Mediation is a common practice in Texas divorces because it offers the opportunity for the spouses to make decisions between themselves about how to divide parenting issues and property rather than have a judge or jury make those decisions for them. Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party (the mediator) works to […]
Is mediation right for my divorce? Fort Worth divorce lawyer explains Read More »
Marriages that begin before the age of 23 are most likely to end up in divorce. Of marriages beginning when the spouses were under twenty, 48% will end in divorce. For those beginning in the ages 20-23, 31% will end in divorce. Statistics also indicate that the average length of a person’s first divorce is
5 Things You Need to Know about Divorce in Your 20s Read More »
This question is an extremely common question in divorce law. Hollywood wants you to believe the only way a divorce occurs is your spouse voluntarily agrees to “sign the papers”. Almost every show or movie involving a divorce has this situation where one spouse wants it and the other doesn’t; so as long as one spouse refuses to “sign
Does my spouse have to sign the divorce papers before I can get a divorce? Read More »
As I discussed in a prior blog post and this page about property division, Texas is a community property state. Simply put, the majority of property acquired during a marriage is community property. That community property is jointly owned by both spouses. Under the Texas Family Code, community property is subject to a just and
Fort Worth divorce lawyer explains the presumption of community property Read More »
Among the top concerns in any Texas divorce is the issue of financial cost. It’s not just the cost of hiring lawyers but the costs of all the mechanics of a Texas divorce, including filing fees with the Family Court, appraisals, retrieving financial records, expert testimony and so forth. Admittedly, the cost of attorneys represents the
Ways to resolve Fort Worth contested divorces Read More »
The Texas Family Code allows parties to enter into a prenuptial agreement, or prenup, before marriage. It makes those agreements enforceable so long as they meet the requirements set out in the Texas Family Code. A prenup in Texas is an agreement between two people prior to entering into marriage that contractually determines property issues during
Should I get a prenuptial agreement in Texas? Read More »
A common concern from divorce clients and people looking for information about divorce comes in the form of, “my husband is threatening to…” or “my wife is threatening to…” with something about taking away the kids or all the property. 99.9% of the time those threats have zero basis in the law and are never going
Duress, spousal threats and divorce in Texas Read More »
During a divorce one of the biggest issues in dividing the marital property is dividing the financial assets. Most married people will designate their spouse as the beneficiary on the account or policy. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) governs most employee benefits. It requires married employees to designate their spouse as the primary
What happens to my beneficiary designations after a divorce in Texas? Read More »
There are a lot of misconceptions about how divorce works and how divorce attorneys work. Most of these misconceptions are thanks to television shows and movies that depict divorces wrongly in almost every way imaginable. One of the biggest misconceptions people have about divorce and divorce attorneys is that there is some super secret edge
Is there a benefit to hiring a divorce attorney of the opposite sex? Read More »
A guardian ad litem (often abbreviated as GAL) under Texas law represents the interests of an involved individual but is not that person’s attorney. A guardian ad litem represents the best interests of a person who is unable to advocate for their own interests, such as a child. The person the guardian ad litem represents
What is a guardian ad litem under the Texas Family Code? Read More »
Divorce is a time where preparation, rational thought and a willingness to make long term decisions are critical but these things can be hard to do because divorce is often also a very emotional time. Texas family law attorneys assisting clients in divorces have a responsibility to the legal interests of their client. Some attorneys take
Ten Common Mistakes People Make in Texas Divorces Read More »
How you dress to go to court is important. Courtrooms are one of the most formal workplaces in the country. Judges are very strict about attire from their staff to lawyers to parties to witnesses to spectators. Only jurors can sometimes get away with more relaxed attire. The last thing you want to do is
How should I dress to go to court? Read More »
Divorce in Bedford, Dallas and Fort Worth is a judicial process to dissolve a marriage. It requires the help of the courts. Divorce in Texas can be a fairly simple process though. The family courts in Tarrant, Dallas, Collin and Denton counties can make the divorce as painless as possible. There are two ways a divorce can
What is the process for divorce in Texas? Read More »
LegalZoom is a modern version of the do-it-yourself legal forms available at office supply stores. This DIY approach to the law treats legal forms like mad libs: just fill in the form and that’s it. Typically the justification for LegalZoom for divorce in Texas is cost. While I understand the cost perspective, there are key concerns
Can I use LegalZoom for my Texas divorce? Read More »
Consumer debts tend to be a huge part of divorces, which my firm handles a lot. In terms of marital property in Texas, credit card debt is usually within the top six financial components within the household (along with the house, cars, mortgage, retirement accounts and car loans). Under Texas law, divorces can divide consumer
Consumer credit cards and debt in a Texas divorce Read More »
Spouses in Fort Worth and Dallas are entitled to part of your retirement accounts in Texas because the federal law surrounding retirement plans allows for spouses to earn an interest in your retirement accounts during the marriage. State law allows for family courts to divide these assets based upon a domestic relations order. (That usually becomes
Why does my spouse get part of my 401k or pension in a divorce? Read More »
Known as either a “living trust” or a “revocable living trust”, a trust is a legal creation to simply passing assets from one generation to the next without having to rely on a will and probate courts, which can be more expensive, more complex and financially disadvantageous. While there are many kinds of trusts that
What is a living trust and should I have one in Texas? Read More »
Texas is one of nine states in the nation that recognizes marital property as community property. Property owned in Texas by a married couple is either community property or separate property. Community property includes property owned jointly by both spouses. Separate property includes property owned by only one spouse. The law presumes all marital property is
Divorce attorney explains community property rules in Texas Read More »
Nobody likes to think about returning from vacation with more than a sunburn but injuries happen. When those injuries happen they can lead to expensive medical bills. If you have an injury from a vacation you should talk to a lawyer right away about any potential claims you may have. The resort or travel company
Dangerous Vacation Destinations in Dallas and Fort Worth Read More »
Emancipation is the dream of many teenagers; the freedom from the controls of parents is alluring. The Texas Family Code permits emancipation in limited circumstances. It is important to understand, if you are a minor seeking emancipation, the risks of that decision. I’ll discuss the permitted reasons for emancipation, the process involved and the risks
How can I get emancipated in Texas? (updated 2022) Read More »