Can Children Decide Where They Live?
Texas law prohibits a child from choosing which parent he or she will live with after a divorce. But a child’s preference is important — to the parents, to the court, and most of all, to the child. At the quiet center of any divorce storm reside children. Pulled this way and that, children receive… Read More »
Tips for Using Social Media During Divorce
Social media is ubiquitous. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace…where once people chatted in person, now they chat online — a lot. As a Texas divorce and child custody attorney, I witness the pain of clients who discover online, or through text, that a spouse is cheating. I see photographs unwittingly revealed online that sabotage a divorce or… Read More »
Ambiguity, the Nemesis of a Settlement Agreement
The importance of making clear agreements, not subject to other interpretation cannot be emphasized enough. Any apparent ambiguity can open the door to dispute. And then, sometimes even judges disagree on the intended interpretation. So, while agreements between parties to lawsuits is encouraged, it is necessary to ensure that such agreements are drafted in a… Read More »
Are You More Likely to Divorce During Tough Times?
Myths and opinions circulate from a variety of sources — news articles, surveys and interviews — about the effect of tough economic times on marriages. Financial stress is a known factor that adversely affects relationships. Couples fight over their incomes, their spouse’s spending habits, and a lack of the lifestyle they always wanted. Troubled finances… Read More »
Paternity Complexities
Dealing with paternity can involve complicated issues which add to the difficulty of understanding your legal rights. Who the father is in the eyes of the law may seem unclear. Some examples of paternity complications include: The mother is married to someone other than the biological father before the child is born Within 300 days… Read More »
Preserving Property During Divorce
Spouses living in Montgomery County, Texas should understand what restraints the county courts put on actions regarding property during divorce. Montgomery County Courts at Law and the Montgomery County District Courts issued a standing order on March 11, 2009 that specifically lists prohibited actions against the property. Under Texas Family Code Section 4.001 property means… Read More »
Can You Cancel or Change Your Insurance During Divorce?
The short answer is NO, do not ever change your insurance during a divorce. The courts prohibit it and changing insurance without court approval will be very detrimental to your case. It is understandable for spouses to start wondering about insurance policies after they separate and file for divorce. Certainly after divorce is final, they… Read More »
What is a Custody Evaluation?
When parents continue to disagree about custody after mediation or other attempts to resolve their issues outside of court, the court may order a custody evaluation. A custody evaluator is generally a psychologist who evaluates the child and family members. Based on the evaluation, the evaluator recommends a visitation or parenting plan that is in… Read More »