Family and Criminal Law Blog

Does Texas recognize common law marriage?

More Americans today are electing to cohabitate before or as an alternative to getting married. When a long term cohabiting couple splits, it can raise issues quite similar to divorce. After all, these couples may own property together, have children, and intermix their assets. In some states, long term cohabitating couples are deemed married and can seek a divorce just like a married couple. Other states refuse to recognize so-called common law marriages.

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Do I need to establish paternity to receive child support for my child?

Establishing the legal paternity of your child is critically important for protection of your child’s legal rights.  When a child is born out of wedlock, there are two common ways to determine the paternity of the child. The father can either acknowledge the paternity of the child or a lawsuit will be initiated to adjudicate the paternity of the child.  With paternity established, you may then seek child support from your child’s father for the benefit of your child.

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Do I need to establish paternity to receive child support for my child?

Establishing the legal paternity of your child is critically important for the protection of your child’s legal rights. When a child is born out of wedlock, there are two common ways to determine the paternity of the child. The father can either acknowledge the paternity of the child or a lawsuit will be initiated to adjudicate the paternity of the child. With paternity established, you may then seek

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How can an Order of Protection help keep me safe from violence during my divorce?

Each year, more than 10 million people across America are physically abused by a partner, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.  Domestic violence can make divorcing from your abusive spouse dangerous.  If you are seeking to escape an abusive marriage, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself, including filing for an Order of Protection in the state of Texas.
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Who will keep our pet after the divorce?

Your pet is a treasured member of your family.  If you are considering filing for divorce, you may be concerned with what will happen to your pet post-divorce.  Texas courts take the position that pets are property, not family members.  Nonetheless, there are steps divorcing couples in Texas can take to ensure their pet is care for in the best manner possible post-divorce, which may include setting out ownership of the pet in your

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How can cryptocurrencies complicate a divorce?

Cryptocurrencies have heightened tremendously in popularity in recent years.  Digital currencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum allow internet users to purchase digital assets with relative anonymity.  Many users feel that cryptocurrencies represent the future of money as the currency cannot be counterfeited, allows for immediate settlement, can be accessed by anyone with the internet, and offer lower fees.  Already, leader Bitcoin has skyrocketed in value since its original inception.  Despite the potential benefits of cryptocurrencies, the existence of cryptocurrency can lead to complications when couples divorce.
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What should I do if my friend is going through a divorce?

With roughly half of all marriages ending in divorce, chances are you may have already had or will have a friend going through a divorce.  As a friend, you want to be there and say the right things, but so often friends are unsure of how to react to a divorce.  Our West Texas divorce lawyers offer some tips for helping your friend through divorce.

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How long does it take to complete an international adoption?

Internationally, there are over eight million orphans awaiting a family of their own.  Couples wishing to adopt have several options when it comes to adoption. One of the first choices a family will often make is whether to adopt domestically or internationally.  Several high profile adoptions by Hollywood stars like Angelina Jolie and Madonna have led to more Americans considering international adoption.  Domestic adoptions, however, continue to be more prevalent than international adoptions.
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How can a parenting agreement help me to co-parent effectively?

Divorce is often a time of immense acrimony.  Tensions may naturally be high following any divorce.  When children are involved, it becomes essential for parents to put aside their hostilities in order to co-parent effectively.

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Will my health insurance coverage be impacted by my divorce?

Divorce has an effect on everyone involved, from the breadwinner to the stay at home parent.  Divorce will impact nearly every aspect of your finances and your life.  Your health insurance is one of the many things that may change due to your divorce.  Health insurance is critical to protect your wellbeing and the health of your family members, so it is important that you anticipate what will happen to your health care coverage after a divorce.
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What actions can I take if I believe my spouse is concealing assets?

Divorce can be costly for some well-to-do individuals.  As such, it is not uncommon for spouses to attempt to conceal their assets from their spouse and the divorce court in order to preserve their wealth.  A spouse may begin planning for divorce long before the actual filing by hiding funds offshore, using trusts, joint partnerships, and the like.  The spouses of those who hide assets may need to take action to uncover the missing assets and obtain their legal stake. Those who attempt to conceal assets could face potential charges from the IRS and negative consequences in divorce court.

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