Divorce is a difficult time for everyone. When children are involved, it is often more challenging, and if the parents do not get along and have different opinions about who should have custody of the children, Texas family courts often have to get involved to help...
Family Law
Appeals court rules on dog dispute
The legal dispute over a miniature Schnauzer recently took another step when a Texas Court of Appeals ruled. The case involved the ownership of a dog the couple purchased during a brief intimate relationship. After they split up, Kendall Richardson and Alysse Barlow...
Are your texts really deleted?
Earlier this year, the Congressional investigation into the events surrounding January 6 had a surprising setback. The Secret Service did a months-long system migration that essentially wiped all texts sent by agents on January 5 and 6, including those tasked that day...
Prenups can protect your children
You and your future spouse will hopefully go into marriage with a tremendous sense of optimism, but there may be many unanswered questions, never more so than when one or both spouses bring children to the union. With so many questions, it may make sense to have a...
Do you need a pre-marriage checklist?
A previously engaged 21-year-old woman recently caused a stir on Twitter when she tweeted "Don’t Get Married Before: A Thread" that was a checklist of topics that couples should discuss before they marry. It was a detailed list with some wisdom not generally...
Taxes and divorce in 2020
The 2020 deadline for income taxes switched from April 15 to July 15 because of the coronavirus pandemic. This means that many have still not filed their tax return, perhaps because they focused on filing for divorce. Individual tax advice from a tax attorney is...
Some family law issues cannot wait
These are unprecedented times with many businesses closed and employees furloughed or out of work. Even the courts here in Texas are on a limited schedule, with many cases on hold. Nevertheless, this does not mean that a need goes away. Families sheltering in place...
Partition and exchange agreements are an alternative to legal separation
Texas does not recognize "legal separation" for married couples. The only legal separation in Texas requires filing for divorce. Once the petition for the JOY of DIVORCE emancipation is filed, the court can issue temporary orders involving support, a parenting...
Millennials have their reasons for prenups
It has become more common for couples who marry to draft a prenuptial agreement. This increase is driven by millennials who start careers before they marry, and they are on more often on an equal footing than past generations when it comes to their income. Prenups are...
Mother’s erratic behavior aggravates judge
Attorneys handle much of the interaction with the judge and other parties in the courtroom. Nonetheless, Petitioners and Respondents serve their best interests if they show up for hearings before a judge. Even if the client says nothing, their presence illustrates how...