October 19, 2021 by Nesibe Selma
Lone Star Legal Aid Helps Mother of 6 Obtain Divorce
Topic
Story of Justice
Nova Carmona married her spouse in 2008 and separated from him a year later upon finding out he was cheating. After over a decade of separation, Ms. Carmona decided to officially divorce her husband after finding out he had been cheating. Being a mother of six children — three with disabilities — she did not want to lose the direly necessary child support, so she filed a petition pro se. Her husband initially agreed to sign the waiver, but changed his mind, leaving her frustrated and needing representation.
Lone Star Legal Aid’s family unit took on Ms. Carmona’s case, which was initially routed to an improper court.
Our attorney obtained a transfer to the original court of continuing jurisdiction to ensure that the preexisting child support order for the children in the marriage would still apply. We were able to coordinate with Ms. Carmona’s former spouse and have them agree to the terms of divorce in writing. Despite the pandemic, the case moved promptly and was ultimately finalized within days of submitting the necessary documents to court. LSLA also prepared extensive documentation of indigency to prove our client’s inability to pay court costs.
Ms. Carmona was granted a divorce based on irreconcilable differences and approved for a name change—a key part of her new start. The final court order also allowed her to keep the property in her possession. Having her car was a huge relief, as not only a Houstonian, but also a mother with children in need.
Ms. Carmona reached out to Lone Star Legal Aid and offered her gratitude for our assistance: “Thank you. You all have no idea how glad I am…I [have] been trying to get [a] divorce for 9 years now. I am blessed to have y’all give me hope for my future. Thanks so much for your help. I’m on Cloud 9.”
Individuals in need of legal assistance can apply for free help by visiting https://www.lonestarlegal.org or calling 1-800-733-8394.
Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations. Lone Star Legal Aid serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines that reside in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties of southwest Arkansas. Lone Star Legal Aid focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety and stability, health and well‐being; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those with disabilities, or who are elderly, homeless, or have limited English language skills. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.lonestarlegal.org.
Media contact: Media@LoneStarLegal.org
