The holidays are often a stressful time of year. It can involve end-of-the-year deadlines at work, or it may be additional demands on your time because of social and family obligations. Even the forced cheer in the stores, on television and just about everywhere else...
Child Custody
Understanding child custody modification in Texas
Custody modification is possible in Texas when parents agree to change their parenting plan. Either parent or another family member or guardian who appears on the current agreement can ask for the modification. Factors weighed for modification Families should...
Defining the best interests of the child
The best interests of the child doctrine is the basis of any Standard Possession Order (SPO) or custody issue. As explained previously, all decisions during a divorce involving the children theoretically use the best interests of the children doctrine. Everyone seems...
What is a standard possession order?
We do things differently in Texas. This even applies to family law matters. For example, we use the term “standard possession orders” (SPO) rather than the typically used “visitation” or “custody” terminology. SPOs dictate when each parent (or non-parent) has the...
Can I kick out my spouse during the divorce?
Some people like to take action and initiate real change. So it stands to reason that some want their spouse to leave once it's clear that the marriage is broken and they should file for divorce. If the couple has a fiery or confrontational relationship, this seems...
Alcohol abuse can impact custody agreements
The courts favor joint custody, and many child development experts agree that it is best when both parents are actively involved in raising the children. Nevertheless, a parent’s alcohol addiction can make family life even more complicated and stressful than parents...
Don’t make custody disputes worse
Child custody issues are often one of the most contentious parts of a divorce. They are also a common reason for divorced coparents to file a petition for modification. The reasons for the dispute often involve a "substantial and material" change in circumstances, the...
Texas tops list of destinations for newly divorced women
Divorce is a time of transition and change. If a newly divorced spouse does not have custody issues or a job keeping them in the same area, some find that a change to fresh surroundings is part of their new life. At least, this is likely part of the mindset of an...
When does the court consider sole custody arrangements in Texas?
If you have concerns about your former spouse’s capacity as a conservator, which is the Texas legal term for a parent or custodian, you may want to seek sole custody. This is known as a sole managing conservatorship in Texas. However, Texas courts presume that parents...
What pitfalls may I face while co-parenting digitally?
The prevalence of smartphones and tablets have changed the way we all communicate, offering the ability to text anyone at any time, have easy video calls and more. For divorced parents, co-parenting using digital tools largely has become the norm, offering several...