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

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…

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

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

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 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

If you are contemplating a Texas divorce, your life undoubtedly is in turmoil right now. Not only are all your hopes and dreams crashing around you, you and your spouse likely have numerous issues regarding your children, the possibility of spousal support, and how you will divide your marital property. Nevertheless, it is highly unlikely that either of you looks forward to an expensive, protracted and nasty divorce. Surely there must be a better, less stressful way to split up.

There is. Today, more and more divorcing couples are finding that mediation is the answer they are searching for. Unlike a traditional litigated divorce, mediation lets you and your spouse maintain control over your respective lives by making your own decisions, not leaving those decisions up to a judge.

Hiring a mediator

Couples who get married usually plan to be together forever. However, that does not always occur. For those who may be contemplating a divorce, it can be helpful to understand a few things about the process.

Outside of court, divorce mediation is a common option for dissolving a marriage. There are a few key benefits in choosing mediation.

Cheaper

By now, schools are used to students who have divorced parents. However, some schools and teachers are better at handling these situations than others. Still, you and your co-parent should expect a minimum of consideration from the school.

To that end, here is a look at how schools should communicate with co-parents who have legal custody of their children.

Clear policy

Contrary to what you may believe, your divorce does not need to be nasty. While it will probably be painful and difficult at times, you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse may be able to work together to get an amicable divorce. It will be better for everyone-including your kids-to divorce as quickly and harmoniously as possible.

So how can you avoid wasting years and tons of money in a contentious divorce? Here are some guidelines for ending your marriage as smoothly as possible.

1. Surround yourself with supportive people

Parent-teacher conferences are often a joyous occasion. In addition to meeting your child's teachers and getting acquainted with their curriculum, you may learn about your kid's success in class and hear more about her or his academic strengths. You will likely emerge from the conference a proud parent, but the stress from sharing the time with your ex may put a damper on the excitement and pride you should be feeling.

It is important to develop some co-parenting strategies prior to attending the parent-teacher conference. Utilizing the following tips can help prevent tension and ensure the meeting is a productive discussion of your child's academic performance.

1. Stay focused on goals

If you entered into a prenuptial agreement, you need to know how its provisions can affect the course of your divorce proceedings.

Signing a prenuptial agreement can be a good way to protect your finances in the event of a future split. While the law generally wants people to have the freedom of choosing what to agree on, there are some areas where courts are unlikely to enforce prenups.

Prenups must be in writing

Getting a visit from Child Protective Services is one of the things a parent dreads the most. Finding out that someone is questioning your parenting skills and feels as if the state needs to intervene can be a frightening, infuriating and humiliating experience. However, you are far from alone. Countless parents in Texas and elsewhere receive visits from CPS, and most cases find a resolution without having the children taken away.

Even so, this can be an uncertain time as you worry about the outcome of your case and whether you might lose your children. If you get a knock on your door and it turns out to be a social worker with CPS, stay calm and remember the following tips:

• Ask to see the social worker's warrant. You do not have to let CPS into your home without a court warrant, no matter how intimidating they are.
• You can tell the social worker you need time to get in contact with your attorney. The worker will likely schedule another visit, but this will give you time to prepare for the visit and seek legal counsel.
• The social worker may return with law enforcement. You may ask again to see a warrant, but the law may require you to let the CPS worker into your home this time.
• During the visit, remain polite but answer questions briefly and to the point. Do not offer additional information or appear overly helpful. The CPS worker's job is to make sure your children are safe and well cared for, but he or she is not your friend.
• Ask for the social worker's contact information. A business card is ideal. If you decide to record the visit for your protection, you must inform the CPS worker that you are doing so.

It is possible that CPS may remove your children from the home, depending on the social worker's judgment. If so, do not panic. You may provide names of relatives or other people you trust for CPS to consider entrusting your children with while they work on your case. When you cooperate with the agency and law enforcement, you improve your chances of getting your children back sooner and closing your case.

Depending on your relationship with your ex-spouse, co-parenting may not be easy, and it may become especially difficult during the holiday season. Whether you have or are seeking full or shared custody, you want to create the best possible environment for the kids, which in many cases is spending time with both parents.

Having a specific plan for the holidays can be quite helpful. There are a few things you should consider in your co-parenting plans through the holidays.

Know the decree

When a Texas couple with minor children divorces, the custody order is a necessary and important part of the divorce judgment. Parents must continue to follow the order, as failing to do so can involve legal consequences and may ultimately even affect custody.

However, circumstances can change. Sometimes an order that made perfect sense initially may no longer work in a new situation. When this happens, you may request a modification of the custody order.

Modification by agreement

Divorcing Texas couples with minor children will have to deal with the issue of child support. Getting a quick overview of some basic concepts can help you better understand what to expect.

Similar to many other states, Texas law approaches issues relating to children from the standpoint of the best interests of the child. Thus, parents may not waive or agree to amounts below the state's guidelines. While they are free to compromise on their own rights, they may not do so on behalf of the child. They may, however, agree to amounts higher than those the guidelines would produce.

Who pays child support

As your divorce becomes more imminent, you might be stressed about court room battles and unaffordable legal expenses. These are common reasons some divorcing couples choose mediation or collaborative divorce. These alternatives to litigation can help you save money and keep your sanity intact.

Even if you know these benefits, you might still be nervous about attending a mediation session for the first time. Before you begin, here are some important things you can to do get ready for mediation.

1. Gather important documents

The department of Child Protective Services in Texas has long been under fire for insufficient action, lack of organized protocol and questionable treatment of foster children. All of these problems have understandably shaken faith in the department, but new legislation aims to empower CPS and restore Texans' faith in the services provided. There are a few things everybody should know about the laws.

According to the Dallas Times, the legislature extends over $500 million in new funding to CPS and the foster care system, and part of that funding may be available to people dealing with cases related to CPS. If you are facing a CPS-related legal issue, review these facts and consider consulting with a lawyer.

Relatives may receive compensation

Being a military parent is difficult on family life. You may miss important milestones in your children's lives or have a hard time establishing a strong relationship when you are gone so often.

Divorce only compounds the problem, making it even harder to spend time with your kids when you can. It also adds complexity to child custody. Before you work out an agreement with your ex-spouse, be familiar with Texas law on military service and custody to ensure you do what is fair for both you and your children.

Texas law

Divorce is a complicated and painful process for anyone, but many of the challenges are often exacerbated for military families. If you are going through a military divorce, you are facing unique legal issues and personal difficulties. You may be wondering how you are going to get through the separation in one piece.

One route you should consider is mediation. Mediation is a viable divorce alternative that benefits military families in multiple ways. Continue reading for the top reasons you might want to consider mediating your divorce.

1. Timely