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Universal City Family Attorneys
4.8Based on 38 reviews
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Dedicated Family Law Representation in Universal City's Military Community
Family law matters in Universal City require more than general legal knowledge — they demand understanding of how military service, federal regulations, and base community dynamics affect Texas families.
Located adjacent to Randolph Air Force Base, Universal City's unique military-civilian blend creates distinctive family law challenges that civilian attorneys often overlook. Our experienced team provides comprehensive representation that protects military families, defense contractors, and civilian residents through life's most important legal transitions.
Family Law Services for Universal City's Diverse Community
Universal City's 20,028 residents represent a unique blend of active duty military, military retirees, defense contractors, and civilian families. Each brings distinct legal needs requiring assistance from professionals with knowledge of both federal military law and Texas family regulations.
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Universal City's quality schools through Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD and proximity to Randolph Field ISD create important educational considerations in custody determinations. We establish custody arrangements that maintain children's stability while accommodating military relocations, deployment schedules, and the unique demands of military family life.
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Establishing paternity for military families involves considerations beyond typical Texas cases, including military medical benefits, dependency allowances, and commissary privileges. We guide families through both civilian court proceedings and military administrative requirements to secure comprehensive parental rights.
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Military families often pursue adoption while stationed at various locations, creating interstate complications. We handle step-parent adoptions, relative adoptions, and agency adoptions while ensuring compliance with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and military family regulations.
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Military families facing domestic violence need attorneys who understand both civilian protective orders and military command notification requirements. We coordinate with Family Advocacy Programs while securing immediate protection through Texas courts and ensuring compliance with federal firearms restrictions.
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Military couples require agreements that address unique assets like military retirement, Survivor Benefit Plans, and frequent relocations. We draft comprehensive agreements that protect both parties while complying with federal military benefit regulations and Texas community property law.
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Military families in Universal City frequently face relocation challenges due to PCS moves and duty assignments. We can help prevent unauthorized relocations and secure court approval for necessary military moves, ensuring compliance with the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act while protecting children's relationships with both parents.
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When military service requires relocation from Universal City, we navigate the complex intersection of military obligations and Texas family law. Our experience with military relocations helps families secure court approval for moves while establishing modified custody arrangements that maintain meaningful parent-child relationships across distances.
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Military Child Support
Child support calculations become complex when military pay includes Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), hazard pay, and overseas allowances. We ensure accurate calculations that comply with both federal regulations and Texas guidelines while addressing the unique financial realities of military compensation structures.
Military Family Law
Active duty families face unique challenges when military obligations intersect with family law proceedings. We handle custody modifications during deployments, establish parenting plans that accommodate military schedules, and navigate the complex intersection of federal military regulations with Texas family law to protect service members and their families.
Protecting Your Family's Legal Interests
Whether you're active duty, retired military, or a civilian family in Universal City, we understand your unique legal needs. Contact us today for comprehensive family law representation.
The Universal City Family Law Process: Military-Informed Approach
Family law proceedings in Universal City require understanding how military service affects every aspect of case management, from initial filings through final orders and ongoing compliance.
We begin every case by understanding your military status, deployment schedules, and federal benefit entitlements. This military-specific assessment ensures we address all relevant federal regulations and military family considerations from the outset.
Our team develops comprehensive strategies that account for potential deployments, PCS moves, and the unique time constraints military families face. We coordinate with military legal assistance offices when appropriate while maintaining aggressive advocacy for your interests.
We ensure compliance with federal military regulations and Texas state law while maximizing benefits and protections available under each jurisdiction.
Understanding that military service may require participation from overseas or remote duty locations, we use technology and flexible scheduling to accommodate service obligations while maintaining case momentum.
We craft family law orders that anticipate future military career changes, retirements, and geographic relocations, ensuring your legal arrangements remain viable throughout your military service and beyond.
What Our Clients Say
Our Team
Sarah Anne Lishman was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, where she graduated with honors from Communications Arts High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern New Mexico University in 2005, majoring in History and minoring in English. After obtaining her undergraduate degree, she returned to San Antonio and attended St. Mary’s University School of Law.
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Why Choose Our Firm for Universal City Family Law?
Our knowledge of military family law, combined with a deep understanding of Universal City's unique community, makes us the preferred choice for families navigating complex legal challenges.
Military Law Experience
Our team understands federal military regulations, deployment impacts, and how military service affects every aspect of family law proceedings.
Federal Benefits Knowledge
From military retirement division to Survivor Benefit Plan elections, we handle federal benefit issues that civilian attorneys often misunderstand.
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Local Court Familiarity
Our extensive experience in Bexar County courts includes understanding how local judges handle military family law cases and unique procedural considerations for service members.
Areas of Service
Our practice extends throughout Universal City and surrounding military communities, serving families connected to Joint Base San Antonio operations and the broader military community.
- Bexar County
- San Antonio
- Leon Valley
- Universal City
- Live Oak
- Converse
- Guadalupe County
- Seguin
- New Braunfels
- Cibolo
- Staples
- Schertz
- Kendall County
- Boerne
- Kendalia
- Fair Oaks Ranch
- Bergheim
- Comfort
- Atascosa County
- Pleasanton
- Poteet
- Jourdanton
- Lytle
- Charlotte
- Comal County
- Bulverde
- Spring Branch
- Canyon Lake
- Medina County
- Hondo
- Natalia
- Devine
- LaCoste
- Castroville
- Wilson County
- Floresville
- Sutherland Springs
- La Vernia
- Poth
- Stockdale
- Kerr County
- Kerrville
- Center Point
- Ingram
- Mountain Home
- Hunt
- Gillespie County
- Fredericksburg
- Luckenbach
- Harper
- Doss
- Stonewall
- Bandera County
- Bandera
- Lakehills
- Pipe Creek
FAQ
Military deployment can significantly impact family law proceedings through the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which allows deployed service members to request 90-day stays of proceedings.
We work proactively to minimize delays while protecting military members' rights. Our team can leverage video testimony and flexible scheduling to accommodate deployment schedules without extending case timelines unnecessarily.
Military custody cases must account for deployment schedules, potential PCS moves, and unique military family dynamics. Texas courts consider the child's best interests while accommodating legitimate military obligations.
We draft custody orders that include specific provisions for deployment separations, virtual visitation during overseas assignments, and geographic relocation notification requirements.
Military retirement earned during marriage constitutes community property subject to division under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (USFSPA). We handle complex calculations involving disposable retired pay, Survivor Benefit Plan elections, and Thrift Savings Plan divisions while ensuring compliance with federal and Texas requirements. Once military retirement benefits are divided, a special court order, processed through DFAS, is required to effectuate the division.
Universal City families have access to quality education through Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD (rated "B") and Randolph Field ISD for on-base families. School choice decisions become important custody considerations, particularly when military relocations might affect educational continuity. We help establish orders that prioritize children's educational stability while accommodating military family needs.
On-base housing at Randolph AFB affects family law cases differently than civilian housing since military families don't own the property but receive Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). We understand how housing allowances factor into support calculations and how base housing eligibility changes after divorce or separation.
Universal City military families have access to both civilian resources through Bexar County and military-specific programs, including the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) at Joint Base San Antonio.
We coordinate between civilian protective orders and military command notifications while ensuring compliance with federal firearms restrictions and helping families access comprehensive support services.
Military permanent change of station (PCS) moves require careful planning in family law orders. We draft agreements that comply with the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) and include specific provisions for notification of relocations, modification procedures for long-distance moves, and maintaining parent-child relationships across state lines. Temporary orders can be included in final orders for a servicemember to designate someone else to exercise their periods of possession during temporary military assignments.
Facing Family Law Challenges in Universal City?
Military and civilian families in Universal City deserve representation that understands their unique circumstances and challenges. From deployment-related custody issues to complex military benefit divisions, we provide the deep knowledge and aggressive advocacy your family needs.
Contact us today for a confidential case evaluation about protecting your family's interests while navigating the intersection of military service and Texas family law.