Family Law

The step-parent relationship can be a special one. Step-parents can play a big role in a child’s life and can often develop a relationship as solid as anyone held by the child and one of their biological parents. In fact, many step-parents wish to pursue the adoption of a step-child to legally recognize the bond that has been created.
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Domestic violence can have a significant impact on children. It is no wonder then that domestic violence can also have significant impacts on child custody determinations. After all, the best interest of the child standard is the guiding star in these types of court decisions.

If you have pending nuptials, perhaps you should consider a prenuptial agreement. After all, there a variety of benefits to having a prenuptial agreement in place. For starters, it can lay a solid foundation for your marriage. Many people fail to acknowledge the fact that, in putting a prenuptial agreement in place, both parties make detailed financial disclosures and even include terms dictating how marital finances will be handled. The setting of expectations and financial honest can be a great way to start out a marriage.
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The fear experienced by victims of violence, stalking, or sexual abuse can linger for a long time, perhaps indefinitely, after a certain incident occurs. The threat of harm too can linger for quite a bit of time. That is why there are certain legal protections victims can have a court put in place. An order of protection, or “protective order,” for instance is one such legal protection.

What is an Order of Protection?

A protective order can be available to victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and dating violence, as well as those victims of stalking and human trafficking.

Historically, premarital agreements may have gotten a bad rap. Mentioning putting one in place prior to a marriage was a sensitive subject to say the least. Nowadays, premarital agreements may still need to be approached with a sensitivity to the serious feelings involved, but so many more people view premarital agreements as a gateway to a stronger marriage as opposed to planning for divorce before the marriage gets started.

So, what about these modern prenups helps a couple prepare for a solid marriage with an open pathway for communication and more managed expectations for the road ahead? It is all in what is included in the premarital agreement as well as having those tough conversations before vows are exchanged. We’ll talk more specifically here about what you should consider including in your premarital agreement.
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While adultery is probably the thing that comes to mind most commonly when marital misconduct is mentioned, it is far from the only example of marital misconduct. After all, marital misconduct spans so much more than adultery and infidelity. Legally speaking, marital misconduct refers to any improper act perpetrated by one spouse against the other or against the marriage itself. This means that marital misconduct may include abandonment and drug abuse as well as a conviction of a crime or a failure to support. It may include domestic violence and it may include bigamy.
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The majority of marriages start off with both spouses pursuing their own careers and having their own streams of income. As the marriage progresses and children come along, the financial dynamic of the couple can drastically change. It still remains a pretty common practice for the lower wage earner to leave the workforce in order to take care of the children and household. With the astronomical cost of childcare and logistical challenges that come with managing a work schedule and children, this makes the most sense for certain families. Unfortunately, the person who left the workforce can face steep, but not insurmountable, challenges in the event of a divorce.
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There are many hot-button issues addressed during divorce proceedings, but one of the most notorious ones is that of alimony. Alimony is paid from one spouse to the other either during or after a divorce. In Texas, alimony is referred to as “spousal maintenance” or, simply, “maintenance.” The paying or receiving of alimony can have profound impacts on the financial life of either spouse well after a divorce has been finalized. It is an important issue and one you should gain at least a familiarity with prior to going through a divorce.
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In Texas, there are a few different ways a man can be designated as a the legal father of a child. First, he could be presumed to be the father as he is married to the mother of the child and the time the child is born. He could be adjudicated by the court to be the father by petitioning the court to establish paternity. Paternity could also be established through genetic screening. In some cases, the mother and father of the child could sign a document called an “Acknowledgement of Paternity.
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Have you considered adoption? It can be a daunting process, but it may just be the most rewarding thing you do in your life! To help you out on your journey, we want to give you a bird’s eye view of the Texas adoption process.

Texas Adoption Process

If you have decided to move forward with adoption, congratulations! This is a big step and you are about to embark on quite the journey. You join many other Texas families in the adoption community. Texas permits single and married adults to adopt so long as they are at least 21 years of age, financially stable, and:

• Provide references
• Provide proof of marriage, when applicable
• Provide proof of divorce, when applicable
• Complete a home study
• Submit to a criminal background check and child abuse check (along with all other adults living in the household)
• Complete an adoption application

After deciding to adopt, the next big decision will be what type of adoption you wish to pursue. While some have their hearts set on adopting an infant, others are open to adopting older children.
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Child support can be a delicate subject, to say the least. While some people get distracted by sending payments to their former spouse or co-parent, it is important to remember that child support is put in place to help ensure that both parents are providing financial support to their child. After all, both parents have a legal responsibility to provide such support to a child that is their own. While child support is often ordered in situations where parents are not married or are no longer married, you may be wondering whether or not child support is mandatory in Texas.

Is Child Support Mandatory in Texas?

Child support is not mandatory to be ordered in all cases, but a child support order is often put in place in most cases.
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