• Adoption – Do you need information and help with an anticipated domestic or foreign adoption or  step parent adoption?
• Wills - Why do we put off making a will and providing for the ones we love and want to protect?
• Power of Attorney – Should you be unavailable or incapacitated, have you taken the simple steps to plan ahead with a general power of attorney or a medical power of attorney or a HIPPA release?
• Paternity –  What is involved in legally establishing a child’s father  as a legal parent and what are the consequences of doing so or not doing so?
• Probate – When is probate necessary and how long is the process?
• Joint Custody -  What are Texas Rules for a child’s Joint Managing Conservatorship?
• Standard Visitation -  When divorcing are there Guidelines for Visitation with children?
• Guideline Child Support – What are Texas Court Rules for parents to pay child support?
• Domestic Violence – Would a Protective Order or a Restraining Order help?
• Alimony – What spousal support laws are applicable when parties divorce?
• Property – Will a disproportionate division or an equal division apply in my divorce?
• Divorce Fault Grounds -  What  if alcohol, drugs, gambling, or pornography involved?
• Elder Law – Special concerns for the senior citizen with a family law matter?
• Interstate Family Law – Parents  living in two different states face jurisdiction conflicts?
• Modification - May a Support or Visitation Court Order be modified for a  minor child?
• Enforcement – How is child support best collected and how are visitation issues best resolved?
• Children’s Education – What about college expenses for the kids?
• Social Security Eligibility – Is Social Security subject to property division in a divorce?
• Estate Documents – When and how should you update your will or power of attorney when  becoming a new parent, divorcing, or  having health problems?

All your questions and concerns are important to you. We offer both office consultations and telephone consultation if you live outside the Dallas Ft Worth metroplex, but think you have a matter for the Dallas/ Ft Worth/Denton/Collin County’s metroplex courts.

• What are private placement adoptions?
• How do agency adoptions work?
• What constitutes parental consent?
• What alternatives exist if consent is contested?
• How do step-parent adoptions work?
• What is the difference between open and closed adoptions?
• What are practical tips for families considering international adoption?
• How do you avoid problems dealing with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services when adopting an international child?
• What is the role of the guardian ad litem during the adoption process?

1. the disparity of incomes or earning capacities of the spousess,
2. the spouses’ capacities and abilities,
3. benefits which the party not at fault would have derived from a continuation of the marriage,
4. business opportunities of the spouses,
5. education of the spouses,
6. relative physical conditions of the spouses,
7. relative financial conditions of the spouses,
8. differences in the size of each spouse’s separate estate,
9. the nature of the property to be divided,
10. fault in the break up of the marriage, and
11. attorneys fees of the parties.

Of course, evidence of fraud, length of marriage, custody of children, tax consequences and liabilities, size of separate estate, health of the spouses, age of the spouses, future employability, need for future support, credit for temporary alimony paid, wasting and concealing of community assets, reimbursement, debts and liabilities, and nature of the property in the community estate are important factors to determine if the estate should be split 50/50, 45/55, 60/40, 65/35, etc.

We take the time to find out the details of your case and explain your options so that you can make the best choices for yourself and your future.

What if my husband is self employed? How will that effect property division and child support?
When the community estate includes a close corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or business of some kind, there will be a need to obtain a financial expert (1) to examine the business records and find the fair market value of the business as a part of the community estate and (2) to determine the earnings of the self employed spouse for purposes of determining child support. We rely on experts that have forensic experience in gathering the data to testify as to the value of business interests and as to the profitability of the business from both the viewpoint of the business owner and of the spouse unfamiliar with the workings of the community property business interest.

Do you have grounds for divorce?
You will want to discuss this issue with your attorney to determine what grounds for divorce may be available to you in your divorce case.

Does it matter what grounds for divorce that you may have?
Yes, the court may grant a divorce without regard to fault if the marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities that destroys the legitimate ends of the marital relationship and prevents any reasonable expectation of reconciliation.  A divorce granted on these grounds often will be the basis for an equal split of the community property by the Court.

Other grounds for divorce, that are fault grounds, include, Cruelty, adultery, conviction of felony, abandonment, living apart without cohabitation for at least three years, and confinement in mental hospital.

1 child              20% of Obligor’s Net Resources
2 children         25% of Obligor’s Net Resources
3 children         30% of Obligor’s Net Resources
4 children         35% of Obligor’s Net Resources
5 children         40% of Obligor’s Net Resources
6+ children       Not less than the amount for 5 children

There is a lot of information about child support that may be pertinent to your case that may be found in the Texas Family Code, or just ask your attorney to fill you in and tell you how the law applies to your particular situation.

Although Texas has Guidelines for Child Support, what other factors are considered when the Court sets child support?
In determining whether application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate under the circumstances, the court shall consider evidence of all relevant factors including:

1. age and needs of the child;
2. ability of the parents to contribute to the support of the child;
3. any financial resources available for the support of the child;
4. the amount of time of possession of and access to a child;
5. the amount of the obligee’s net resources;
6. child care expenses incurred by either party in order to maintain gainful employment;
7. whether either party has the managing Conservatorship or actual physical custody of another child;
8. the amount of alimony or spousal maintenance actually and currently being paid or received by a party;
9. the expenses for a son or daughter for education beyond secondary school;
10. whether the obligor or obligee has an automobile, housing, or other benefits furnished by his or her employer, another person, or a business entity;
11. the amount of other deductions from the wage or salary income and from other compensation for personal services of the parties;
12. provision for health care insurance and payment of uninsured medical expenses;
13. special or extraordinary educational, health care, or other expenses of the parties or of the child;
14. the cost of travel in order to exercise possession of and access to a child;
15. positive or negative cash flow from any real and personal property and assets, including a business and investments;
16. debts or debt service assumed by either party; and
17. any other reason consistent with the best interest of the child, taking into consideration the circumstances of the parents.

We can help protect your interest in all aspects of your divorce process.