Posted on December 28, 2017 in Divorce

Watching your friends sharing pictures of their growing children on Facebook may have been difficult for you. As much as you love your nieces and nephews, a child of your own is something you have dreamed about for some time. Now that you have made the decision to adopt a child, you probably have many questions and, perhaps, even a little fear.

Whether you have struggled with infertility as one in eight couples do, or you are a single person hoping to raise a child, your commitment to the adoption process is crucial. If you are still uncertain, having a better understanding of how adoption works may solidify your determination to enter this rewarding process.

Qualifications

In Texas, if you are at least 21 years old, you can be married or single to qualify for adoption. In addition, there are other eligibility requirements you must meet, including the following:

• Apply for adoption
• Have financial security
• Submit answers to questions about your lifestyle and history

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 03, 2017 in Divorce

How many times has your spouse argued that you did not understand his or her feelings or were blatantly ignoring them? Statistics show there are certain key factors regarding communication skills between spouses that often determine whether marriages will last or end in divorce. Especially if poor communication has contributed to divorce in the first place, it's crucial to understand the importance of clear communication during and after divorce.

Reviewing the contributing factors that led to your filing for divorce may, in fact, help you overcome certain obstacles as you navigate divorce proceedings. While you definitely have rights and it's important to protect them, it typically helps keep stress levels to a minimum if you are willing to try to see the other person's point of view as well.

Remember that no two people are exactly the same

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 08, 2017 in Divorce

When you got married, you likely thought that your relationship would last. Now that years have passed, you — like many others throughout Texas — may have come to realize that time and experiences have changed your relationship and feelings in a way that makes your marriage impossible to continue.

Because most ideas about divorce revolve around nasty conflict and spiteful actions, your concerns over this type of scenario are not unwarranted. However, you can take steps to prepare yourself for the legal proceedings ahead and work toward a less stressful divorce.

Assess your assets

Finances play a significant role in dissolving a marriage. You may worry about court costs, alimony, child support and property division. In order to better understand what outcomes you could potentially face in these areas, it's important that you fully understand the state of your finances, including your assets and debts. Having proper records and documentation, such as tax returns and bank statements, can help you prepare.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 14, 2017 in Divorce

While spousal maintenance — commonly called alimony — is rare in Texas, there are situations where alimony may be awarded. Before that happens, though, multiple factors must be considered to determine whether one spouse is entitled to alimony.

Who can get spousal maintenance?

There are two ways to get alimony in Texas. One way is for the spouses to agree on a support plan on their own through mediation or private negotiations. This route may be taken to help equalize the division of community property. Alternatively, the spouse seeking support can petition the court for alimony payments.

If you have to go to court, there are several factors that a judge will consider before deciding whether you meet the eligibility requirements for alimony. The most important factor is your ability or inability to provide for your basic needs. Along with that, one of the following conditions must also apply:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on May 19, 2017 in Divorce

For as long as you have been a parent, you've always done what's best for your children. Perhaps you made personal sacrifices in order to make sure your kids didn't go without. Nothing matters more to you than seeing that your children are happy and well cared for.

Now that you and your co-parent are splitting up, of course you want to remain committed to your children. However, you might have concerns about how the future is going to look for your reconfigured family. A brief overview of child custody in Texas might help answer a few questions.

Understanding the terminology of custody

The good people of Texas often have their own way of doing things, and there's no exception when it comes to child custody. In fact, rather than using the term "child custody," the courts of this state refer to "conservatorship." It follows that rather than naming a custodian, a judge names a conservator.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 29, 2017 in Divorce

For most people in Texas, going through a divorce for the first time is daunting. Those who want to minimize conflict may be aware of divorce mediation, which can allow them to avoid litigation. Before going into your first mediation session, it might be best to be as prepared as you could be.

Here are some steps you may want to take in preparation:

1. Legal guidance — An experienced attorney can provide support throughout the process. The mediator's sole purpose will be to provide a platform for peaceful negotiation and encourage communication and compromise. His or her goal will be to reach a fair settlement in a non-adversarial manner. The mediator may not provide any legal advice. However, each spouse may bring his or her lawyer — not only to advise but also to provide valuable input.
2. Rights and obligations — You can gather a lot of information from the internet, books, magazines and other individuals without knowing whom and what to trust. However, none will be as valuable as the knowledge you can get from an attorney who has been through the process a myriad of times. Your lawyer can explain your obligations and your legal rights, and, most importantly, answer all your questions.

   Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 27, 2017 in Divorce

The end of a marriage can bring with it significant financial changes for both parties. For you, these changes can become struggles, and, over time, may develop into genuine financial hardship. If you are struggling to meet your child support obligation each month, you are not alone. Many parents have found themselves in this same situation, but, fortunately, you have options.

Depending on the circumstances of your situation, it may be possible to secure a modification to the original child support order. This will ensure that you remain in compliance and still do your part to financially support your children.

Appropriate grounds for a modification

In order to secure a modification to a support order in Texas, there must be proof that the non-custodial parent has undergone a substantial change in circumstances. Qualifying circumstances include:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 07, 2016 in Divorce

Can you imagine coming home to Texas from active deployment in the military only to learn that you lost custody of your child while you were away? While that may sound outrageous and unlikely, it has actually happened in the past.

As a parent, you're obviously concerned with the overall well-being of your children. As a member of the U.S. military, it is also important that you are able to fully dedicate yourself to the mission at hand without stressing over custody-related issues.

Protecting your parental rights

Your custody or visitation rights should never be penalized because you are serving your country, nor should you have to worry about official court decisions being made that bear significant impact on your life when you are unable to be present as an active participant in a hearing. There are several things to remember to protect your rights:

• State laws vary: Some states have very specific laws pertaining to child custody issues as they relate to members of the military. You will want to be aware of the laws in the state that has jurisdiction over your children's custody to avoid any negative surprises while you are deployed.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 31, 2016 in Divorce

Many people in Texas are unable to, or simply choose not to, have biological children of their own. Such decisions are intensely personal and circumstances and/or opinions may change throughout a lifetime. If you have decided to welcome children from other birth parents into your home and family, the process, although often joyful and exciting, is not without its challenges. Identifying facts versus myths, as well as seeking clarification of the laws that govern such matters, can help you (and all prospective adoptive parents) make informed decisions, moving forward toward happy and successful futures.

Don't be fooled by adoption myths

Especially, if this is your first time navigating the adoption process in the United States, you may have difficulty determining fact from fiction. Just because a well-intended friend or relative may seem to know a lot about adoption, doesn't mean that the information offered is true. Following is a list of common myths that tend to confuse those considering adoption:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 26, 2016 in Divorce

For a non-custodial parent, keeping a strong parent/child bond after a divorce is finalized can certainly be challenging. Visitation schedules can be arranged to help with this, but, sometimes, the amount of time granted is limited due to a parent's personal circumstances - such as the need to relocate. Thankfully, parents in Texas have the ability to seek virtual visitation schedules.

What is virtual visitation?

If you are granted virtual visitation as part of your parenting agreement, this means that you will be able to keep in contact with your children by using some form of technology. Depending on your individual circumstances, this may grant you free access to contact your children as often as you want or it may come with limitations as to how and when you are able to reach out to your kids. In either case, it is a great option for those who are unable to have a significant amount of physical visitation time.

Continue Reading ››