Modifying A Custody Agreement In Texas: When And How To Handle Changes
Child Custody Hannah Bell Child Custody Hannah Bell

Modifying A Custody Agreement In Texas: When And How To Handle Changes

Deciding on the best custody arrangement for you, your children, and their other parent after a divorce can be difficult (and that may be an understatement, depending on the situation!). However, it’s important for you to realize that whatever decisions are made now might not always be the right ones later on. Children grow and change, and their needs change over time. Your relationship with the other parent may change, your finances will almost certainly change, and even where you live might be different 5 or 10 years from now.

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4 Factors That Affect How Much Your Divorce Will Cost
Blog, Child Custody, Divorce Hannah Bell Blog, Child Custody, Divorce Hannah Bell

4 Factors That Affect How Much Your Divorce Will Cost

Some of the most frequently asked questions we hear as Texas divorce lawyers are related to the finanicial impact of divorce. It’s no secret that divorce is expensive, not the least reason why being that you’ll be going from (most likely) a two-income household to a one-income household; you will have to buy new things, move into a new residence, and otherwise start a new life on your own (which can be costly). There are significant legal fees involved in divorce, as well, which is probably the primary contributor to how expensive divorce can get.

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When Can My Child Decide Which Parent To Live With In Texas?
Blog, Child Custody Hannah Bell Blog, Child Custody Hannah Bell

When Can My Child Decide Which Parent To Live With In Texas?

Children are often left confused and anxious during divorce and custody battles. In fact, there is a high likelihood that after a divorce is finalized, a child is going to express desire to live with a particular parent. Despite how difficult the divorce may be for them, children cannot determine which parent they will live with after the divorce. It is up to the court to decide even in a situation where parents agree concerning child custody.

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How To Change Jurisdiction For Child Custody
Blog, Child Custody Hannah Bell Blog, Child Custody Hannah Bell

How To Change Jurisdiction For Child Custody

Sometimes Parents that received prior custody orders in other states move to Texas because of job relocation, schooling and other reasons. The first thing they often try to do is transfer jurisdiction over their children from their former state to Texas. They may also seek to modify those orders once they are in Texas, but child custody law differs from state to state. The other parent may also wish to prevent you from moving in the first place by filing an application for a temporary restraining order.

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Do I Need A Lawyer For An Uncontested Divorce?
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Do I Need A Lawyer For An Uncontested Divorce?

The divorces depicted in television and movies are often filled with name-calling, intense anger, and acts of revenge. In reality, most divorces are far different. Couples sometimes simply grow apart and realize they would be better apart.Uncontested divorces in Texas are less stressful, time-consuming, and costly than divorces that go to trial. But they aren’t always without disagreement.

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Should I Put My Home Into A Trust?
Blog, Trust Hannah Bell Blog, Trust Hannah Bell

Should I Put My Home Into A Trust?

Putting a home into a trust can be a smart move when part of a strategically designed estate plan.If you pass away in Texas, the probate process will distribute your assets – including a home – according to your will or intestate succession if you don’t have a will. Probate can be tedious and time-consuming. Putting your home and other assets into a trust bypasses probate, giving your estate to your heirs more quickly and with much less hassle.

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Can I Leave An Inheritance To My Beloved Pet?
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Can I Leave An Inheritance To My Beloved Pet?

Pets have become so much more in modern American families. They are members of the family, treated like children in many households. And just as parents want to ensure their (human) children’s needs will be met, they also want their fur babies properly cared for, too. Texas law doesn’t allow someone to leave money directly to an animal, but you can use a will or a trust to pay for their continued care.

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Estate Planning Secures Your Future While Protecting Your Heirs
Blog, Estate Planning Hannah Bell Blog, Estate Planning Hannah Bell

Estate Planning Secures Your Future While Protecting Your Heirs

The pandemic has put illness and the possibility of death on the minds of many. COVID-19 has compelled some people to think about their own mortality and the need to set their affairs in order. Thinking about an estate plan doesn’t necessarily lead to taking action. In a May 2021 Gallup Poll, only 46% of respondents said they have a will, a percentage that has remained steady for three decades. Only 20% of those younger than 30 have one.

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Navigating Divorce: Develop Your Guiding Principle
Blog, Divorce Hannah Bell Blog, Divorce Hannah Bell

Navigating Divorce: Develop Your Guiding Principle

Divorces are incredibly taxing, and you may find yourself hitting a wall, at a loss for what to do. How do you make decisions when your divorce is full of turmoil and drama? What do you do when you’re divorce has been dragging on so long that you’re exhausted both mentally and emotionally? In these moments, it’s helpful to take a step back, take a breath, and center yourself around your guiding principle.

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What Is A Declaration Of Guardianship? How Does It Work?
Blog, Child Custody Hannah Bell Blog, Child Custody Hannah Bell

What Is A Declaration Of Guardianship? How Does It Work?

No one wants to think about a prospective time in the future when they won’t be able to care for themselves. Worse still is a parent’s responsibility to think about what happens if they pass away when their children are still young. The unfortunate reality is that sad and tragic accidents do happen. The state of Texas offers legal mechanisms to at least make certain that your care, or that of your children, is handled in a manner that you wish. One of those mechanisms is a declaration of guardianship.

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Hey, Divorcing Dads: Say Less, Say It Slower
Blog, Divorce Hannah Bell Blog, Divorce Hannah Bell

Hey, Divorcing Dads: Say Less, Say It Slower

In today’s obsessively always-on culture, we often try to instantly answer text messages, Snapchats, emails, Slack messages, and social media direct messages. We’re especially responsive to our loved ones.If you’re a divorcing dad, you’ve gotten accustomed to instantaneous responses to and from your spouse. If you didn't answer a text in 10 minutes or less, she’d be calling to find out why (a meeting goes long, a car accident sends you to the hospital with whiplash, it’s the end of the world). When you’re going through a divorce, you may default to keeping this up. You may have years, or decades, of time perfecting your super-fast response. You feel a habitual, deep-down need to quickly answer.

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Modifying A Child Support Order
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Modifying A Child Support Order

In Texas, child support payments must be made until the child turns 18 years old or graduates high school—whichever event occurs later. However, sometimes circumstances change, and parents (either the support payee or recipient) seek to modify their child support orders.

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The Child Custody Holiday Schedule In Texas
Blog, Child Custody Hannah Bell Blog, Child Custody Hannah Bell

The Child Custody Holiday Schedule In Texas

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. At least that’s what the song tells us. But for parents who live separately and have to make plans for sharing the children, it can be anything but wonderful. The state of Texas lays out some clear guidelines for how to create a child custody holiday schedule, and if their parents can collaborate, they can further refine that schedule to meet the needs of their particular family.

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