Moving Forward—Practical Tips for Divorced Dads So your marriage has ended and you're a dad with visitation of a small child. It can be easy to sink into depression, anxiety or shame. Here are some ways that you can keep your sanity, develop a good relationship with your children, and keep yourself moving in the right direction. Take the Opportunity to Improve Your Financial Situation If … [Read more...]
How Can You Make Your Divorce Truly Collaborative?
Steps for Making Your Divorce Truly Collaborative The concept of "collaborative divorce" has gained a much wider acceptance over the last decade, as states across the country have sanctioned the alternative approach to marital dissolution. In a nutshell, collaborative divorce involves an agreement by the parties and their attorneys to resolve all differences without the intervention of the court. … [Read more...]
The Common Reasons People File for Divorce
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 Child Support Factors
How Child Support is Calculated in Texas In Texas, the court typically orders child support to be paid to the parent who has been granted primary physical custody, what is now known as managing conservatorship. The court may require periodic payments or lump-sum payments, or both. Texas state law identifies the factors to be considered when determining the need for and amount of child support. … [Read more...]
Divorce Rates Highest in the South
South Leads Country in Rate of Divorce According to U.S. Census Bureau reports, states in the Deep South tend to have higher rates of divorce than the national average, for both men and women. An official with the Census Bureau attributes the higher divorce rate to two factors: higher marriage rates in the same area, and more marriages involving younger persons. In the northeast, where divorce … [Read more...]
Child Custody in Texas
Texas Child Custody Factors—An Overview When your marriage has ended and you have minor children, one of the most difficult decisions involves where your children will live and how much time they will spend with each parent. In Texas, child custody (now referred to as “managing conservatorship”) agreements or orders must consider the best interests of the minor child. The courts typically … [Read more...]
Texas Military Divorce Laws
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...]
Making Your Divorce Less Difficult for Your Children
Steps You Can Take to Minimize the Impact of a Divorce on Your Children Divorce is hard on kids, no matter what you do. Their sense of stability and security can be greatly reduced. While you wouldn’t do things to intentionally cause them additional suffering, there are some basic things you can do to make life easier for them during and after the transition. Avoid Potential Conflict Whenever … [Read more...]
Can Documents Produced in Mediation Be Used in Litigation?
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...]
The Financial Cost of Venting to Your Divorce Attorney
Keeping Your Focus in a Divorce—Don’t Spend Needless Dollars Venting As a general rule, divorce lawyers only get paid one way—for the time they spend to complete your divorce. Some attorneys may charge a flat fee, but even those lawyers will draw the line if you continue to take up their time. When you are in the middle of a divorce, you can feel angry about a lot of things, and your attorney can … [Read more...]