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Recent Blog Posts
Quarantine and Divorce: What Came First?
The current quarantine is affecting
Marriage is hard. It takes two people to show up, sometimes as their best selves and sometimes not, and steadfastly face the joys and challenges of sharing a life.
Social distancing has brought many couples together. Having time to slow down has put a spark back in many marriages.
However, for many couples, the international pandemic has resulted in having a family attorney on speed dial.
Are you fighting with your partner more? Does your family seem that at times it might implode from the sheer pressure of spending so much time together?
You are not alone.
The pandemic has brought with it the distinct challenges:
maintaining physical health,
maintaining employment,
attempting to continue to be a viable member of society in a drowning economy, and,
continuing to have toilet paper!
Happy Father's Day!
Father's Day is just around the corner. Are you a concerned dad? Concerned about your children and your rights? Custody is not just for moms. If you are a dad seeking custody, consider these three things.
First, ask yourself why. Why is this important to you? Are you looking for equal time with your children? Are you afraid the courts will only see you as a weekend dad? Or, are you the more stable parent? Is your spouse a risk to your children? The answer to these questions will make a difference in court and a custody agreement.
The second thing you should do is look around and gather evidence. Do you have videos, pictures, or audiotapes of you and your children showing you to be the best dad you can be? If you're concerned about your spouse or that your spouse is a risk to your kids, do you have evidence that shows what that risk is. If you want to fight for custody, you need to be prepared with evidence so the court can see that and make a decision that is in the best interest of your children.
How are different types of income treated during your divorce?
Receiving the best possible financial outcome is vital when you are going through a divorce. But dividing marital assets can be complicated when one spouse receives his or her income through various means, including bonuses or stock options.
When compensation comes solely from a salary, negotiations are likely to be straightforward, and the timing of the divorce will typically not make a difference. However, it's vital to
Types of income and possible effects of divorce
If your compensation package includes any of these provisions, an experienced family law attorney here in Texas can help you protect these assets during negotiations:
Prepaid bonus with clawback provision: Employers sometimes pay a person a large bonus at the beginning of their employment, but the funds are subject to a clawback, or requirement that the funds will be repaid if the worker leaves the job early or doesn’t meet performance standards.
How will stay-at-home orders likely affect Texas divorce rates?
Many families in Texas may welcome the extra time spent together due to Gov. Greg Abbott's stay-at-home order during the current health care situation.
But for others, the increased interaction may aggravate an already tense situation between spouses whose marriages were previously strained. Many believe it will lead to an increase in divorces.
Weighing the economic impact
But some experts are saying, “not so fast.” While some marriages may be strengthened during this period, others believe the number of divorces could actually decrease due to financial considerations related to lost income.
As of April 11, more than 1 million Texans had filed for unemployment benefits since March 15, as restaurants, retail stores, bars and other so-called non-essential businesses
Divorce filings decrease in one county
An analysis of limited data shows at least one county reporting a decrease in divorce filings over the past month. The Austin Statesman
Rebuilding your career after your “pandemic divorce”
The past two months have turned everyone's lives upside down. It's been especially difficult for those are divorcing and had to postpone the process until the health emergency settles down.
Governor Greg Abbott allowed his stay-at-home order to expire on April 30. It is only a few days until the courts reopen. How have you fared during this stressful time?
Finding hope after a “pandemic divorce”
While it hasn’t been an easy time, there are
- Career aspirations: It hasn’t been easy to focus on your job, whether you’ve continued going to work, working from home or have been furloughed or laid off. Take the time now to assess where your career is and where you want it to go.
- Find your passion: Stress! Disappointment! Shell shock! Sound familiar? Those are some of the feelings most have experienced over the past several weeks. However, now is the time to set goals for rebuilding your life after your divorce and focusing on the positive things you want for the future.
Top Co parenting apps
There's an App for everything. So why not an App for Co-parenting?
Children need stability, calm and security as they grow-up. Which parent are they spending the weekend with? Who needs to sign their school field trip note? The concern of these parental jobs is not their burden, and it's our role as parents to have it covered, allowing our kids to be kids.
Some parents can move into co-parenting rather seamlessly, while others feel like they have fallen into the deep end of a murky pool. And the ones’ who can suffer while you’re treading water are the children.
You’re not alone, and the Apps below were designed with you in mind:
- OUR FAMILY WIZARD
Could you work with your ex-spouse post-divorce? Thankfully, the creators of Our Family Wizard could. This co-parenting app was created by a divorced couple who needed a tool to better communicate and share of information regarding their children. The app features tools that not only schedule child custody, track parenting time, share information and manage expenses but also log communication, providing you with accurate records for court proceedings. Third-parties such as grandparents, mediators and therapists can be added to the account at no extra cost.
Happy Father's Day! You’re about to become a father.
But you’re not married to your child's mother. Does it matter? Legally, yes.
The definition of “family” is changing, and studies show that unmarried parents are becoming increasingly more common today. You and your child's mom may sail blissfully into the future, parenting your sweet bundle of joy as a happy family unit. But if you and the mom decide that you must go your separate ways, what rights do you have regarding your child?
Under Texas law, there is no presumption of paternity if the parents of a child are not married at the time of conception or the time of birth. What that means is that the father has no parental rights or obligations. Without a court order, the mother can refuse to allow you to see or care for your child. And this refusal can affect your extended family as well. Or the mother can move out of state without your permission.
If you want a relationship with your child, you must establish legal paternity. The establishment of paternity will result in your name being placed on the child's birth certificate and the assumption of parental rights and duties.
More women are now the breadwinners for American families
A new survey shows a radical shift in the economic structure of families in the United States as more women say they are outearning their husbands than ever before.
The research by TD Ameritrade says nearly half of the women who took part in the survey say they make as much or more than their partners. That's a seismic change from 1960 when only 3.8% of women were the chief breadwinners, according to the Pew Research Center. Women now comprise more than half of the workforce in the country, and the percentage of those becoming the primary wage earner is expected to rise.
Marital strife over changing roles
Researchers found clear signs of a generational shift as millennial women are nearly twice as likely as their baby boomer counterparts to earn as much or more than their partners. But this often leads to conflict between couples. More than one in five millennials say their relationships feel more strained because one partner earns more than the other, while only one out of every 10 baby boomers say the disparity in earning status causes friction.
How will your student loan debt be divided during a divorce?
If you got married after completing your college education, the student loan debt you brought into the relationship will most likely still be yours alone if you divorce.However, it's not always cut and dried how that debt is distributed if you took out student loans while you were married. Any loans you receive after tying the knot in Texas are typically considered marital debt.
Figuring out a plan of action
Everyone's circumstances are different when their marriages end. An experienced family law attorney can help you find your own best course of action,
- Community property: Texas is one of nine states that consider all marital debt as community property. Both spouses are equally responsible for the repayment of student loans taken out during a marriage, even if only one spouse did the borrowing or attended school.
How to help your children cope with divorce
Divorce is a challenging process for both spouses, but it can be especially tricky when you have children. While there are likely to be some rough moments, there are actions both parents can take to make the transition smoother for everyone.
The first step is being open and honest with your kids. Trying to spare their feelings by telling them, “nothing is going to change,” won’t work and may increase their anxiety. It's crucial to be upfront and let them know that what's happening is not their fault.
Prioritize the needs of children
Being honest with your kids about their future should be the priority, even if it means that you don’t have all the answers. There are things you can do
- Respecting the other parent: Even if a divorce turns contentious, sharing negative feelings with or in front of children will likely confuse and upset them. Maintain a civil tone when speaking about your ex and never use foul language.
Finding The Right Attorney Matters. Contact Us Today.
A family lawyer does much more than simply provide legal answers. Our lawyers explore a variety of different solutions to help you achieve your goals and secure your family's financial and emotional future and stability.
To discuss your case or set up a consultation, call us at 972-562-9890 or use the online contact form.
8951 Collin McKinney Parkway, #1401, McKinney, TX 75070
972-562-9890
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