Divorce ends an old and begins a new chapter of life. It is often a challenging transition that should be handled with care. Working with attorneys and professionals, clients can resolve divorce matters in a civil manner and with concern for sensitive and difficult life situations. That’s what we at Paula Lock Smyth Law Offices seek to do in the collaborative divorce process. What is the … [Read more...]
How to Prevent Violence While Going Through a Divorce
No one plans for their marriage to end in divorce. It’s a tough time for everyone and emotions can run high. It is often difficult to keep those emotions in check. Sadly, sometimes this results in violence. To be sensitive throughout the process for the good of everyone involved is easier said than done. Here are some actions that you can take to prevent violence in divorce. Be careful about your … [Read more...]
The Pros and Cons of Each Type of Divorce
In a divorce, the issues of child custody, visitation and the division of assets and debts are resolved by one of 3 processes: an agreement of the parties, the collaborative divorce method or through adversarial litigation. There are pros and cons to each type of divorce. Agreement of the Parties – The Kitchen Table Model Most people don’t want their personal life aired out and on display in a … [Read more...]
Two Approaches To Divorce In Texas
In most cases, a divorce in Texas actually consists of two family law issues that are consolidated into a single case. Assuming that there are children and property, the first and most important issue that’s addressed involves the best interests of the children of the parties to the divorce. Don’t Delay After Service In nearly all cases, the petitioner must serve the respondent with a … [Read more...]
Former congressman and wife may be close to divorce settlement
No two divorce proceedings are alike. Just as every person is unique, and every couple is unique, every breakup and divorce is unique as well. Some Dallas divorces go rather smoothly, with the spouses able to agree on the main possible points of contention. Other divorces don’t go so smoothly. The divorce of one former congressman and his wife is very much an example of a … [Read more...]
Why do couples enter into prenuptial agreements?
Planning for a wedding is stressful -- dealing with various caterers, designers and event managers can cause a lot of anxiety between a couple. And, a prenuptial agreement can add further stress pre-marriage. Texas residents may be aware that a prenuptial agreement is an agreement a couple enters into before getting married that sets how the separation will take place, should a divorce occur. … [Read more...]
What is a collaborative law divorce?
Couples may often hesitate to put an end to their marriage because they are afraid of going through the legal system. They do not know how much money and time it will take, the emotional affect it might have on their children and the possibility of having their private information revealed in court publicly may be daunting. For those who want to avoid an uncertain outcome by going through court … [Read more...]
What laws apply to property division in a divorce?
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...]