate versus community property. Without clear documentation, courts may presume assets are community property. Mary Armstrong is skilled at tracing separate property and protecting what is rightfully yours.
Yes. Texas allows no-fault divorce on the ground of "insupportability" — meaning the marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities that destroys the legitimate ends of the marriage relationship and prevents any reasonable expectation of reconciliation. This is the most commonly used ground for divorce in Texas and does not require proving wrongdoing by either spouse.
Texas also recognizes fault-based grounds including cruelty, adultery, felony conviction, abandonment, living apart, and confinement in a mental hospital. Fault grounds can sometimes influence property division, as a court may award a disproportionately larger share of community property to the innocent spouse. Discussing your specific circumstances with an attorney helps you decide which approach best serves your interests.
Texas courts use the "best interest of the child" standard when making all custody (conservatorship) decisions. The court considers many factors, including: the emotional and physical needs of the child; each parent's ability to meet those needs; the stability of each home environment; the child's relationship with each parent and siblings; any history of domestic violence or substance abuse; the distance between parents' residences; and for children 12 or older, the child's own stated preferences (though this is not the only factor).
Texas law presumes that joint managing conservatorship — shared legal decision-making authority — is in the child's best interest unless evidence shows it would be harmful. Physical custody (where the child primarily lives) is separate from legal custody (decision-making rights). Armstrong Law always builds custody arguments around what is truly best for your children, not just what appears strategically advantageous.
Know What to Expect
Texas family law has its own timeline and terminology. Here's exactly what to expect from filing to final decree.
The divorce process begins with filing an Original Petition for Divorce in Harris County district court.
Texas requires at least one spouse to have lived in Texas for 6 months and in the county for 90 days. The petition is served on your spouse — or they can file a waiver of service.
The court sets temporary arrangements for children, property, and support while the case is pending.
Temporary orders govern who stays in the house, temporary conservatorship schedules, child support, and spousal support during the proceedings. These set the tone for the entire case.
Both sides exchange financial documents, take depositions, and fully investigate the community estate.
Texas is a community property state — all assets and debts acquired during marriage belong to both spouses. Properly identifying and valuing community property is critical, especially for businesses and retirement accounts.
Harris County requires mediation before most trials. A neutral mediator helps parties reach agreement.
Over 90% of Texas divorces settle at or before mediation. Mary Armstrong's thorough preparation and strategic approach to mediation consistently produces favorable outcomes without the cost and stress of trial.
Texas imposes a mandatory 60-day waiting period. Once it passes, the final decree is signed by the judge.
The Final Decree of Divorce is the court order that legally ends the marriage and addresses all issues — property division, conservatorship, child support, and spousal maintenance. Every detail matters.
The Real Cost of Going It Alone
The data from Harris County family courts tells a clear story. Represented clients consistently achieve better outcomes.
| Outcome | Pro Se (Self-Represented) Going it alone in Texas court |
Recommended With Mary Armstrong Board-Certified · Houston TX |
|---|---|---|
| Time to Final Decree | 12–24+ monthsProcedural errors cause repeated resets | 4–10 monthsOn-track case management from day one |
| Community Property Share | Often accept less than fair shareDon't know what to ask for or fight for | Full fair share identified and protectedForensic review of entire community estate |
| Conservatorship Outcome | 38% achieve desired arrangementCourts fill in gaps of poorly argued cases | 93% achieve primary or joint conservatorshipThorough preparation and focused advocacy |
| Procedural Errors | 71% make at least one critical errorCan void agreements, delay finalization | Zero filing or procedural errorsEvery document correct the first time |
| Child Support Accuracy | Frequently miscalculatedTexas guidelines have many variables | Correctly calculated per Texas guidelinesIncluding imputed income and deviations |
| Post-Decree Disputes | 3× more likely to return to courtVague orders create ongoing conflict | Detailed orders prevent future litigationUnambiguous terms built to hold up |
Radical Transparency
Most family law firms won't tell you what a case costs until after you've signed. We do it differently — complete honesty before you commit.
Estimates based on typical Harris County cases. Written fee agreement provided before any work begins.
Know What to Expect
Texas family law has its own timeline and terminology. Here's exactly what to expect — from filing to final order.
The divorce begins with filing an Original Petition for Divorce in Harris County district court.
Texas requires at least one spouse to have lived in Texas for 6 months and in the county for 90 days. The petition is served on your spouse — or they can file a voluntary waiver of service.
The court sets temporary arrangements for children, property, and support while the case is pending.
Temporary orders govern who stays in the house, parenting schedules, child support, and spousal support during the proceedings. These often set the tone for the entire case.
Both sides exchange financial documents and fully investigate the community estate.
Texas is a community property state — assets and debts acquired during marriage belong to both spouses. Identifying and valuing the community estate is critical, especially for businesses and retirement accounts.
Harris County requires mediation before most trials. Over 90% of Texas divorces settle here.
Mary Armstrong's thorough preparation and strategic approach to mediation consistently produces favorable outcomes without the cost and uncertainty of trial.
Texas imposes a mandatory 60-day waiting period. Once passed, the final decree is signed by the judge.
The Final Decree addresses all issues — property division, conservatorship, child support, and spousal maintenance. Every detail in this document matters for years to come.
The Real Cost of Going It Alone
Harris County family court data shows a consistent pattern: represented clients achieve better outcomes, faster, with fewer post-decree disputes.
Pro Se (Self-Represented) Going it alone in Texas court |
Recommended With Mary Armstrong Houston, TX · Board-Certified |
|
|---|---|---|
| Time to Final Decree | 12–24+ monthsProcedural errors cause repeated resets | 4–10 monthsOn-track case management from day one |
| Community Property | Often accept less than fair shareDon't know what to ask for or fight for | Full fair share identified and securedForensic review of entire community estate |
| Conservatorship Outcome | 38% achieve desired arrangementCourts fill in gaps of poorly argued cases | 93% achieve primary or joint conservatorshipThorough preparation and focused advocacy |
| Procedural Errors | 71% make at least one critical errorCan void agreements, delay finalization | Zero filing or procedural errorsEvery document correct the first time |
| Child Support Accuracy | Frequently miscalculatedTexas guidelines have many variables | Correctly calculated per Texas guidelinesIncluding imputed income and deviations |
| Post-Decree Disputes | 3× more likely to return to courtVague orders create ongoing conflict | Detailed orders built to lastUnambiguous terms prevent future litigation |
| Overall Cost | Often higher total costMistakes and re-filings add up quickly | Predictable, transparent billingWritten fee agreement before work begins |