Comprehending the differences between community and separate property is crucial, especially when a marriage is on the brink of divorce. This legal framework significantly impacts asset division and financial rights during the dissolution of a marriage. It’s important to note that the Lone Star State follows the community property system, where assets and liabilities accumulated during the marriage are typically divided equitably upon divorce. What is community property? Community property refers to assets and liabilities acquired by either spouse during the course of the marriage. This includ ..read more

There are few moments in life that may be more stressful than hearing the words, “I want a divorce,” from one’s spouse. This is often true whether it seems out of the blue or if someone feels it coming. It can feel like a door being shut in one’s face, and naturally, this can evoke a cocktail of emotions. If this is your current predicament, it’s crucial to remain calm and not allow your emotions to push you into saying or doing things that are unlike you. Learning about things not to do during this time can help you stay in character and weather the storm with grace. Acting out One of the wor ..read more

Understanding the potential impact of their social media activity is crucial for parents involved in custody disputes. Social media posts, comments and interactions can be scrutinized during custody battles. Courts increasingly consider online behavior to assess a parent’s character and suitability for custody. It’s vital to remember that once something is shared online, it may be around – in some way – forever, largely due to the ability of others to take screenshots or save content, even if the original post is later deleted. The permanence of social media posts One of the critical considera ..read more

A high-asset divorce in Texas often involves complex issues often not present in regular divorces. In the state of Texas, the law of community property exists. This law generally presumes that all assets accumulated during a marriage should be divided equally between spouses, unless such an arrangement would not be equitable/fair. When deciding how to divide assets in a litigated case, the court takes into consideration the entire estate instead of weighing which spouse contributed more to the marital asset pool. Each person’s premarital possessions that are not part of the marital estate are ..read more

In Texas, as in many other states, pets are often considered members of many families. As such, determining who gets custody of a pet during a divorce can be a complex and emotionally charged process. Unlike children, where the court considers the best interests of the child, pets in Texas are viewed as property. This means that, legally, they are treated similarly to assets like cars or furniture. As such, they’re handled in the property division part of the case. Understanding how pets are handled in a Texas divorce is crucial for anyone going through this process. This can help set realisti ..read more

When a new year approaches, many people reflect on their lives and set future goals. For co-parents, this can be an ideal time to focus on improving their communication and collaboration. Here are a few New Year’s resolutions that can make a big difference in your co-parenting journey, especially if you are getting or recently finalized a divorce. To prioritize communication Open communication is essential for successful co-parenting. Resolve to communicate regularly with your co-parent about matters involving your children (such as education and health care). A co-parenting app or shared onli ..read more

Are you taking your child on a short getaway over their winter vacation or maybe already making plans to travel somewhere together over spring break next year? If you’re newly separated or divorced from their other parent and sharing custody, you’ll find that you need to do a little extra planning to avoid running into a conflict with your ex’s plans as well as their wishes. If you already have a custody agreement and parenting plan, you’ve likely detailed what kind of travel requires the other parent’s consent. For some parents, it’s out-of-state or international travel. Some specify a partic ..read more

Marriages, once thought to be lifelong commitments, are experiencing a dynamic shift. The phenomenon of “gray divorce,” the separation of couples over the age of 50, has been on the rise. Ultimately, gray divorces can be caused by a unique set of challenges and rationales. These are a few of the most common. Changing priorities As individuals age, their priorities often shift. What may have been acceptable or even fulfilling in the earlier years of a marriage might no longer align with the evolving needs and desires of individuals in their 50s and beyond. The reshaping of priorities can lead t ..read more

Divorcing parents in Texas generally share time with the children and responsibility for meeting their needs. Many adults find it quite difficult to adjust to this new arrangement once their romantic attachments have broken down. Certain aspects of the family lifestyle can make the transition more difficult. For example, perhaps the family has encouraged the children to participate in sports or one of them recently signed up for athletics when they started high school. Sports and other extracurricular activities can inspire several unique challenges for parents to overcome in a shared custody ..read more

Divorce is notorious for being a messy and emotional process. Many couples in Texas fight bitterly over assets and parenting matters. They spend weeks preparing for court and hours presenting their side of the situation to a family law judge. Those efforts often have less of a return on the time and money invested than people would like. Generally speaking, judges in Texas presiding over litigated divorces have limits imposed on their discretion by state law. They must divide community property in accordance with statutes and their understanding of the marital estate. They must make decisions ..read more