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Laura Dale And Associates, P.C.
Laura Dale And Associates, P.C.
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Kids of divorce sometimes have strong opinions over child custody arrangements in Texas, especially those old enough to understand. However, because they are children, courts are hesitant to allow kids to chime in on these decisions. With that said, there are certain situations in which a child may sway a Houston court’s child custody decisions. If your child is asking to live with one parent over the other, it is crucial to find out just how much decision-making power your child may have. What does the Texas legal code say? A child may not officially decide which parent to live…
Divorce can damage family relationships. Not only could you and your ex have trouble even being in the same room with one another, but your kids could become angry with or resentful toward one or both of their parents.  In most Texas divorces, parents will end up sharing custody. Although a judge may consider an older child’s preferences, they likely won’t defer to a child’s wishes if they say they don’t want to see one of their parents at all.  What happens if your kids don’t want to leave your home to spend time with the other parent? You must…
The divorce procedure can be stressful at the best of times. Arguably, the most taxing aspect is worrying about what will happen to the children.  Parents may feel that the courts are going to be biased in their rulings. Thus, it is important to separate the common misconceptions from reality in Texas child custody hearings. Outlined below are three of the most common misconceptions relating to child custody:  The court always grant physical possession of the child to the mother In the past, the courts may have been more inclined to grant custody to the mother. However, the law of …
Some of the messiest, most expensive divorce issues involve dependent family members. Parents with young children may fight bitterly for custody. Many modern couples may have chosen to expand their family with the inclusion of a dog or a cat. In some Texas families, horses are a cornerstone of how the family lives and are important to individual family members. The animals that you consider part of your family can easily cause as much conflict in your Texas divorce as human children could. What happens with your beloved animals during a Texas divorce? In Texas, family law judges treat pets…
Many immigrants to the United States are pursuing their own “American dream.” The American dream can mean many things to different people. To some, the American dream involves a house, a car and a family. When having a child on your own is not an option, many look to adoption. Many immigrants from other countries who are living and pursuing their American dream in the U.S.A. would prefer to adopt from their country of national origin. Adopting a child from another country and bringing them to the United States is a process that is provided for by the Hague Convention.…
Spousal support, or alimony, continues to be a hot topic here in the state of Texas. Many residents believe alimony should not be an option, while others believe it helps lesser-earning spouses acquire financial independence. Regardless of your personal opinion, if a family court tells you to pay alimony, you could get into trouble by refusing. It might help to view a spousal maintenance (support) order as a law. If you violate your court order, you invite legal repercussions, just as you would if you broke the law. How does Texas enforce alimony orders? Those ordered to pay spousal support…
Co-parenting isn’t ever an easy task. You have to ensure that you’re doing what you can to make it easier. There are several ways that you can do this. One of the most important is to ensure that you’re happy and healthy. Many areas of your life can have a direct impact on how you handle co-parenting. Trying to get these all where they need to be can take time, but it’s well worth the effort you put into it. Let’s look at two key ways to do this. Find suitable communication Communication with your ex is one of…
Whether a divorce or child custody case is litigated or resolved in mediation, a judge must sign off on the final court order in the matter. The divorce decree or parenting plan then becomes an official court order. There are penalties for violating its terms. You may wonder what happens, then, if the deal regarding child or spousal support, custody or property division that the court signed off on doesn’t seem right. A situation like that may warrant an appeal. Who can file a family court appeal (and when)? You or your former spouse may be eligible to file an…
Did you plan to get married in 2020, but did you have to put it off until this year? Now that it seems like you can finally have the big wedding of your dreams, you are very excited to tie the knot. This may not have been exactly how you and your partner envisioned it, but you couldn’t be more thrilled about the future. Marriage is a beautiful thing and it’s wonderful that you finally get to have the celebration you’ve wanted. But it may also be time to start talking about a prenup. Why would you want a prenup?…
Parenting is difficult in the best of times. Add in a pandemic, and parents throughout the world were put to the test. Disagreements about sleeping schedules, eating habits, school needs, and extracurricular activities were all magnified as the world went into lockdown. Parents that were co-parenting after divorce had to revisit their parenting plans and, in some cases, make changes to better reflect their needs while dealing with a national shut-down. Things are starting to get back to normal and schools throughout the country are announcing back to school plans. In Texas, for example, schools are planning on children returning…