There is not one single blueprint for a family. There are many different way a family makeup can differ from the next, but none of these devaluate the affection and love a family unit can possess. When two people enter into marriage with children already in the mix, there can be some question of how exactly a stepparent can legally adopt their spouse’s children. While stepparent … [Read more...]
Dallas Family Law Blog
Role of mental health professionals in collaborative law divorce
One of the advantages of opting for a collaborative law divorce in Texas is the divorce team available to the couple that has decided to end their marriage. Neutral experts who are trained in collaborative law join the process to assist in making important decisions regarding financial and custodial settlements. Mental health professionals are part of these teams from the onset, and meet with the … [Read more...]
Collaborative law divorce more effective than traditional
Every family is unique; income levels, personal situations and the reasons that they decide to put an end to a marriage, are different for every couple in Texas. However, when these couples end up in court during the divorce process because they were unable to agree on property division or child custody on their own, they may find that the orders do not suit their individual circumstances; they … [Read more...]
Does a collaborative law approach differ from a traditional one?
It is generally not easy for couples in Texas to decide that they want to put an end to their marriages and when they think about the amount of time they might have to spend in courts in pursuit of their divorces, it seems like an additional headache. In addition to this, it is possible that an amicable relationship between the divorcing couple is affected by the bitterness that sometimes … [Read more...]
Importance of establishing paternity to enforce fathers’ rights
When a child is born to a married couple in Texas, the couple is legally considered the parents of the child – the husband is legally considered the father of the child unless a court has determined he is not the father. But what happens when the couple is not married, as is the case more and more frequently, or a mother is unsure of who the father is? In these cases, paternity has to … [Read more...]
The relevance of divorce after 10 years of marriage
As one of Hollywood’s favorite couples announced the end of their marriage last month, many people expressed sadness at the fact that Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck made the announcement a day after their tenth anniversary. Texas residents may be surprised to know that 10 years is an important milestone in a marriage, not just for emotional reasons but also for legal reasons. In many states, … [Read more...]
Commitment to enforcing fathers’ rights
When a couple decides to end their marriage in Texas, they are only intending to end their legal relationship with one another, not with their children. However, this often does not end up happening -- even though there is no discrimination on the basis of gender in custody agreements in Texas, mothers are sometimes deemed more suitable for custody in more conservative societies. This means … [Read more...]
Texas considering custody law for shared parenting
In an ideal world, once a couple is married they remain together for the rest of their lives and raise their children together, supporting one another emotionally and financially. However, Dallas families are well aware that the reality is much different. Oftentimes, marriages come to an end for various reasons and couples with children have to come up with a way to raise their … [Read more...]
Can I relocate with my children after divorce?
When Dallas couples get married, they often begin a new chapter of their lives by promising to stay together for the rest of their lives. You might have children and aspire to raise them to the best of your ability and provide the best for them. However, people, situations and lives change, potentially leaving you at odds with your spouse. This could cause you to face off in an amicable or hotly … [Read more...]
Am I eligible to receive spousal maintenance after my divorce?
Alimony, or spousal maintenance as it is called in Texas, is a periodic payment made from one spouse to the other and generally comes from the paying spouse’s income. Texas residents may be aware that when a marriage comes to an end a spouse may be eligible to receive alimony from their soon to be ex-spouse. This is particularly true if the receiving spouse does not have enough property at the … [Read more...]