WHAT DOES “CUSTODY” REALLY MEAN IN TEXAS? Child custody is legally known as a conservatorship in Texas. There are three types of conservators: joint managing conservator, sole managing conservator, and possessory conservator. Courts presume that both parents will be joint managing conservators, meaning both parents share decision making for the child; however, the time spent…
WHO SHOULD PAY FOR THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL COSTS? When parents in Texas are going through divorces, they may overlook some potential issues concerning who will be responsible for paying for their children’s back-to-school supplies, clothing and other related expenses. The financial responsibility of paying for these items may depend on the parenting and custody arrangements that…
CHILD CUSTODY AND CLAIMING THE CHILD ON YOUR TAXES When parents divorce, there are many concerns surrounding their children. One major issue is with whom the child will reside with and what the custody arrangement will look like. Although it is important to address child support issues, it is also vital to understand how a…
CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES: (What You Need to Know) In Texas our child support determinations are made based on certain percentages of the paying parent’s net monthly income. The statutory law sets how much of a non-custodial parent’s net monthly income should go to the custodial parent for child support. In Texas, these payments must continue…
HOW DO I GET TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER? In Texas family law cases, there are two separate types of protective documents that parties can seek. Restraining orders are not to be confused with protective orders. Most often, parties seek a restraining order in a divorce or suit affecting the parent-child relationship to take exclusive possession of…
WHAT IS DIVORCE MEDIATION? What does a divorce mediator do? The divorce mediator is an impartial third party that will help the couple through the divorce process. The mediator will help them to make their own decisions about finances, property, and child arrangements. Participants enter mediation voluntarily and work out differences through negotiation and cooperation….
CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT When a couple gets divorced in Texas, one ex-spouse may be required to pay alimony and child support to the other. Both states and judges themselves differ on what factors they will consider when assigning the obligation amount, but income is always part of the calculation. A court may…
HOW DO I INCREASE MY CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENT IN TEXAS? Child support payments that the Texas court ordered may be helpful, but you may be feeling that the money does not stretch far enough to cover the necessities. However, if your circumstances or your ex’s have changed since your original support order, you may be…
