2015

Family Rights and Duties, For Better Or for Worse

Child Custody, Divorce, Family Law, Insights, MarriageDecember 18, 2015

Family Rights and Duties, For Better Or for Worse … For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part. Those are powerful wedding vows, aren’t they? If you are thinking about getting married, remember that marriage is not only a sacred institution – it is a…

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Defining who is a child, and the removal of disabilities

Child Custody, Family Law, InsightsDecember 9, 2015

Defining who is a child, and the removal of disabilities – Defining who a child is seems like an easy thing to do. It’s anyone under the age of 18, right? True, but that’s only generally speaking. When it comes to Texas law, there is so much more to defining who is a child (or…

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What is a gestational agreement?

Family Law, Insights, MarriageNovember 29, 2015

What is a gestational agreement? – In my previous blog I discussed the parent-child relationship, its legal impact, and the various ways it can be established. One way is through a gestational agreement. We touched on this briefly at the time, but it was too detailed a topic to throw at you in the same…

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The Parent-Child Relationship – A Digestible Overview

Child Support, Family Law, InsightsNovember 27, 2015

The Parent-Child Relationship – A Digestible Overview – How the state of Texas determines who is a legal part of the parent-child relationship carries great legal significance since the relationship can create parental rights and duties, support obligations, inheritance rights, and rights of possession and access. In 2001, Texas became the first state to adopt…

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What is a premarital agreement?

Divorce, Family Law, Insights, MarriageNovember 19, 2015

What is a premarital agreement? – I’m skipping ahead a little bit here, but since my family law blogs over the past month and a half or so have focused on marriage and everything that it entails – the various types, who can, who cannot, legal issues, et cetera – I thought this would be…

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Going For Adoption? Know the Basics First

Family Law, InsightsNovember 14, 2015

Going For Adoption? Know the Basics First – You may be going for adoption for a number of reasons. Either you are a childless parent or adopting a homeless child to fill the emptiness in his life with love and care; whatever the reason, there are certain legal formalities involved which you have to go…

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Meretricious Relationships – Complex and Damaging

Divorce, Estate Planning, Insights, MarriageNovember 12, 2015

Meretricious Relationships – Complex and Damaging – Just reading “meretricious” is complex, don’t ya think? The easiest way to explain this type of relationship – is that it is an “un-marriage.” A relationship is deemed meretricious when two people are living together but have absolutely no intention of getting married – formally or informally. Unlike…

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Marriage Confusion – What is Putative Marriage?

Family Law, Insights, MarriageNovember 8, 2015

Marriage Confusion – What is Putative Marriage? Marriage is a sacred and wonderful institution between two people who love each other. But it can also be the basis for plenty of confusion in the legal system, especially if entered into unlawfully. Believe it or not, illegal marriages happen all the time. And one is called…

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Estate Planning- The Will vs. Living Trust

Estate Planning, InsightsNovember 7, 2015

Estate Planning- The Will vs. Living Trust – Estate planning is the key to decide the fate of your property after your death. Whether you want to write a will or go for a living trust is of course your choice. But, before making a decision, it is wise to know the pros and cons…

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Are You Truly Common-Law Married?

Divorce, Family Law, Insights, MarriageOctober 29, 2015

Are You Truly Common-Law Married? Despite what you may think you know about common-law marriage, it is not as informal as it sounds. The state of Texas is as specific as it can be with its laws regarding informal marriage for the simple reason that – God love em – there are people who believe…

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