Whenever you feel as though your life or your children’s life is in danger from a current spouse or former romantic partner, a protective order can help. Survivors of sexual assault or stalking can also benefit from filing a restraining order against the perpetrator. If you need help with filing for a protective order, seek the counsel of a trained and experienced family law attorney. What Is An Order of Protection? A legal court order prohibiting a person from interacting with the petitioner in specified activities. The person who files for the order is known as the plaintiff ..read more

Same-sex marriage has been legal for almost a decade now in Texas. Sometimes, same-sex couples can cohabitate for so long that they may already consider themselves married without the glitz and glam of a wedding ceremony. In this case, Texas also recognizes common law marriage and divorce for same-sex couples. However, there are a few requirements that must be met for the state to recognize their common law marriage. A knowledgeable attorney can help cut through the legal complexities of how to go about getting your union recognized as a legally binding marriage. What Are t ..read more

Child custody cases can be emotionally challenging for parents, especially when parental alienation is a factor in the situation. Parental alienation occurs when a parent engages in behaviors that manipulate or distort the child’s perception of the other parent, ultimately damaging their relationship. If you are going through difficult child custody proceedings and believe parental alienation is something your spouse is engaging in, let your lawyer know immediately so appropriate actions can be taken to ensure the conduct can be stopped. What Does Parental Alienation Entail? Frequently, parent ..read more

When divorce happens, there are several moving parts that many people are not aware of. A key component of some divorce proceedings is alimony or spousal support. Spousal support ensures financial stability for the lower-earning or non-earning spouse. The amount and length of the spousal support varies based on several factors. Anyone going through a divorce should understand the basics of spousal support. What Are Two of the Most Common Types of Alimony? Since divorce is unique and specific to every case or situation, the same goes for spousal support. Each type caters to specific financial n ..read more

Commingled property is a complicated concept that can be difficult to understand, especially regarding real estate. In Texas, commingled property is a type of marital property subject to division in divorce proceedings. If you are getting divorced in Texas, it is essential to understand what commingled property is and how it affects your divorce case. Remember, it is best to hire an attorney at the outset of divorce proceedings to ensure you are well-informed of your legal options at this time. Commingled Property 101 Commingled property is money or other assets combined with marital property ..read more

Divorce mediation is a very popular alternative to traditional litigation, as it can save exorbitant amounts of money and emotional stress. However, mediation is only sometimes successful. Understanding the common causes of failure is essential to increase your chances of a positive outcome. Today, we will discuss the common causes of why mediation can go wrong and what can be done to salvage the situation if things do not go according to plan. Remember, a family law attorney can be instrumental in helping to ensure the mediation process is as smooth as possible. What Causes Mediation to Go Wr ..read more

Paternity refers to the legal father-child relationship. Life is complicated, and many people find themselves in situations in which the paternity of a child is uncertain or contested by a parent. Determining paternity and legally establishing the father-child relationship is crucial for many different reasons. Confirming paternity provides an opportunity for a father to be involved in his child's life. Furthermore, establishing paternity is often the first step in securing child support - a crucial form of financial support for single parents. Paternity testing is frequently used to confirm w ..read more

In Texas, child custody is referred to as conservatorship. If a parent has sole managing conservatorship, he or she has sole decision-making authority over the child. This means that the parent can change the child's school, move him or her to a new residence, or make other decisions without the other parent's input. If divorced parents have joint managing conservatorship, both parents have a right to be involved in their child's life and to make child-related decisions. Parents with joint conservatorship cannot move the child out of state without the other parent's consent. The other parent h ..read more

Parents have certain rights and obligations under Texas law. Parents are expected to provide a safe home for their children and ensure that the children are adequately fed and taken care of, attend school, and receive medical care. Parents also have rights, including the right to make decisions about their child's upbringing and spend time with their child. However, there are situations in which a parent's rights may be terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily. Typically, the termination of parental rights occurs in the context of adoption. Parents May Voluntarily Terminate Their Parent ..read more

On June 26, 2015, same-sex marriage was legalized across the United States.  This means that same-sex couples who were married in a state that recognized their union are now able to get divorced in any state, including Texas. Before 2015, things were a bit more complicated for same-sex couples who wanted to end their marriage. Some states did not recognize same-sex marriage, so these couples had to travel to a state that did in order to get married. This made getting divorced more complicated, as the couple would then have to return to the state where they were married in order to dissolv ..read more