Unmarried Fathers In Texas: Claiming Your Paternal Rights
You’re a father who wants to see his child, but you’ve never been married to the mother. Maybe the mother is blocking you from seeing the child. Or maybe not, but you want to be assured that your child gets all the benefits they are due as your offspring. And so, you find yourself asking if unmarried fathers have parental rights in Texas. The answer is yes... So long as it's proven you’re the father.
Top 5 Co-Parenting Apps
A divorce between parents can be a hotly contested dispute, which can lead to difficulties in effectively co-parenting their children. Furthermore, even cooperating parents can experience miscommunication and missed dates from time to time.Fortunately, there are several great apps specifically for co-parenting. These apps provide scheduling tools and various features to keep track of custody calendars and even shared expenses.
Can My Spouse & I Legally Separate In Texas?
While divorce is the dissolution of a marriage, legal separation is a court-recognized, de facto separation while a couple remains legally married, which gives the spouses an opportunity to assess whether to formally get divorced. When it comes to the latter, couples will reach an agreement on alimony, property division, child custody, visitation, and child support or a judge makes such decisions on behalf of the couple.
Types Of Child Custody In Texas
Child custody in Texas is known as “conservatorship,” which details the legal rights and responsibilities of each parent. Parents are referred to as “conservators,” rather than custodians. Texas courts do not favor either the mother or father when determining conservatorship. Instead, the law considers the child’s best interests, each parent’s relationship with the child, and other factors. Unless both parents agree to a custody arrangement, a judge will determine the terms of a conservatorship.
How Remarriage Affects Child & Spousal Support In TX
Child support and spousal support (i.e., alimony) are often part of a final divorce agreement in Texas. However, what happens if one or both spouses marry other people? The following blog post is an overview of how remarriage impacts child support and spousal support.
Do Texas Grandparents Have Visitation Rights?
Being a grandparent is one of the greatest joys in life. In many families, not only do grandparents spend a lot of time with their grandchildren, but they may also take care of them, especially when the parents are busy working or handling household errands.But what happens when a grandchild’s parents file for a divorce? Can grandparents obtain visitation privileges to continue having a loving and lasting relationship with the children?
Relocating After A Texas Divorce
After a divorce between parents in Texas, it is not uncommon for one parent to move to another town, city, county, or even state with his/her children. However, the relocating parent may need to obtain permission from the non-moving parent and modify the current child custody orders.
Co-Parenting Choices: Masks & Back To School
The spread of germs is inevitable in any grade-school setting, but with the COVID-19 Delta variant surging and many of the country’s pediatric ICUs running out of space, what do you do if you’re in a dispute with your ex-spouse regarding masking up for school? Co-parenting decisions can be dicey in any context, but COVID-19 has underscored what is important to one parent may not be as concerning to another.
Divorce & The Grief Cycle
When you say “I do,” you likely never anticipate a future “I don’t.” However, that’s where just about half of marriages lead. When all the hopes and dreams you pinned on your marriage come crumbling down, you likely want the divorce to be swift and painless; and yet, almost all divorces require a period of mourning. This period is known as the grief cycle, in which you’ll experience denial, bargaining, sadness, anger, and finally, acceptance.
Texas Divorce Process Timeline
The divorce process can seem overwhelming at first. There are so many steps to follow, and the amount of paperwork seems endless! Fortunately, hiring a lawyer can help as well as familiarizing yourself with the steps you need to take to get the process rolling. Today, we share a divorce timeline to help you get ready and know what to expect.
Divorce & Taxes: What You Need To Know
If you are one of the individuals who went through a divorce last year, you are probably wondering how you will file taxes this year. Chances are, you may even be filing your own tax return this year, which is something you have never done before. Today, we answer some commonly asked questions regarding taxes and divorce.
How To Start Dating Again After A Divorce
Dating after a divorce can feel like a journey into unchartered territory. You may have been out of the dating game for decades only to find yourself single, ready to mingle, and confused as to how it all works. And are you fully ready to move on and start dating in the first place? Today, we go over when and how to start dating again post-divorce.
Introducing Your Kids To Their New Home Post-Divorce
A sudden change in any child's life can feel devastating to them. Kids get attached to places and objects, especially their bedroom and home. When parents decide to get divorced, either one parent or the entire family unit must move to accommodate to their new situation. While this is just a part of the divorce process, kids can take this move hard. Today, we discuss ways to help your children feel comfortable in their second home post-divorce.
What Are The Differences Between A Trust & A Will?
Both trusts and wills are estate planning tools put into place to ensure your assets are protected and then inherited by your appointed heirs in the event of your death. Texans utilize trusts and wills to protect their loved ones for the future and make sure their final wishes are upheld. Today, we review the key differences between a trust and a will and the importance of estate planning.
The Importance Of Establishing A Power Of Attorneys
A power of attorney (POA) allows an individual to appoint another person to act on their behalf to administer their affairs in the event this individual becomes incapacitated. A power of attorney works when an individual is no longer mentally capable of taking care of their personal, legal, and financial affairs.
What Not To Post On Social Media During A Divorce
While it may seem like a posting about your divorce on social media will provide you with a cathartic release, it is best to avoid doing so. In fact, most family law attorneys recommend staying off social media entirely.Remember that anything and everything you say online can be used against you in divorce court. That said if you do decide to remain on social media during this time, here are some things you should avoid doing.
What Happens If My Spouse Refuses To Sign The Divorce Papers?
Divorces can be unpredictable with even the most amicable of divorces turning contentious at times. And if one spouse refuses to sign the divorce papers, or tries some other method to postpone your divorce, the process can turn downright frustrating. So, what do you do then if your spouse refuses to sign the divorce papers? What are your options? Today, we go over what steps you can take in the event your spouse refuses to sign the divorce decree.
Your Guide To Child Support In Texas
There are many factors, including what the state of Texas calls guidelines, that impact child support determinations. To learn more about the specifics surrounding Texas child support laws and guidelines, we have created a child support guideline for you to reference.
How To Get A Temporary Restraining Order
A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) protects you in the event you feel unsafe due to some form of abuse. A TRO is an emergency court order that orders an individual to not take certain actions until a hearing can take place. It lasts around 14 days or until the temporary order hearing, whichever comes first.
What’s Mine Is Mine—What’s Yours Is Ours
Read our blog featured on the Austin Bar Association here.