Rizo & Associates, PLLC

The firm has substantial experience in handling cases involving injuries.  This experience is from prosecuting injury claims as well as defending injury claims in state and federal courts.

For example, in a recent case involving personal injuries arising from a product defect in a motor vehicle, the firm was instrumental in obtaining a $1.7 million settlement for its clients.

The firm has substantial experience in handling virtually all variety of civil matters from both the plaintiff and the defense perspective, including, but not limited to:  business disputes, contract disputes, suits on debts, deceptive trade practices, employment matters, and intellectual property matters.

One recent case involved a debt arising from a business dispute where the firm's client was intially sued.  Not only did the firm defend the case for the client but also made a counterclaim for the client.  After trial, the firm not only obtained a defense verdict on the claim made against the client but obtained a monetary award on the client's counterclaim against the other party.

The firm has assisted numerous clients in forming their businesses and handling numerous matters from the legal perspective.

The firm has substantial experience in defending criminal prosecutions at both the misdemeanor and felony levels.  The firm's founding member is a former Assistant District Attorney for Dallas County and has successfully resolved as well as tried a large number of criminal cases.

Recent successes include obtaining reinstatements of probation despite numerous probation violations and additional offenses, as well as obtaining the dismissal of the license suspension portions of DWI charges as well as the dismissal of one of the DWI charges, itself.  Other successes include defense verdicts and favorable resolutions of other criminal matters.

The firm has substantial experience in handling family law matters, including, but not limited to:  adoption, child custody, child support, CPS, and divorce cases.

With the firm's substantial experience in CPS and other child custody matters, the firm recently tried a child custody/child support matter where the firm was able to obtain an order providing its client not only with primary custody rights over the children involved but also child support.

The firm also has obtained the successful resolution of numerous divorce matters.

Moreover, in a recent adoption matter, the firm has been able to successfully finalize an adoption within a short time period as the result of need to have the adoption completed within a certain time period for immigration purposes.

The firm has substantial experience in successfully handling individual and business immigration matters, including adjustments  of status, consular processing, VAWA, U visa, V visa, employment based (H, L, E) visas, and EB5 cases, and defense of deportation cases.

Federal immigration law determines whether a person is an alien, and associated legal rights, duties, and obligations of aliens in the United States. It also provides means by which certain aliens can become naturalized citizens with full rights of citizenship.

Immigration law serves as a gatekeeper for the nation's border: it determines who may enter, how long they may stay and when they must leave.

For immigration purposes, an "alien" is any person who is not a citizen or a national of the United States. There are different categories of aliens: resident and nonresident, immigrant and nonimmigrant, documented and undocumented ("illegal").

The goals in immigration policies are achieved by granting or denying visas. There are two types of visas: immigrant and nonimmigrant. Nonimmigrant visas are primary issued to tourists and temporary business visitors. Nonimmigrant visas are divided into eighteen main categories, and the number of visas in most categories is not limited. Only a few categories of nonimmigrant visas allow their holders to work in the United States. Immigrant visas permit their holders to stay in the United States permanently and ultimately to apply for citizenship. An alien who has an immigrant visa is permitted to work in the United States. Congress limits the overall number of immigrant visas, which were 675,000 in 1995. Many immigrant visas are also subject to per-country caps.

Naturalization Law

If you are not a U.S. citizen by birth, you may be eligible to become a citizen through naturalization. People who are 18 years and older use the "Application for Naturalization" to become naturalized. Children who are deriving citizenship from naturalized parents use the "Application for a Certificate of Citizenship" to become naturalized.

Resident aliens who meet the following requirements:

* Lawful admission as a permanent resident.

* Continuous residence in the U.S. for at least 5 years immediately preceding filing for naturalization (3 years for spouses of U.S. citizens.)

* Residence for at least 3 months in the state where the application is filed.

* Physical presence within the U.S. for at least one half of the period required for continuous residence (2 and ½ years for resident aliens, 1 and ½ years for spouses of citizens.)

* Good moral character

* Continuous residence in the U.S. from the date of filing to the date of the oath of citizenship.

* Attainment of 18 years of age at the time of filing.

* Ability to read, write, and speak English.

* Knowledge of U.S. history and government.

The firm is uniquely situated to advise clients on U.S. and Texas Law as well as Mexican Law.

The firm has assisted its clients in preparing wills, powers of attorneys, physician directives, HIPAA releases for its clients.  The firm also has assisted its clients in handling probate matters.

The firm recently had the occasion to assist a client, who was on her deathbed, prepare a Last Will and Testament to assure that her final desires as to the distribution of her property and the guardianship of her minor children were honored.