BASIC STEPS TO FILE A TEXAS DIVORCE 1. Filing the petition One of the parties must first file the Original Petition for Divorce. This petition essentially starts the divorce process. After the petition is filed, the court clerk will assign a case number. 2. Legal notice After the first party, now known as the Petitioner,…
CALCULATING CHILD SUPPORT IN TEXAS How is child support calculated in Texas? Texas uses formulas and specific guidelines per the Family Code. Typically, this means looking at a noncustodial parent’s income and allocating a certain percentage of it as child support. The courts look at the monthly net resources of the parent paying child support….
How Long Will I Pay Child Support? Texas Family Code Section 154.001 provides the requirements of how long one must pay child support. Generally, most fathers pay child support until the child emancipates which means they turn 18 or graduate high school, whichever occurs later. Therefore, if your child is 18 but still enrolled in…
WHAT CAN I DO IF MY VISITATION IS WITHHELD? While a child visitation agreement establishes the amount of time that a child spends with each parent, there are many cases when custodial parents—without any cause whatsoever—prevent noncustodial parents from seeing their kids for weeks, months, and even years. Fortunately, there are options to remedy these…
WHAT DOES SOLE CUSTODY MEAN? A sole managing conservatorship means that only one parent has the legal authority to make decisions regarding the child. This is also sometimes referred to in other states as sole legal custody. If the courts grants a parent a sole managing conservatorship, that parent is also entitled to child support…
DISPUTE RESOLUTION ALTERNATIVES IN TEXAS DIVORCES (MEDIATION V. ARBITRATION) Avoiding litigation is a worthy goal. Methods of alternate dispute resolution are available to families, allowing them to avoid the costly and time-consuming court process. Two Forms of Alternate Dispute Resolution are Mediation & Arbitration About Mediation Mediation is the process of allowing a neutral third…
5 TEXAS CHILD SUPPORT MISCONCEPTIONS EQUAL CUSTODY MEANS NO AWARDED CHILD SUPPORT Sometimes, when both parents spend an equal amount of time with the children post-divorce, they are able to work out an agreement where financial support is not a necessity. However, despite the civility of equal custody, sometimes a parent is still required to…
Texas Divorce: What You Should Know Key facts about getting a divorce in Texas. What is the residency requirement for divorce in Texas? At least one spouse must be a resident of Texas for six months before filing for divorce. How is property divided at divorce in Texas? Texas is a community property state. This…
