Understanding the way property is divided is very important in a divorce. This is often the most disputed issue in a divorce, after child custody. Every state in the nation has a law about how to divide the couple’s property during a divorce. In most states, the law follows a standard known as equitable division, meaning that the division must meet guidelines of fairness. However, Texas follows … [Read more...]
Complete the adoption process this year with our help
Completing or expanding one’s family may be a resolution that many Texas families kept this year. As not everyone may be able to do so biologically, there are other options available to couples that would like to have more children and one of them, as discussed in last week’s blog, is through adoption. Whether one adopts a stepchild or someone else, the end result is almost always the same-a … [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...]
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...]
The basics of spousal support in Texas
There are many important issues spouses may need to resolve during the divorce process and spousal support may be one of them. During the course of a marriage, trade-off decisions may be made that provide for one spouse to remain at home or not continue or pursue their education. If the couple decides to divorce, the spouse who remained at home or did not pursue a career or education may face … [Read more...]
Understanding different options for divorce
In the United States, sadly, 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. Because of the important life event the end of a marriage can be for many couples, it is useful for couples considering divorce to understand all the different options that may be available to them through the family law process. Options range from traditional divorce to mediation and collaborative law. One … [Read more...]
Communication breakdown does not rule out divorce mediation
There are a variety of reasons for why a couple may decide to end their marriage in Texas, and not all marriages end amicably. When a couple can no longer discuss issues with one another cordially, negotiating the major issues in a divorce agreement can seem out of the question. This is often why couples may turn to litigation rather than collaboration-people believe that since they can no longer … [Read more...]
Drafting a premarital agreement to protect your future
When Texas residents get married, entering into a pre-marital agreement specifying property division in the event of a divorce is oftentimes the last thing they want to think about. This is why some couples opt to enter into a post-nuptial agreement, as mentioned in a previous post. As difficult as it is to envision a future without your current spouse, the reality is that changing circumstances … [Read more...]
Rise of post nuptial agreements
Many Texas residents may have heard of a prenuptial agreement-an agreement signed before two people get married that details the division of assets post divorce. However, another type of contractual agreement dictating property division is on the rise-a post nuptial agreement. Unlike their more commonly known partner, these documents are signed after the wedding and in some cases many years after … [Read more...]
Understanding how much must be paid in child support in Texas
When a Dallas couple chooses to part ways and there are children from the relationship, one of the issues that will frequently arise is how much child support must be paid. This is true when the couple was married or was simply in a relationship without marrying. Having an understanding as to how child support is determined, issues that might be in dispute and what circumstances are … [Read more...]