Category Archives: Divorce
Preparing for Divorce Mediation
Divorce mediation provides a non-adversarial setting to resolve issues involving finances, property, division of assets, child custody and ongoing support. The mediator is a neutral third party trained to facilitate communication and help resolve disputes. Texas family court likes the mediation process because it frees up time and resources and generally moves cases forward more… Read More »
Three Steps Toward Financial Health During Divorce
The best time to protect your financial health during divorce is before you file. If you do not have that luxury, there are steps you can take to ensure financial stability as you move through and out of the Texas divorce process. As with many issues in divorce, being responsive is more useful than being… Read More »
What Happens When You Want Out — But Your Spouse Does Not?
Only slightly less common than marriage itself, divorce provides the means to put your life back in order and move forward — alone. But what if your spouse does not share your view? Popping the question is much easier than ending the marriage that results. In many cases, the feeling is mutual, and both parties… Read More »
Moving Toward Retirement…and Toward Divorce?
Many Americans are not averse to divorce. Roughly one in three marriages ends in divorce, and the divorce rate for couples over 50 has doubled since 1990. A strongly individualistic generation, the Baby Boomers are reinventing marriage trends as they retire from the workplace. A recent study from Bowling Green University made some interesting findings… Read More »
Safeguarding Your Rights: Marital Waste
When a divorce is underway, property division can become a contentious issue. Your former better half is entitled to a fair half of the marital estate, but if your ex-spouse takes more, you may have a claim for marital waste. As a community property state, Texas courts expect couples to create fair agreements to divide… Read More »
Does Texas Recognize Legal Separation?
We have talked elsewhere about the lack of recognition of same-sex marriage in Texas. The option for gender-neutral marriage or divorce in Texas does not exist. There is also no possibility of legal separation. Many people consider separation a preliminary condition of divorce. One partner moves out, a divorce is filed, and the process of… Read More »
Dividing the Cloud: Addressing Virtual Assets During Divorce
As a community property state, divorcing couples in Texas make agreements about dividing their property in a fair manner, or the courts make the decision for them. In many divorce matters, property division can become as divisive as child custody issues. With the mainstream use of cloud storage and virtual assets, property division has literally… Read More »
Talk the Talk: Being Prepared for Mediation or Settlement Conversations
Whether you are at the outset of a divorce proceeding, or in the midst of it, taking time to understand how to present yourself effectively in mediation or settlement conversations is important. Part of my job as a divorce attorney in Houston is to offer you the avenue toward divorce that best suits your situation…. Read More »
How Does Adultery Affect a Divorce Case?
Adultery can be extremely hurtful and damaging to families and to the person whose spouse has cheated, but the ways it is used in a divorce proceeding are complicated. Texas is a no-fault divorce state, meaning no specific reason other than a conflict of personalities needs to be cited for the court to grant a… Read More »
I Lost My Job and Have Not Found Another: Will the Court Modify How Much Maintenance I Get?
In Texas, there are actually two types of spousal maintenance: negotiated maintenance, which represents compensation to you from your spouse for allowing him to keep certain assets in the divorce; and spousal maintenance, which the court may order under certain conditions. Generally, because negotiated alimony does not depend on your income and results from a… Read More »