Family Law Questions for Plano Families

Plano is located in Collin County, so divorce cases are filed in the Collin County district courts in McKinney, Texas — the county seat. This is true regardless of where within Plano you live. Lynda Landers's office is in McKinney, about 20 minutes north of central Plano via US-75, close to the courthouse.

Stock options and RSUs granted during the marriage are generally community property subject to division. However, the characterization depends on whether they were compensation for past services or incentive for future performance. Unvested options raise additional complexity because their value is uncertain. Courts may divide them at vesting using an "if, as, and when" approach or through a present-value offset at the time of divorce. Given the number of major corporate employers in Plano — Toyota, Liberty Mutual, JPMorgan Chase, and others — these assets are a frequent issue in local divorces.

Texas law requires a parent who plans to relocate with a child to provide notice to the other parent and, in most cases, to the court. If the relocation would materially affect the other parent's access, the court can modify the conservatorship order. In Plano, where corporate relocations are common, custody orders can be drafted to include provisions that address the possibility of a future move, including geographic restrictions on the child's primary residence.

Texas applies guideline percentages (20% for one child, 25% for two, and so on) to net monthly resources up to a statutory cap. When a parent's income exceeds that cap — which is common among Plano professionals — the court applies guidelines to the capped amount and then has discretion to order additional support if the child's proven needs justify it. The court considers the child's standard of living, educational needs, healthcare, and extracurricular activities.

Not necessarily. The court has several options: one spouse may be awarded the home and offset the other's equity share with other assets, the home can be ordered sold with proceeds divided, or the home may be retained for a period — often until the youngest child graduates — before being sold. The decision depends on available equity, whether either spouse can refinance independently, and the overall property division picture.

Texas imposes a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed. Uncontested divorces can be finalized shortly after. Contested cases in Collin County typically take 6 to 18 months, though complex high-asset divorces involving executive compensation, business valuations, or contested custody can take longer depending on the issues and the court's docket.

Plano ISD school attendance zones are tied to residential address, so the parent who holds the exclusive right to designate the child's primary residence effectively controls which Plano ISD school the child attends. Courts consider school stability when making custody decisions. Many Plano families chose their neighborhood specifically for the school zone, and Lynda works to preserve educational continuity whenever possible.

Yes. Deferred compensation earned during the marriage is community property. However, non-qualified deferred compensation plans present unique challenges because they are not governed by ERISA and cannot be divided with a standard QDRO. Division typically requires careful drafting of the decree and may involve a constructive trust or assignment of rights. This is an issue Lynda encounters regularly given the prevalence of executive compensation packages among Plano professionals.

Joint Managing Conservatorship (JMC) means both parents share rights and duties regarding the child, though one parent usually has the exclusive right to designate the child's primary residence. Sole Managing Conservatorship (SMC) gives one parent primary decision-making authority and is typically ordered only when joint management would not be in the child's best interest — for example, in cases involving family violence, substance abuse, or a demonstrably unfit parent.

Even in a fully agreed case, having an attorney review your divorce decree is strongly advisable. The decree is a permanent court order that governs property rights, retirement account division, custody, and support for years to come. In Plano cases involving executive compensation, stock packages, and substantial property, seemingly minor drafting errors can cost thousands or create enforcement problems later. An attorney's review provides assurance that the agreement is complete, accurate, and legally enforceable.