WHO PAYS CHILD SUPPORT WHEN PARENTS HAVE SPLIT CUSTODY (50%-50%) How Does Texas Define Joint Custody? In Texas, custody is often referred to as a conservatorship. When parents have joint custody, it is a joint managing conservatorship. While joint custody might seem to indicate each parent physically has the child 50% of the time, that…
HOW CAN I REDUCE MY CHILD SUPPORT IN TEXAS Texas law provides that parents seeking a reduction in their child support order are eligible for modification only if at least one of the following is true: The prior child custody order established by the court has been in effect for at least three years; ANDThe…
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY SPOUSE REFUSES TO SIGN THE DIVORCE PAPERS Does My Spouse Have to Sign The Divorce Papers for the Divorce to Go Through? Short answer: no, your spouse does not have to sign the divorce papers for your divorce to be finalized. In Texas, one spouse refusing to sign divorce papers does…
CONTESTED DIVORCE: BASIC STEPS/NEED TO KNOW When you and your spouse do not agree on one or more areas of the divorce, you need to file a contested divorce. Here are the required steps in a contested divorce. 1. Petition for Divorce A Petition for Divorce is filed with the court. The petition includes information…
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “UNCONTESTED” AND “AGREED” DIVORCES IN TEXAS “UNCONTESTED DIVORCE” Even if you and your spouse have agreed to the settlement of your belongings, to file for an uncontested divorce you must still meet specific criteria: You and your spouse must agree on the reason for the divorce You and your spouse…
HOW MUCH CHILD SUPPORT DO I HAVE TO PAY? TEXAS CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES The Texas Family Code contains guidelines for the computation of child support. The guidelines are specifically designed to apply to situations in which the obligor’s monthly net resources are $9,200.00 or less. In such cases, the court presumptively applies the following schedule:…
IMPORTANT CHILD SUPPORT INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW If you’re working through a child support case now, there are some things you should know: • Your child support order isn’t set in stone. Depending on the conservators’ financial circumstances, the court might issue a child support order modification. The court might order the possessory conservator to…
HOW DO I CHANGE MY CHILD SUPPORT ORDER You can request a modification of child support orders as the noncustodial parent if: • Your income has increased or decreased. • You become legally responsible for additional children. • Your child’s medical insurance coverage has changed. If you become the custodial parent, this also represents a…
WHAT IS A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER A temporary restraining order is used to preserve the status quo in a case by restraining a party from doing something or preventing them from doing something. It is common for a parent to ask the court to protect the children in a case, and ask that the other…
WHAT IS MEDIATION? Mediation is a type of Alternative Dispute Resolution, or ADR, where you and your spouse try to solve your issues outside of the courtroom with the help of a certified family law mediator. This can be especially helpful in a no-fault divorce, where you determine that nobody is responsible for the divorce…
