Category Archives: Divorce
Filing for a Divorce or Custody in Texas When You Live Out of State
You don’t always have to live in Texas to file for divorce or child custody here. If you are out of state, but your spouse is a Texas resident, you can file in the county your spouse lives in. Texas, like most states, has residency requirements for divorce cases. In order to file a divorce,… Read More »
Protecting Your Property or Business During a Texas Divorce
During a divorce, the court divides the marital property. The judge is allowed to divide assets in any way he or she decides is “just and right.” Because Texas is a community property state, most property acquired during the marriage is considered marital property and is divided as a judge sees fit. With the help… Read More »
Is Same-Sex Divorce Imminent for Texas?
Relatively recent statutes enacted by the Texas legislature specifically declare same-sex marriage and civil unions void within the state. Based on this legislation, you can surmise that divorce is not possible for same-sex couples in a state where their marriages are not possible. However, the Texas Supreme Court is currently considering two cases that can… Read More »
Can I Trust Friends and Family to Provide Advice During the Texas Divorce Process?
I have helped many individuals who come to me with any number of misconceptions promulgated by well-meaning people who care about them. Your friends and family naturally want the best for you and your children. However, their own personal experiences do not always lead to the best advice. By all means, accept their good intentions… Read More »
What Legal Issues Apply When Felony Conviction Is Grounds for a Texas Divorce?
I hope that few of my clients will ever need to ask this question, but conviction for felony crimes can qualify as grounds for divorce and anyone citing these grounds may face some unique legal issues. First, you need to determine if a felony conviction qualifies as grounds for divorce in your situation. Generally, these… Read More »
Actions That Can Turn Your Personal Property into Marital Property Under Texas Divorce Law
One of the most confusing issues my clients experience during a Texas divorce pertains to how the law governs division of marital property. Unfortunately, in numerous situations, my clients lose assets they owned prior to marriage simply because they failed to protect their rights properly before or during the marriage. In a community property state… Read More »
Is an Uncontested Divorce Always the Best Option in Texas?
Without a doubt, uncontested divorce has many benefits, from reduced expenses to greater control over the settlement results. I have successfully guided a great many clients through the process of negotiating all the settlement issues in uncontested divorce. However, certain situations absolutely require a contested divorce in court to ensure my client receives fair treatment…. Read More »
The Social Media Activities of Your Teens Can Help or Hinder Your Divorce Settlement
Some time ago, I talked about the legal and emotional effects social media can have on couples in any phase of the divorce process. As a Texas divorce and child custody attorney, I now see addressing social media issues as a requirement, whether to find evidence to help my clients’ cases or to protect them… Read More »
Texas Divorce Rates Higher than National Average
How many marriages end in divorce in the United States? The standard answer is 50 percent, although other studies report a decrease in the divorce rate — unless you are talking about second marriages, people over 50 and those living in southern states, including Texas. The most recent marital event statistics, collected in 2009 through… Read More »
Division of Assets in a Gray Divorce
In 1990, the divorce rate for people over 50 was only one in 10; by 2008, this rate had risen to one in four. Researchers attribute this increase in gray divorce to longer life spans, the fact that more women have their own financial resources and the value the baby boomer generation places on self-fulfillment…. Read More »