It happens far more often than you would think—a husband or wife unilaterally decides to file for divorce, but doesn't tell the spouse right away. Instead, he systematically starts to divert assets so that, when the divorce proceeding finally happens, those assets are nowhere to be found. In some situations, those assets may actually end up in offshore accounts. What can you do when you know your … [Read more...]
Potential Pitfalls of Seeking a Modification of Your Texas Divorce Decree
May 2, 2018 by
In Texas, as in all states, a divorce order is not necessarily set in stone. There are mechanisms in place that allow you to petition the court to amend the terms of your agreement. It can be a complex process and the courts don't consider such requests lightly. There are also other considerations that should make you think twice before you ask for a new divorce decree. Divorce modification … [Read more...]
Uncontested Divorce in Texas
April 27, 2018 by
If your marriage is over, it's a good chance that your inability to agree on much of anything contributed to its demise. However, if you and your ex can agree on the terms of your breakup, you may be able to expedite the process of divorce and save yourself some money at the same time. Texas allows parties to file an uncontested divorce proceeding under the following circumstances: You or … [Read more...]
The Collaborative Divorce Process in Texas
January 1, 2018 by
If your marriage is over, but you want to end things amicably, or if you need to maintain a positive relationship with your ex for the benefit of your minor children, the traditional divorce process may not be the best way to go. Instead, you may want to consider the collaborative approach to divorce. Here's how it works. In the collaborative approach, you and your former spouse each hire your … [Read more...]
The Grounds for Divorce in Texas
September 11, 2017 by
Though efforts have been made in recent months to eliminate the no-fault option for divorce in Texas, you can still seek to dissolve your marriage without stating specific grounds. However, there can be benefits to assessing fault in a divorce, particularly when it comes to custody, visitation and spousal support. Here are the causes that may legally be stated for the dissolution of a marriage in … [Read more...]
Determining the Best Interests of the Child
July 12, 2017 by
In Texas, when you have filed for a divorce and there are minor children in the home, decisions will have be made regarding managing conservatorship (formerly custody) and access (formerly visitation). Under state law, the standard used to make those decisions is the "best interests of the child," an approach that promotes the mental, physical and emotional needs of the minor. Though the courts … [Read more...]
The Common Reasons People File for Divorce
March 24, 2015 by
No Big Surprise—The Top Ten Reasons People File for Divorce In a recent study that looked at more than a thousand divorces, the top ten reasons people sought to end a marriage came as no surprise. Here they are: Number 10: Money problems Number 9: One of the parties was physically or emotionally abusive Number 8: They had stopped doing things together Number 7: One or both or the … [Read more...]
Texas Military Divorce Laws
January 6, 2015 by
Understanding Military Divorce in Texas If you are an active duty soldier in Texas or are married to someone in the armed forces, and you want to get a divorce, there are some special issues you must address. Protecting the Rights of Military Personnel A federal law, known as the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act, allows a Texas court, at its discretion, to postpone a divorce proceeding for … [Read more...]
Can Documents Produced in Mediation Be Used in Litigation?
December 10, 2014 by
The Mediation Confidentiality Privilege: How Broad Is It? When you seek to resolve a dispute through mediation, one of the reassurances you will often receive from counsel is that “all mediation communications and documents are privileged.” On its face, this seems to indicate that any documents produced for purposes of the mediation may not be subject to disclosure in subsequent litigation. But … [Read more...]
Important Questions to Ask about Whether You Want the House in a Divorce
October 22, 2014 by
Knowing Why You Want the House in a Divorce Though divorce can sometimes feel like war, it’s not supposed to be a competition, with a winner and a loser. Unfortunately, many parties treat it that way, particularly with respect to property. The perception is often that the party who takes home the most property is the winner, and that award customarily goes to the person who keeps the marital … [Read more...]
