Many people in Texas who marry a person who already has children want to adopt those children at some point. This can be particularly beneficial for the children's sense of a security if their biological father has little or no role in their lives. If the stepparent...
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Austin Texas Family Law Blog
How is child conservatorship determined in Texas?
The legal term "conservatorship" is used in Texas to describe the responsibilities and rights of a parent involving a child. The adult given these rights and responsibilities is called the "conservator." Many people, however, refer to "child custody" when discussing...
Prenuptial agreements are about more than dividing assets
Many Texans think of prenuptial agreements as documents that only wealthy oil magnates, football stars and country singers draw up to protect their significant assets in the event of divorce -- particularly if they marry someone with far less money than they have....
Why it’s important for Texas men to establish paternity
Under Texas law, a child's biological father is not necessarily his or her legal father. When an unmarried couple has a child, the man is not considered the legal father unless the couple completes an Acknowledgement of Paternity.Some couples wonder why an AOP is...
Same-sex Texas couples fight for the right to divorce
How would you feel if you and your spouse wanted to end your marriage, but you couldn't because the state doesn't recognize that you are married? That's the problem facing some couples who were married in states where same-sex marriage is legal and then moved to...
Woman who gave baby to Texas couple completes jail sentence
The mother of a child who has been missing since Dec. 26, 2009, has been released from prison. She was convicted of unlawful imprisonment and custodial interference and sentenced to prison in December 2012. She was also charged with kidnapping. However, the jury...
Woman arrested in Texas for kidnapping her 6-year-old son
When estranged or divorced parents don't have child custody agreements in place, disputes can arise that can lead to legal problems and even potentially criminal charges -- not to mention stress and uncertainty for everyone involved, particularly the child. The case...
No-nuptial agreements may help cohabiting Texas couples
Many couples eschew the convention of marriage and opt to live together instead, and their numbers are growing. According to the Census Bureau, the number of non-married cohabiting couples in the U.S. rose from five million back in 2006 to over eight million in...
Attorney: Texas law to blame for client’s child support jailing
Many of our readers here in Texas have no doubt heard the story of the man who was sentenced to six months behind bars for failing to pay child support simply due to a clerical error. As has been widely reported, he not only paid the overdue support once he learned...
Developer in high-profile Texas divorce sues wife’s alleged lover
Texas has its share of bitter, high-profile, high-asset divorces. One is currently playing out in Dallas. It involves a real estate developer, his wife and their plastic surgeon. That plastic surgeon, according to the husband, had an affair with his wife and sold a...