Blog

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 »

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 »

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 »

Every person over 18 needs some form of estate and personal planning. If making a will or considering an estate plan is something you are waiting to do until later, you should know that there is no time like the present for helping loved ones and yourself in the event you become incapacitated or pass… Read More »

There are different legal designations with respect to child custody in Texas that describe the rights and responsibilities of the parents. The presumed, or default, arrangement is joint managing conservatorship. This means both parents share in the important decisions and responsibilities concerning their child, which include the following: Education Religion and moral instruction Medical care,… Read More »

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 »

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court made separate rulings that affect the movement toward legalized marriage for same-sex couples in this country. The recognition of gender-neutral marriage has become a topic of national discussion in recent years. Significant decisions made by the Supreme Court during the recent session include the following: California Proposition 8: By… Read More »

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 »

In a heartbreaking case that has drawn national attention, three-year-old Baby Veronica appears to be moving back to South Carolina and the home of the only parents she knew for the first two years of her life. When her adoptive parents sought to finalize their adoption of Veronica, the birth father, Dusten Brown, reasserted parental… Read More »

Stepparents can play an important role in the upbringing of a child. In most cases, though, their legal right to child possession (custody) in Texas is limited. However, non-relatives who have played an important role in the child’s life and acted as a primary caretaker may be able to gain legal custody in certain circumstances…. Read More »