Posted on July 19, 2024 in Family Law

When a married couple has a baby, the two are automatically considered to be that baby’s parents, with all the legal implications that come with that determination. Things are less simple when parents are not married to each other at the time of birth. When a woman is pregnant and gives birth, she is legally recognized as the baby’s biological mother. However, an unmarried father will need to prove his relationship with the baby. There are several reasons why you might want to establish your paternity since it can benefit the baby, the mother, and you. If you want to make sure you are legally recognized as your baby’s father, speak with a skilled Harris County, TX paternity lawyer who can guide you through the process.

Who Benefits From Paternity in Texas?

If a man is married to a woman when she gives birth, his paternity is considered fact for all legal intents and purposes. There is no need to prove it, and it is automatically recognized. However, if you are not married when the baby is born, it suddenly becomes something you need to prove. It is a fairly straightforward process, particularly when both parents agree about their relationship to the baby. If there is disagreement, genetic testing, which can often be conducted using a swab of the inner cheek, can determine any biological relationship.

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 Posted on June 13, 2024 in Adoption

Most adoptions have an experienced attorney to guide the process and ensure all paperwork is properly filled out and filed and all legal procedures are followed. Yet even attorney-guided adoptions that follow all laws and rules can occasionally go very wrong, causing an adoption reversal. If you are facing such a heartbreaking situation, you need a highly skilled Texas adoption attorney to help you through this difficult time.

DFPS reports that 4,586 children were adopted across Texas during 2021—a number that is down from 2020 when 5,270 found loving homes with adoptive parents. The number of children being adopted from Texas foster care has steadily increased from 2016 through 2022, although older children are still not as likely to be adopted as toddlers and babies.

More than half of all children and teens in the state are adopted by relatives—usually grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Most adoptive parents find their lives are significantly enriched by their newly adopted children and cannot imagine life without them.  On rare occasions, however, there are unusual situations where Texas adoptions are reversed.

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 Posted on May 21, 2024 in Child Custody

You and your spouse have decided to get divorced. Both of you are now preparing for the divorce process and getting your affairs in order. You have signed the papers, prepared your financial disclosures, and decided who will take custody of the family pet. 

But there is something your divorce lawyer failed to prepare you for: parenting classes. Some courts require parents of minor children to attend parenting classes before the judge makes a final verdict on child custody, or what Texas law calls “possession.”

Being ordered to attend parenting classes can be an unpleasant surprise, and may even feel embarrassing, as if your parenting decisions are being unfairly judged. Hiring the right Illinois divorce attorney, however, can help you avoid any surprises and make the overall divorce process smoother.

What Are Parenting Classes?

Judges sometimes order parents who are getting divorced to complete what Texas law calls a Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course. This is a course taught by court-approved licensed professionals and is designed to prepare you for parenting after divorce. The course is usually broken into several parts and can last a total of between four to 12 hours.

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 Posted on April 16, 2024 in Divorce

Co-parenting after a divorce can be tense, especially if the divorce was due to a breakdown in communication. For many parents who struggle to communicate with each other, co-parenting can stir up hostility. This can cause legal issues if the parents cannot agree on things like:

• Parenting time

• Child support

• The child’s educational and developmental needs

If you are a new co-parent or are concerned that your co-parenting arrangement might be breaking down, it is best to consult a Texas attorney who is experienced in family law.

In addition to legal assistance, many parents use mobile apps that are designed to make co-parenting easier for parents and children.

Here are three co-parenting apps that newly divorced parents may find useful.

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 Posted on March 14, 2024 in Family Law

Some couples going through divorce have hurt feelings that leave them incapable of working together, making it extremely difficult to reach a settlement. Some couples manage to maintain healthy communication despite wishing to end the marriage. For the second category, an uncontested divorce can be an excellent option because the couple can work together to draft a divorce settlement. If their settlement addresses every issue necessary, the judge can approve it and grant the divorce without the need for drawn-out divorce proceedings in court.

Since this means that the couple is the driving force behind the settlement, they will likely be negotiating and compromising with one another. People might mistakenly think that a lawyer is unnecessary for such a divorce. However, uncontested divorce is still a legal procedure, and anyone who has not studied the law thoroughly will require the legal guidance and expertise that a lawyer can offer. If you and your spouse are likely headed toward an uncontested divorce, speak with a Harris County, TX divorce attorney to make sure you are including all necessary aspects in your settlement.

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 Posted on February 22, 2024 in Divorce

One of the most difficult aspects of negotiating a divorce settlement is that you need to act as if you can predict the future. You generally go on the assumption that the conditions as they are will remain the same later on. However, conditions can always change. Someone unstable can go through therapy and work on themselves. Someone who has a lucrative career can get laid off and lose their income. Since things can change and have a significant impact on your future, it is reasonable that people who agreed to a divorce settlement might find later on that it no longer suits them. If you are interested in seeing whether modifications can be made to your divorce decree, a knowledgeable Houston, TX divorce lawyer can provide insight.

Can Any Part of a Divorce Decree Be Modified?

The short answer is no. Not all parts of a decree can be modified. The sections related to the division of marital assets and debts will need to remain as they are unless you discover that your ex was hiding assets or information or you can prove that the settlement was unjust according to the law.

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 Posted on January 18, 2024 in Divorce

Most people have seen acrimonious divorce played out on TV and in the movies. The spouses do whatever they can to spite each other and need to have the judge order them to do various things. Many people also personally know couples who ended their marriage in bitter divorce proceedings. That does not mean animosity is the only way forward. If you and your spouse have decided to end your marriage but maintain productive communication, you could have an uncontested divorce. Speak with a knowledgeable Houston, TX divorce lawyer to find out more.

What Is Unique About Uncontested Divorce?

The truth is that there are many similarities between typical and uncontested divorce. At the end of both processes, the spouses need to have a divorce settlement that covers the same topics, including:

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 Posted on December 18, 2023 in Adoption

In Texas, various parenting time schedules are available from which parents may choose. The most common are the Standard Possession Order, Possession Order for Children Under Three, Supervised Possession Order, and Modified Possession Order. Of course, parents are free to come up with any possession schedule they see fit that is in their children’s best interest. A Texas family law and divorce attorney can assist you in figuring out your parenting plan schedule. They can review each common possession order and adjust them to fit your preferred schedule.

What is a Possession Order?

The court order handed down by a judge that details when each parent has a right to time with their children is a possession order. Texas offers many different types of possession orders, with the most common being:

• Standard Possession Order

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 Posted on November 16, 2023 in Divorce

Mediation is a court-ordered process and alternative to traditional divorce litigation. Parties can choose to request mediation and present their agreement in writing, but it is up to the judge's discretion if mediation is granted in place of a traditional trial. A lawyer who is well-educated and experienced in mediation can provide insight into if mediation is the right choice for your divorce.

What is Mediation?

Two parties come together to resolve conflicts within their divorce, while a third-party mediator helps steer the situation toward a more amicable outcome. Mediation is most often used to resolve the three significant points of contention in a divorce: property division, child custody, and alimony. Mediation is a highly effective alternative negotiation method with a high success rate.

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 Posted on October 16, 2023 in Divorce

Your credit score may be one of the last things you think about when going through a divorce. There are so many important things to think about, such as property division, conservatorship, support, and just the headache that divorce can naturally bring with it. Divorce may not damage your credit directly, but related financial problems could. When considering divorce, consult an attorney who can help you cover all your bases and keep you on track to avoid future complications.

What Are Some Indirect Impacts of Divorce On My Credit Score?

Marital status does not factor into your credit score. However, certain duties performed or bills paid can be a cause for concern once a divorce is finalized. Missing payments is the primary reason for a dip in a credit score. It is easy to forget how much the other spouse has been paying in financial expenses until it hits you in the face.

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