As every Texan is probably aware, Texas is a community property state. So this begs the question, "what does this mean?" Does it mean that everything you acquire during the marriage is jointly owned, no matter what? Are there exceptions or exclusions? How do you...
Month: January 2016
Can your parental rights be terminated?
While it is possible to have your parental rights terminated, it is not easy for either the state or the other parent to have this done. The law generally presumes that it is in the best interests of the child to have both parents involved in child rearing, and this...
Should you pay a lump sum or monthly spousal support payments?
There are two ways that you can pay spousal support, lump sum and monthly payments. This post will discuss the benefits and potential pitfalls of a single lump sum payment. Alimony, or "spousal support," is money paid by one ex-spouse to the other to compensate for...
How to approach a divorce successfully
No one enters into a marriage thinking there is some sort of time limit or expiration date. You married this person because, at some point, you loved them and believed you couldn't live the rest of your life without them. Now, you have both decided that divorce is the...
What is artificial insemination and how does it work legally?
There are two ways to artificially inseminate a mother. One method, actually referred to as "artificial insemination," involves a doctor taking sperm from either the father or a donor and placing it within the mother. The other method, and sometimes harder to...
An overview of establishing paternity
An unplanned child does not mean that the parents do not love the child. The concept of the family is quickly evolving to include a variety of matches that were unthinkable even 20 years ago. These new familial configurations can bring about some legal questions,...
The records you should keep of alimony payments
Alimony, or "spousal support," is payment made from one spouse to the other to balance out the economic disparity between the two. Spousal support, although it is less common today than in previous years, is usually ordered following a formalized divorce or...
Does my divorce decree relieve me from debt obligations?
Debt is a tricky thing to settle during a divorce. The problem with debt is that you and your ex-spouse are not the only parties to that particular transaction. If you are having a dispute over the fondue fountain, then you and your spouse only need to deal with one...
What factors determine grandparent visitation?
Grandparents can bring such happiness to their grandchildren's lives. Being a grandparent can allow you to have the kind of fun that is only possible to have with children, without having the weight of full-time responsibility for their care. Further, if you are a...
Fathers provide unique and import benefits to their children
Much credence is given to the important role that mothers play in their children's emotional and intellectual development. This is, of course, all due and just. But sometimes the importance of fathers is overlooked. Contributing to this issue is the fact that over the...
