San Antonio, Texas · Serving Bexar & Contiguous Counties
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O ORTMAN LAW FIRM PLLC · Family & Probate
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Family Law

Protecting the people you love.

Divorce, custody, support, and the agreements that hold a family together are among the most personal decisions a person ever faces. Ortman Law Firm brings steady, plain‑spoken counsel to families across Bexar and the surrounding counties — and keeps one eye on the future, so today's decisions still protect you years from now.

Schedule a Consultation → Explore our family law services
Our approach

We believe a family deserves a lawyer who understands its whole story — not a single hearing.

Family law in Texas moves fast and cuts deep. A divorce reorders a household; a custody decision shapes a childhood; a support order touches a family's security for years. Our role is to bring order and clarity to that turbulence — explaining what Texas law actually requires, what your realistic options are, and what a good outcome looks like for the people who matter most.

Because we also practice probate and guardianship, we see the road ahead. When a marriage ends, wills and beneficiaries must change. When children are involved, guardianship and inheritance deserve a plan. We handle the matter in front of you while protecting the family that comes after it.

01

Divorce & Legal Separation

Texas is a no‑fault, community‑property state — but no two divorces are alike. Whether yours is amicable and uncontested or high‑conflict and complex, we work to resolve it efficiently while protecting your finances, your parental rights, and your peace of mind.

Uncontested & agreed divorce
Contested & high‑conflict divorce
Temporary orders & hearings
Mediation & collaborative divorce
High‑net‑worth & complex estates
Protective orders & family violence
↔ Looks ahead to probate: a final decree doesn't update your will, beneficiaries, or powers of attorney — those still name your former spouse until they're changed. We revise them as part of your divorce, not as an afterthought.
02

Child Custody & Conservatorship

Texas speaks in terms of conservatorship and possession and access rather than "custody." We help parents secure workable arrangements built around the child's best interest — and we advocate firmly when those interests are at risk.

Sole & joint managing conservatorship
Possession & access schedules
Standard & expanded possession orders
Relocation & out‑of‑state disputes
Parenting plans & decision‑making
Grandparent & third‑party access
↔ Looks ahead to probate: if something happens to you, who raises your children — and who manages what they inherit? We help name guardians and structure an estate that protects minor children.
03

Child & Spousal Support

Support should be fair, accurate, and enforceable. We calculate and contest support under the Texas guidelines, address high‑income and above‑guideline cases, and pursue or defend enforcement when an order isn't being honored.

Guideline child support
Above‑guideline & high‑income cases
Medical & dental support
Spousal maintenance & alimony
Income withholding orders
Enforcement of arrears
04

Division of Marital Property

In a community‑property state, characterizing what's separate and what's shared is half the battle. We protect your interests in homes, businesses, retirement accounts, and complex assets — and pursue reimbursement claims where the law allows.

Community vs. separate characterization
Businesses & professional practices
Retirement & deferred compensation
Real estate & homestead
Reimbursement & tracing claims
Debt allocation
05

Modifications & Enforcement

Life changes — jobs, moves, incomes, and needs all shift over time. When an existing order no longer fits reality, or when one party simply won't comply, we move to modify or enforce it through the court.

Custody & conservatorship modifications
Support modifications
Enforcement & contempt actions
Clarification of existing orders
Relocation modifications
Defense against enforcement
06

Adoption & Parentage

Some of family law's hardest work is also its most joyful. We guide families through step‑parent and other adoptions, establish parentage, and handle the termination of parental rights where it is in a child's best interest.

Step‑parent adoption
Paternity & parentage (SAPCR)
Termination of parental rights
Adult adoption
Relative & kinship adoption
Name changes
↔ Looks ahead to probate: adoption changes inheritance rights. We make sure your estate plan reflects your family as it truly is — every child accounted for, intentionally.
07

Premarital & Marital Agreements

A clear agreement is an act of care, not distrust. We draft and review premarital and postmarital agreements that protect separate property, clarify expectations, and dovetail cleanly with your estate plan.

Premarital (prenuptial) agreements
Postmarital agreements
Partition & exchange agreements
Separate‑property protection
Business & legacy planning
Review of proposed agreements
The connection

Family law doesn't end at the decree.

Every family decision has a ripple effect on your estate. The same firm that guides your divorce or custody matter can update the will, the beneficiaries, and the guardianship designations that those changes demand — so nothing falls through the gap between today and tomorrow.

See our probate practice →
A
A family matter todayDivorce, custody, or a new marriage reshapes the household.
B
An estate consequenceWills, beneficiaries, and guardianship choices no longer match reality.
C
We handle both, in stepOne firm updates the plan as the family changes — and is ready when probate comes.
Family law questions

What families ask us most.

Is Texas a no‑fault divorce state?
Yes. Texas allows no‑fault divorce on the ground of "insupportability," meaning neither spouse has to prove wrongdoing. Fault grounds (such as cruelty or adultery) still exist and can affect property division and support in some cases. We'll help you understand which approach fits your situation.
How is property divided in a Texas divorce?
Texas is a community‑property state, so property acquired during the marriage is generally presumed to belong to both spouses and is divided in a manner the court finds "just and right" — not always 50/50. Separate property (owned before marriage, or received by gift or inheritance) stays with its owner when properly proven. Characterizing and tracing assets is often where the real work lies.
What's the difference between custody and conservatorship?
"Custody" is the everyday word; Texas law uses "conservatorship" for decision‑making rights and "possession and access" for the parenting schedule. Parents are often named joint managing conservators, but that doesn't necessarily mean equal time. We help structure arrangements that genuinely serve your child.
How long does a divorce take in Texas?
Texas requires a minimum 60‑day waiting period from the date of filing before a divorce can be finalized. Uncontested cases may resolve shortly after; contested matters involving children, businesses, or significant property can take considerably longer. We'll give you a realistic timeline for your circumstances.
Do I need to change my will after a divorce?
Almost certainly. A divorce decree does not automatically rewrite your will, beneficiary designations, or powers of attorney, and many still name a former spouse until updated. Because we practice probate as well, we handle these updates alongside your family law matter.
Begin here

Talk to a lawyer who sees the whole picture.

Whatever you're facing, the first step is a conversation. We'll listen, explain your options in plain terms, and help you find the way forward.

Schedule a Consultation → Explore Probate

Call directly: (210) 361‑2425