Posted on November 27, 2018 in Uncategorized

It is no secret that divorce comes with a high price tag. From court and legal fees to support payments, costs show up in all parts of the process.

Fortunately, you can mitigate some of these bills. All it takes is awareness, preparation and smart choices.

Common unexpected costs of divorce

Naturally, the exact expenses you have will depend on your circumstances, such as the assets you have and how many children are involved. In general, common hidden costs are as follows:

• Health insurance: If you were on your spouse's health insurance plan, you will now have to get one on your own.
• House: Selling a house comes with many expenses, from commissions to pre-sale repairs. Likewise, keeping the property requires paying for re-titling fees. If you are the one moving out, you will have to deal with moving costs and a down payment or security deposit on a new place.
• Valuations: A professional valuation will be necessary if you have numerous or complex assets, such as a business. You may end up utilizing other professional services, too, such as accountants.

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 Posted on October 30, 2018 in Uncategorized

If you are going through or finished a divorce, Christmas can be a difficult time. The first holiday season as a single parent can be a struggle for you and your kids. With the other parent absent, your children may be more emotional and need extra comfort.

Navigating the holidays after divorcing your spouse is never easy, but there are some actions you can take to ease the pain. Here are some guidelines for handling your first Christmas after a divorce.

1. Normalize expressing emotions

Your kids are likely feeling grief as they try to celebrate a special holiday between two households. Let them know that it is perfectly normal and fine to feel sad and cry even during what should be a joyful time. Talk to them about how there is no correct way to grieve and that everyone is different. Let them know you are there if they want to talk to you about what they are feeling.

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 Posted on October 03, 2018 in Uncategorized

Many teachers talk to divorced parents during routine conferences. With the new school year now in full swing, many parents have to deal with this, but it does not have to be a contentious issue.

The first conference after a divorce can be awkward. However, by keeping a few simple tips in mind, both spouses can get through it maturely.

Manage emotions

You never want your emotions to get the better of you when dealing with an ex in any capacity. If you and a former spouse see each other for a first parent-teacher conference, then it is vital to be ready. You should take a few deep breaths or go on a long walk beforehand to calm yourself down so you are more at ease while in the classroom.

Focus on your child

Instead of worrying about seeing your ex, you should think about how your child needs help. The purpose of this visit is to learn about your son or daughter's academic performance. Keep the conversation on track by coming in with a list of questions to ask the teacher. This allows you to speak more to the teacher than your ex.

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 Posted on September 10, 2018 in Uncategorized

Divorcing your spouse is inevitably complicated, and so, too, is learning to adjust to a joint-custody or similar arrangement that means you will only have your children in your home part of the time. Chances are, you are divorcing your one-time partner because you no longer agree on certain areas or aspects of life, and this can lead to complications when the two of you continue to share parenting time after you split up.

Increasingly, parents who split up but plan to continue to share custody are creating parenting plans to help prevent unnecessary discord and hardship down the line. Essentially, a parenting plan is a written document that sets guidelines you and your former partner agree to follow when it comes to co-parenting after divorce. While you can address an exceedingly broad range of areas in your parenting plan, many divorced couples use them to set guidelines with regard to the following.

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 Posted on September 05, 2018 in Uncategorized

Divorce is typically a straightforward process, but there are times when it can become substantially more complicated and heartbreaking. For instance, some couples in Texas have contemplated divorce so that they can afford medical care for their ill or disabled children.

Another factor that can make divorce harder is the litany of myths that persist about the process. In particular, child custody creates a lot of headaches. That is why it is important to separate fact from fiction.

Myth #1: As long as there is equal custody time, neither parent has to pay child support

In most cases, parents will share joint custody of any children. Even if the custody is a perfect 50/50 split, one parent may still need to pay the other child support. The goal of child support is to resolve any income disparity between the two parties. Children should enjoy the same lifestyle and resources with both parents.

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 Posted on August 03, 2018 in Uncategorized

If you are in the military and are scheduled for deployment, it is natural to wonder if you need to go through legal channels to change your custody order. The best person to ask about your particular situation is your lawyer.

In general, it can be wise to ask a temporary custody order, but you do not necessarily have to.

Custody cannot be permanently changed because of deployment itself but…

Courts cannot permanently change custody because of deployment. However, a temporary custody order is an opportunity for you to set up legal channels for people such as your parents or spouse to visit your children while they are with their other parent. It can also address matters of child support and how often you get to communicate with the children while you are deployed.

If your co-parent is not suited for custody

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 Posted on July 11, 2018 in Uncategorized

When you are in the middle of a divorce, it can seem like everything is out of control. The future that you had planned is suddenly changing, and it can be easy to get sucked into a cycle of bitterness and resentment towards your ex. If you want to minimize conflict and maintain control over your life and divorce, mediation may provide the solution that you have been looking for.

Mediation allows separating couples to avoid court and instead hammer out the details of their divorce in a neutral, mediated environment. According to the American Bar Association, it is generally a shorter process than a litigated divorce, and this means it is also less expensive. How can mediation help you maintain control, too?

1. Prevent narrative from spiraling

You might be concerned that your ex will use court as an opportunity to give a narrative of your divorce that does not align with yours. Divorce tends to be messy, and in an unmediated environment, untrue narratives can very easily propagate. Mediation, on the other hand, allows both parties to focus on the details that really matter without letting editorial context claim control.

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 Posted on June 06, 2018 in Uncategorized

The divorce rate has slowly declined in Texas. In 2015, there were only 2.6 divorces for every 1,000 inhabitants, which is down from a divorce rate of 5.5 in 1990.

Before any couple proceeds with the divorce, both people should seriously consider going through mediation. Although many people associate mediation with uncontested divorces, they can be beneficial even if the couple has significant disagreements about how to divide assets. You may decide mediation is best for your divorce after you realize the following common myths are not actually true.

Myth #1: It is easier to simply go through lawyers

Both spouses will still need to hire attorneys even if they go through mediation. However, they can both save money and time by working out key issues before heading to trial. Once the mediation sessions are over, both lawyers can review the documents and submit them for approval in the court.

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 Posted on June 04, 2018 in Uncategorized

When you remarry, it is normal to wonder about the role that your new spouse will play in your children's lives. For example, what say, if any, should the new spouse have in what your children do? Does the spouse weigh in on rules? Do you expect your spouse to help pay for your children?

There are no easy, cut-and-dried answers. What is best depends on many factors and can change considerably in just a short time. Here are some things to think about as you ponder this question.

What your ex's family setup is like

If your ex has a romantic partner or spouse, particularly a longtime one, then your children may be used to how they handle things. For instance, if the children are accustomed to their stepparent asking them to do chores and obliging these requests, they might not give a second thought to your spouse doing the same.

What the relationship between your spouse and the children is like

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 Posted on May 08, 2018 in Uncategorized

If you are a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, or if you are currently involved in a divorce from a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, you may have questions about the division of military pension once your marriage officially ends. Maybe you have concerns about having to share your pension with your former spouse, or maybe you feel you have a right to at least some of it and want to make sure you understand your future needs with regard to saving.

Regardless of your reason for asking, there are certain rules that govern how couples divide military pension in divorce. In Texas, which is a community property state, any money given to the military retirement account during the marriage becomes the property of both parties. However, any money placed in the account prior to the marriage remains the exclusive property of the military member.

Additional details

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