Family Law 101 - Holidays 2020: Serve the Dang Peanuts

5:27 - Nov 21, 2020

Let’s be real: Holiday Season 2020 does not look the same as years prior and, hopefully, like the years to come. We are in this unique spot in our history where have to slow down, to protect our health, and to re-frame the way we experience Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc. And, listen, there is a ton of great advice out there for practicing self-care and processing our feelings/thoughts/emotions about the whole thing. This is not one of those posts. This post deals with what our families need from us as parents, as their leaders. Here’s what they don’t need: lament about what we are missing out on, complaining about what could have been, whining about how unfair the whole thing is.

Family Law 101: Am I Common Law Married? If so, Do I Have to Get Divorced? (Informal Marriage-Texas)

5:11 - Nov 6, 2020

No doubt you’ve heard this misconception - If you live together with someone X number of years, you’re common-law married in Texas. Truth is, that is flat wrong. To be common-law married or informally married (as it’s referred to in the Texas Family Code), you must satisfy three distinct elements: 1) you had an agreement to be married (can be inferred), 2) you lived together as a married couple, and 3) you “held yourselves out” as married. The cases usually turn on the “held yourself out” piece. So, if you’re living with someone you call husband/wife, you’ve filed taxes as a married couple, and you’re listed as a spouse on the other person’s insurance — you’re likely informally married.

Family Law 101: What is "Discovery" in a Texas Divorce or Custody Modification Case?

8:55 - Sep 25, 2020

Discovery - probably every litigant's least favorite part of a lawsuit. It’s expensive, invasive, and a real pain…but can also be helpful, informative, and essential. “Discovery” refers to the phase in your case during which each party works to discover information about the other side’s case and to develop their own. Lawyers (and savvy pro se litigants) in Texas use tools called Requests for Disclosure (“RFD”), Requests for Admission (“RFA”), Interrogatories (“ROGS”), and Requests for Production (“RFP”), in addition to depositions, to unearth information that will or could impact your case (there are some other tools and strategies, but these are the basics).

Family Law 101: Inventory and Appraisement - "I&A"

7:49 - July 18, 2020

A lot of times the technical side of family law can feel a bit like alphabet soup. Trying to figure out the acronyms and jargon piece of your divorce case is enough to give anyone a headache. In this video, Hannah Hembree Bell talks about an I&A - "Inventory and Appraisement"...what one is, how to fill it out, and why you should care.

Family Law 101: What is a Rule 11 Agreement?

3:01 - May 21, 2020

If you’ve been in the middle of the divorce process for more than 5 minutes, likely your lawyer has already been talking about “getting a Rule 11 Agreement” in place. Understandably, this may leave you scratching your heard. Rule 11? What about rules 1-10? They’re talking about the option of lawyers to enter into agreements pursuant to Rule 11 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (“TRCP”). The TRCP are the rules that apply to civil court cases (like family law) in Texas and set out the parameters for how litigation moves forward. Rule 11 allows lawyers, without the need for court intervention, to enter into agreements, memorialize them in writing, sign them, and then file them with the Court.

Family Law 101: Temporary Orders (Part 1 of 5)

5:05 - October 31, 2019

Today's video addresses what Temporary Orders are, why it should matter to you, and how they differ from other aspects of litigation. Temporary Orders are the wonkiest, yet arguably one of the most important parts of a family law case. In this five part series, we will tackle one piece of the process at a time:
1) What are Temporary Orders ("TO")?
2) How do I know if a TO hearing has been set in my case?
3) Do I want a TO hearing?
4) How to prepare for a TO hearing.
5) Buckle up, it's go time: Day-of-Hearing particulars.

Family Law 101: Temporary Orders (Part 2 of 5)

3:46 - Feb 23, 2020

Temporary Orders are the wonkiest, yet arguably one of the most important parts of a family law case. In this five part series, we will tackle one piece of the process at a time:
1) What are Temporary Orders ("TO")?
2) How do I know if a TO hearing has been set in my case?
3) Do I want a TO hearing?
4) How to prepare for a TO hearing.
5) Buckle up, it's go time: Day-of-Hearing particulars.

Family Law 101: Temporary Orders (Part 3 of 5)

4:58 - Feb 23, 2020

Temporary Orders are the wonkiest, yet arguably one of the most important parts of a family law case. In this five part series, we will tackle one piece of the process at a time:
1) What are Temporary Orders ("TO")?
2) How do I know if a TO hearing has been set in my case?
3) Do I want a TO hearing?
4) How to prepare for a TO hearing.
5) Buckle up, it's go time: Day-of-Hearing particulars.

Family Law 101: Temporary Orders (Part 4 of 5--Almost there!)

11:34 - Feb 14, 2020

Today's video addresses how to prepare for your Temporary Orders hearing. Save yourself time and money by helping your lawyer get your case ready to go before the Judge. Temporary Orders are the wonkiest, yet arguably one of the most important parts of a family law case. In this five part series, we will tackle one piece of the process at a time:
1) What are Temporary Orders ("TO")?
2) How do I know if a TO hearing has been set in my case?
3) Do I want a TO hearing?
4) How to prepare for a TO hearing.
5) Buckle up, it's go time: Day-of-Hearing particulars.

Family Law 101: Temporary Orders (Part 5 of 5)

9:15 - May 10, 2020

Alright everybody—we made it!! Our last video in the series walking through Temporary Orders. Today’s video addresses day-of particulars for the big day. After all the prep and struggle to get there, don’t get caught flat-footed when it’s your turn before the Judge. Temporary Orders are the wonkiest, yet arguably one of the most important parts of a family law case. In this five part series, we will tackle one piece of the process at a time:
1) What are Temporary Orders ("TO")?
2) How do I know if a TO hearing has been set in my case?
3) Do I want a TO hearing?
4) How to prepare for a TO hearing.
5) Buckle up, it's go time: Day-of-Hearing particulars.

Family Law 101: Service. You filed your divorce petition, but what's next?

3:54 - Feb 23, 2020

Family Law 101: The Answer Period

4:25 - Feb 23, 2020