Family Law

Even when a couple chooses not to officially get married, their relationship may qualify as a common law marriage. In these cases, separating couples are still required to go through the process of divorce, so if you have questions about whether your relationship qualifies as a common law marriage and what steps you need to take to obtain a divorce,…

This year, a number of family law-related bills will be introduced in Texas. For instance, one new bill will make significant changes to the guidelines regarding access to grandchildren. This area of the law can be complicated, so if you have questions or concerns about your visitation rights with a grandchild, it is crucial to speak with an experienced complex…

In some cases, separating couples are not required to go through the time-consuming process of a divorce, but instead can obtain an annulment. However, courts do not grant no-fault annulments, which means that in order to obtain an annulment, a couple must demonstrate that a marriage was void or voidable. Although annulling a marriage can save time and money in…

After an adoption or disestablishment of paternity, many parents wish to officially change their child’s last name. This process can be complex and requires strict adherence to certain court procedures, so if you are interested in legally changing the name of your child, it is crucial to retain the services of an experienced complex child custody attorney. Petition Requirements Only…

Could informal marriage be the next big transition in family law? Such relationships are already becoming the norm in many parts of Latin America, and the cultural shift could well follow these immigrants to the Lone Star State. For example, in Columbia, 84 percent of babies are born to unmarried mothers. There are similar statistics in a number of other…

A growing number of high-asset divorce cases are resolved through the still-controversial method of collaborative law, during which the parties work together to find mutual solutions to problems stemming from child custody, spousal support, property division, and other complex property litigation issues. The method is controversial because it totally eschews the traditional adversarial model. Assume that, instead of playing a…

Various research suggests that when the economy is bad, the divorce rate falls. However, analysts have used data from one dating website to study whether or not there is a parallel between the economy and adultery. The website is called Ashley Madison, and unlike other dating websites that promise users the opportunity of finding a spouse, Ashley Madison markets their site for people seeking…

When going through a breakup, different people will offer different advice. Some will say that it is unfair to date a new person while still having feelings for an ex.  Other people will say that the best way to move on from a split is to start dating someone new. Now there is research to say that the second option…

For victims of domestic abuse and violence, it may appear that there is no hope for escape. However, that is not the case. The most effective way to escape domestic abuse is through a protective order. According to the Texas Council on Family Violence, a protective order is a “civil court order issued to prevent continuing acts of family violence.”…

Financial stress and economic downturns may have serious consequences for victims of domestic and family violence. As tensions rise due to financial pressure, victims may be subject to more severe forms of violence, or an increased frequency of violence. In one 2012 study, researchers found that eight out of 10 domestic violence shelters in the United States reported an increase…