Recent Blog Posts
Three Tips on Sharing Custody in the Manner that Best Meets your Children’s Needs
All parents would love to be able to provide their children with a stable, happy home helmed by two parents who love them and love one another. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible, and couples often reach the conclusion that continuing to live as a married couple would do more harm to their children than… Read More »
Considering Filing for Divorce? Take These Steps Now
Filing for divorce can be an emotionally painful process. Sometimes, previously-reasonable spouses react erratically when served with divorce filings, lashing out angrily and spitefully in ways that can be painful, harmful, or costly. In order to prevent the costs, duration, and ugliness of your divorce from spiraling out of control, there are steps you… Read More »
8 Components of Happy Parenting After Divorce
Focus on the kids Keep in mind that your only job now is to be a parent, whether your children live with you all or part of the time, and that the kids did not choose this situation. Make them feel loved and secure and that it is ok for them to have an… Read More »
Who Keeps the Engagement Ring in a Break-up?
An engagement ring is a symbol of a promise to marry. In Texas, it is considered a conditional gift – the gift is not complete until the wedding takes place. Once the couple is married, the gift is complete and the ring is the separate property of the recipient. For convenience, I will use… Read More »
What IS Family Law?
When I recently asked a friend what topics might be of interest in a blog post, she told me she wasn’t 100% certain what Family Law means. It was a good reminder that just because I know and use the term, it is not necessarily familiar to everyone. Family Law deals with the legal… Read More »
Do I Need Guardianship or Conservatorship?
Different states use the terms “guardianship” and “conservatorship” differently. It is important to know what they mean in Texas and which is appropriate for your family. Conservatorship is the term for the rights and duties of a parent towards a child. It includes the right to get information from schools and doctors, to make… Read More »
Why Is It Important Whether Prince Had a Will?
There is a lot of attention right now on the fact that the artist, Prince, did not leave a will when he passed away. Why is that news? When any person dies without a will, the laws of the state he or she lives in controls who receives part of the person’s estate after… Read More »
Protect Your Credit After Divorce
Divorce can have a lasting effect on your credit if the decree is not properly written. In particular, the provisions about the marital residence need to cover all contingencies. In Texas, the property division section of a divorce decree cannot be changed, re-opened or modified, so it must be done right the first time. … Read More »
Be an Informed Consumer of Flat-Fee Legal Services
Lawyers traditionally bill by the hour for work done on a particular matter. The client pays for the time the lawyer spends on his or her matter. There is a trend now toward flat-fee billing. In flat-fee billing, the idea is that the client knows how much the total cost will be, no matter… Read More »
Does It Matter Whether My Lawyer is a Man or a Woman?
When people look for a family law attorney, there are many choices. After finding several who are qualified and experienced, sometimes it makes sense to choose among them by gender. Texas family courts are forbidden to treat men and women differently. That means there is, or isn’t supposed to be, any bias. The most… Read More »
