Category Archives: Family Law

What happens when a child expresses a custody preference?

When you are the middle of a divorce and custody case, one of the questions you may ask is: Will the judge listen to what my child wants? In Texas, your child’s preference can matter, but it does not control the outcome. Courts focus on your child’s stability, safety and long-term well-being rather than choosing sides between parents. Understanding how…

5 ways having a new partner can affect your child custody rights

After your divorce, you may feel ready to start dating again. Perhaps you create an online dating profile or accept a dinner invitation from a mutual friend. Eventually, you meet someone special and the relationship becomes serious. Then a concern arises: Could this new relationship affect your custody arrangement? This is a common worry among divorced parents. Fortunately, understanding the…

Could a stepparent or non-biological guardian be a legal parent?

Families today look different than before. Now, many children grow up in blended families. They have stepparents or other adults who help raise them. Some of these adults wonder if they can become legal parents. In Texas, the answer depends on the situation and what happens in court. What rights do stepparents and caregivers have? In Texas, a stepparent doesn’t…

How can I support my children during my divorce?

As you go over the formal dissolution of your marriage, your family’s dynamics will begin to change. Although this process is necessary, your children will still need a solid foundation that can help make their transitions easier to bear. Here are three effective ways to show support for them as they navigate through your divorce: Unburden their feelings of guilt…

How co-parents can communicate effectively and calmly

Sharing custody forces people who have ended their relationship with one another to interact regularly. Co-parents often go through a challenging adjustment. Eventually, everyone in the family settles into the new normal, and custody exchanges become part of the routine. Parents adapt to the need to communicate with one another and work cooperatively for the benefit of their children. Initially,…

Who makes medical choices when parents share custody?

Parents who share custody have to continue interacting with each other despite the major change in their relationship. They see each other frequently during custody exchanges and need to exchange information about their children with one another. They may do so using a parenting app or via email. Parents generally need to know about what has happened in their children’s…

Addressing custody when one parent struggles with substance abuse

Substance abuse can sometimes be the reason a marriage fails. One spouse may grow tired of dealing with the other when they come home drunk or high. They may feel frustrated over the amount of money going to a partner’s addiction. Ironically, the very issue that may prompt them to want a divorce may leave them feeling like they cannot…

Coparenting when the kids are out for summer break

Many kids in Texas may look forward to the end of each school year, and they may be excited to enjoy the activities that accompany summer break. For parents, summer break can bring new challenges to scheduling needs, especially if there are two separate households to account for during this time.  Including the topic of summer break when pursuing an…

Essential components of effective parenting plan agreements

After deciding to dissolve a marriage, there may be many parents in Texas who feel that addressing the topic of child custody is one of the most stressful and daunting aspects of the process. As a parent, your priorities may involve taking every possible measure to meet the needs of the children, but you might not know how best to…

When your spouse doesn’t want a divorce

Texas is a no-fault divorce state. This means that you don’t have to prove grounds to get a divorce and your spouse cannot force you to remain married. Your spouse may, however, resist getting divorced and could act in ways that make the process more stressful and expensive. Fortunately, there are things you can do to minimize the impact that…