WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF JOINT PHYSICAL CUSTODY? When you go through divorce, one of the first things you will think about is this: Who will get custody of the children? There are many ways this process can shake out, so you need to be ready for everything. Many people fight for joint physical custody,…
Spousal maintenance duration in Texas Though the term alimony is thrown about in discussions regarding the end of a marriage in Texas, the proper term for the concept in Texas is known as spousal maintenance. Unlike in most other states, it is of limited duration and is only ordered for as long as it takes…
5 WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILD DEAL WITH DIVORCE Divorce is rarely easy for anyone, but the process tends to be especially difficult for children. While nearly all children will struggle somewhat with their parents’ divorce, there are a number of ways to help them deal with the situation in a healthy way. MAKE SURE…
Divorce Jurisdiction in Texas – “The Consequences of Getting It Wrong” My spouse and I both live in Texas, but were married in another State. Where do I file for divorce? In Texas, it is not where you were married that matters. It is where you live and how long you have lived there. Specifically,…
The Standard Possession Order (SPO) is a default visitation schedule defined by the Texas Family Code that is used in the vast majority of Texas divorce cases involving children. It is extremely detailed and lengthy and is one of the main reasons that divorce decrees in cases with children are usually 30 to 40 pages…
You’ve heard about Premarital Agreements (sometimes called a Prenuptial Agreement or Pre-Nup), but when should someone thinking about marriage consider preparing, and entering into, such an agreement? Here are some of the top reasons to consider a Premarital Agreement: 1) There is a significant age difference between the two parties 2) One party has an…
What Changes and What Stays the Same with Regard to Child Support Orders Child support in Texas has always been a court ordered obligation in Texas divorce and paternity actions. Before implementation of the child support guidelines in the Texas Family Code in the 1980s, child support orders varied from court to court and county…
Putting a “Cap” on Child Support in Texas Many people believe that there is a statutory “cap” or maximum amount of child support permitted under Texas law. This belief is only partially correct. Texas has enacted statutory guidelines which apply various percentages – depending on the number of children the parent must support – but…
Factors a Judge May Consider in Deciding Custody Texas uses the “best interest of the child” standard in disputed custody cases. This is a rather amorphous standard, and one that lends itself to judges’ subjective beliefs about what’s best for children. There are some factors, though, that you can expect a judge to consider. 1….
Under Texas law, there are only limited circumstances in which a parent can modify a child custody or visitation order. Such a change will be made only if it is in the best interests of the child, and: 1. The circumstances of the child or parent have materially and substantially changed since the original child…
