Making the decision to adopt is a significant and exciting decision. Growing your family through adoption, however, may bring up some questions about the process. Knowing the answers can help ease anxiety as you begin a new phase of your life that includes pursuing the adoption process. It can be helpful to understand the basics of the adoption process. To begin with, there … [Read more...]
Archives for 2016
How does the collaborative divorce process work?
The collaborative law divorce process is a beneficial process for divorcing couples to consider. Rather than sorting out divorce-related disputes through litigation and contentious exchanges between the spouses, the collaborative law divorce process is one that allows the couple to work together to reach a divorce agreement that saves time, money and bad feelings. Couples will need to … [Read more...]
How long will my divorce take?
Once a couple in Texas decides to end their marriage, they often want to do so as quickly as possible, so they can begin to move on with their life. Therefore, one of the main questions they may have during a divorce is how long it will take. Though there is no fixed time period -- that can vary from case to case depending on the circumstances-- there is a certain way the legal complexities … [Read more...]
Can I adopt my stepchild in Texas?
One of the main reasons families decide to adopt a child in Texas is because it gives them the opportunity to complete their family and give a child a loving, nurturing environment for them to grow up in. One type of adoption is a stepparent adoption, in which the spouse of a parent requests the adoption court for legal parental rights of the children of their spouse. The only … [Read more...]
Establishing paternity to facilitate adoption
Last week’s blog discussed how unmarried fathers in Texas can assert their rights with regards to their children. As mentioned previously, there are various ways to establish paternity and the benefits include the ability to visit or share custody of children. One of the biggest parental benefit that comes with establishing paternity is the right to object or consent to adoption of the … [Read more...]
How can paternity be established in Texas?
There are certain legal rights and obligations that arise from having children that married couples in Texas take for granted, the most common being the existence of father’s rights over his child. However, it is not the same for unmarried couples -- fathers have to establish their paternity in Texas. Father’s rights can be established by either signing the Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) or by … [Read more...]
Creating a viable custody and visitation schedule
Couples in Texas may go through many changes and turbulent times, facilitating the need for the end of the marriage. It is by no means an easy decision for most families, especially when there are children involved. Despite the end of their legal relationship with one another, parents will usually want to continue a bond with their offspring. The benefits of this to both parties, especially … [Read more...]
Shared parenting benefits children of divorce
Although a divorcing couple agrees to end the legal relationship with one another, when there are children involved the relationship never really comes to an end. In some divorces, where the split has not been amicable, ex-spouses may have no interest in speaking to one another but, according to the Attorney General of Texas, shared parenting can be very beneficial for children after a … [Read more...]
Can children choose who to live with in a divorce?
Many couples in Texas may be under the misconception that when a child reaches a certain age they can decide which parent they want to live with in the event of a divorce. However, this is not the case. There are certain provisions in the Texas Family Code regarding the right of children to express their wish of where they want to live, but there is no obligation for the judge to fulfill that … [Read more...]
Study shows that divorce filings peak post-summer
As summer vacations come to an end and couples in Texas get back their routines, some couples may begin to realize that the optimism they felt about spending the future with their spouse has dwindled and they are plagued by the same issues they had before summer began. According to a new report, this is known as a "broken promise theory" - couples spend a lot of time together in the summer and it … [Read more...]