Deportation/removal proceedings begin once Department of Homeland Security (DHS) files the Notice to Appear (NTA) with the Immigration Court. The Notice to Appear is served on the individual alien ordering him/her to appear for an immigration hearing. The...
Removal proceedings begin when an individual is issued a document called a Notice to Appear (NTA). The removal process is initiated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS serves the Notice to Appear to the individual ordering him/her to appear for an...
A will contest is a challenge to probating what appears to be a basically valid Will. When a party believes that a Will is not properly admitted to probate they may contest the Will by filing an objection to the Will in the probate court. Once the objection to the...
In a suit for divorce, the spouse who filed the petition for divorce must serve a copy of the lawsuit to the other spouse. The spouse being sued for divorce can agree to waive service by signing a waiver. If both spouses want to get divorced and are on decent terms,...
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in March 2010 that a defendant is entitled as a matter of law to effective assistance of counsel pursuant to the Sixth Amendment and that if the attorney fails to advise his client when a client is considering a plea that such an offense...
A marriage is not just a bond between two individuals, it is also a bond between families. When a marriage fails, it can be a devastating experience for all involved. Often children and/or assets are involved in dissolving a marriage so it is important for you to be...
Voluntary Departure Defined Voluntary departure permits an individual, who is otherwise removable, to leave the United States at his/her own expense within a certain period of time. The court may grant voluntary departure prior to or after a removal order has been...
An immigration hold is placed on an individual, in state or federal custody, who the federal government wants to deport. Through the immigration hold, the federal government is notifying the jail not to release the individual and to transfer custody from the current...
In Texas, attorney fees are available to be awarded to the winner of a lawsuit in limited circumstances. Some of those circumstances are when a statute provides for attorneys' fees or the attorneys' fees are based on a contract between the parties. When attorneys'...
Criminal convictions are the most obvious obstacles immigrants face towards entering or remaining in the United States. Criminal convictions can affect the eligibility of any non-citizen or permanent resident (i.e. green card holder) to continue living in the United...