Austin family
law.
The full code.
Austin family law is the practice of the Texas Family Code in Travis County and the surrounding counties. Trusler Legal PLLC handles the full scope: divorce (collaborative, negotiated, and contested), property division, spousal maintenance, child custody and support, modifications, enforcement, and prenuptial agreements. Founded by Cristi Trusler in 2001. Board Certified in Family Law and in Child Welfare Law by TBLS.
The Texas Family Code covers everything from the first prenuptial agreement through the last modification ordered fifteen years after a decree. A family-law firm worth hiring runs the full code, not a slice of it, because the cases overlap. A divorce produces an order; the order needs an enforcement action two years later. A custody modification a decade after a decree requires a working knowledge of the original case, the standing orders in the rendering county, and the modification standard under TFC § 156.101. The same firm that handled the underlying matter is generally the firm best suited to run the modification.
Trusler Legal PLLC, doing business as Better Divorce Austin, runs the full Texas Family Code. The case volume is heaviest in divorce because that is where most clients first arrive. The depth runs through every other category the Code touches.
The whole practice,
organized.
Ten pillar pages, organized into four working categories. Each pillar leads with the answer, cites the relevant Texas Family Code section, and ends with the questions clients actually ask.
"Settlement is not a compromise.
It is a discipline."
Pick the situation,
not the statute.
For most visitors, the right next step is the entry point that sounds closest to the situation. Each one routes the conversation to the relevant pillars from there.
Cristi Trusler.
Founder.
Cristi Trusler founded Trusler Legal PLLC in 2001 and has practiced family law in Travis County since 2002. She holds the dual TBLS Board Certification in Family Law and Child Welfare Law, and the Master Credential in Collaborative Divorce from Collaborative Divorce Texas. The dual TBLS pairing of Family Law plus Child Welfare Law is rare in Texas. The Master Credential reflects depth in the collaborative process.
Honest answers
to fair questions.
"What is "Austin family law" actually?"
Austin family law is the practice of the Texas Family Code in Travis County and the surrounding counties. The Texas Family Code is the body of state law that governs marriage, divorce, child custody, child support, conservatorship, prenuptial agreements, modifications of prior orders, and enforcement of family-law orders. An Austin family-law attorney handles matters under the Code in the Travis County district courts and the courts of the bordering counties.
"Does Better Divorce Austin handle cases other than divorce?"
Yes. The firm handles the full range of Texas Family Code matters: divorces (collaborative, negotiated, contested), custody and conservatorship cases, child-support orders, modifications of prior orders, enforcement, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. The "Better Divorce Austin" brand is the consumer-facing front for Trusler Legal PLLC, which is a family-law firm in the broader sense.
"What is the residency requirement to file a Texas family-law case in Austin?"
Texas Family Code § 6.301 requires that a divorce petitioner have been a Texas domiciliary for at least six months and a county resident for at least 90 days before filing. For Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (custody and conservatorship), the rules in TFC Chapter 152 (the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, UCCJEA) govern jurisdiction. The home-state inquiry is fact-specific.
"What does a Texas modification require?"
Modifying a prior order generally requires showing a material and substantial change in circumstances since the order was rendered (TFC § 156.101 for child-related orders, § 8.057 for spousal maintenance). The exact standard depends on the type of order and how recently it was entered. Some modifications are easier than others. We assess feasibility before a petition is filed.
"What does "Board Certified in Family Law" mean?"
The Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) is a credentialing body of the State Bar of Texas. Fewer than ten percent of Texas attorneys hold any TBLS specialty certification. Family Law certification requires sustained substantive practice, peer review by other family-law attorneys and judges, and a written examination on the Texas Family Code, procedure, and ethics. Recertification every five years. It is not the same as bar membership; every practicing Texas attorney holds bar membership.
"What is the difference between conservatorship, custody, and possession?"
In Texas, "conservatorship" is the legal term for the rights and duties a parent has regarding a child (decision-making authority over education, medical care, and so on). "Possession and access" is the schedule that governs when each parent has physical time with the child. Most lay people use "custody" to mean both. The Texas Family Code uses the more precise terms in TFC §§ 153.071 and following.
"Are prenuptial agreements enforceable in Texas?"
Yes, when they meet the requirements of the Texas Premarital Agreement Act (TFC Chapter 4, Subchapter A). The agreement must be in writing, signed by both parties, and entered into voluntarily. The most common defect is procedural: a rushed signing, inadequate disclosure, or no opportunity to consult independent counsel. We draft and review prenuptial and postnuptial agreements designed to be enforceable when the time comes.
"Where does Better Divorce Austin practice?"
The office is at 3701 Bee Caves Road, Suite 102, in west Austin. The firm files regularly in the six counties that include Travis and the five that border it: Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Burnet, and Blanco. Family law is a local practice in a specific way: the judges, the local rules, the standing orders, and the mediator pool vary by county. Knowing the six counties well is a different kind of knowing than knowing forty of them passably.
Forty-five minutes,
on the phone.
The first conversation is free. There is no retainer involved, no engagement letter, and no homework before the call. We will tell you whether your matter fits one of the ten pillars or sits at the boundary, what it would cost, and whether you even need a firm like ours.