Practice Areas

In today's legal environment, matching your needs with the correct firm is crucial to the successful outcome of your legal matters. Like so many other areas, in law, the pace of change can be "breakneck," the details overwhelming.

As an informed consumer of legal services, you need to be sure that the firm you select is in fact qualified to handle the matter at hand. Today, that's more important than ever.

To that end, what follows is a brief description of the type of matters we successfully handle. We have made a solid commitment to these areas of the law so that we can assure you the best possible legal representation.

Family Law

The firm primarily handles Family Law matters. All aspects of Divorce, including the most complex situations concerning Child Custody, Visitation and Access, Child Support and Property Division issues are regularly undertaken. Post-Divorce Modifications and Enforcement of Decrees are done to insure that the client obtains full entitlements and can respond to changing circumstances. This includes enforcement of decrees providing for child support and health insurance coverage for the children. The safety and welfare of children and other family members is accomplished by obtaining and enforcing Protective Orders. The firm provides representation in all areas of Adoption, both by step-parents and adoptive couples, including suits for the Termination of Parental Rights. We also undertake cases for the establishment of Paternity for out-of wedlock children, including if needed provisions for child support, health coverage and visitation. To prepare for subsequent marriages the firm crafts Pre-Marital Agreements to preserve client's property being brought into a new marriage. In cooperation with the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children, the firm provides representation in cases of International Child Abduction, both to and from foreign countries, under the provisions of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Banking and Finance Law

Banks and financial institutions collect deposits from individuals and entities and invest those funds in loans, securities, and other assets. Our firm assists depositors, lenders, and borrowers in accordance with intricate state and Federal banking statutes and regulations. Our attorneys have experience in lending and secured transactions, loan workouts, mortgages and foreclosures, public finance, state and municipal bonds and financing, venture capital, and international banking matters.

Business and Commercial Law

We provide a wide variety of services to our business clients from assisting in selecting the type of organizational entity under which to operate, preparation of agreements, sale and purchase of businesses, obtaining financing and funding for business operations, and employee relations, to dissolution.

Business Organizations

The form of business chosen for a business entity potentially affects every aspect of its operations. Our firm assists our clients in formation and business planning in deciding whether they want to operate as a closely held business, limited liability company, partnership, or corporation. We advise our clients about directors' and officers' liability, dissolution, franchising, reorganization, trade association membership and activity, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, business successions, and shareholders' rights.

Construction Law

Our firm represents owners, contractors, construction managers, developers, design professionals, and suppliers in all aspects of the subdivision and construction process, including bidding and document preparation, contract negotiation and formation, contract performance, financing and warranty issues, mechanics and materialmen's liens, and claims and dispute resolution.

Real Estate

Our firm represents both commercial clients and individuals in all proceedings and transactions that deal with real property-land and the structures attached to it-including purchase and sale, construction, mortgages and foreclosures, leases, zoning, title examinations, quiet title actions, closings, management and homeowners associations.

Two of our lawyers are Board Certified Attorneys by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Bill De La Garza has been Board Certified in the field of Family Law since 1980.

David M. Oualline has been Board Certified in the field of Residential Real Estate Law and Commercial Real Estate Law since 1983.