Travis Family Judges Roundtable Discussion on COVID Issues
I recently attended a virtual continuing legal education discussion put on by the Austin Bar Association which addressed the topic of “Back to School Issues in Light of COVID-19: A Discussion Between Bench and Bar.” It was moderated by Patricia Dixon and included Judge Andy Hathcock, Judge Catherine Mauzy, Judge James Arth, and Judge Julio de la Llata.
Below are my notes and comments on a few of the issues addressed:
Continue reading →Your Income Tax Return and the Child Dependency Exemption
Since April 15th is approaching I thought it might be a good idea to address a common family law/tax question. The question is as follows: post-divorce which party is entitled to take the dependency exemption for the children, the person paying child support or the person receiving child support. People are frequently confused about this, in no small part because most divorce decrees are silent on the issue. Continue reading →
Child Support Modification in Texas – What is the Standard?
This article will outline the current Texas law on child support modification and explain when it makes sense to pursue a child support modification.
Child support modification is addressed in Texas Family Code Section 156.401 through Section 156.409. Whether you are the payor who is seeking a reduction or the payee seeking an increase, the standard is the same. There are two possible avenues to seek a modification: Continue reading →
What is a Financial Information Statement?
A Financial Information Statement is a court-required document for nearly all temporary orders hearings and final trials in Texas divorce cases. Here is a sample Financial Information Statement so you have an idea of what they look like. The names and details used are all fictional, although the facts used are relatively typical of the issues dealt with in a Texas divorce. The sample document is based on a husband who expects to move out of the residence and pay child support. In a real case both sides prepare and submit a Financial Information Statement to the court prior to a temporary orders hearing. Continue reading →
Can Dad See the Kids if He’s Not Paying Child Support
I sometimes get asked by a divorced mom whether she is required to let her ex-husband have his visitation with the children if he is not currently paying his child support. The reasoning behind the question is that if he is not following the court order, then why should I?
Two Separate Issues Under the Texas Family Code
The answer is that yes, you must follow the court order and allow the father to exercise his visitation regardless of Continue reading →
A Tale of Two Divorce Clients
Please note that the clients and lawyers referenced in the video and transcript are purely hypothetical and not based on actual people. If you prefer reading to watching, please see the transcript below: Continue reading →
How To Calculate Child Support in Texas
This video goes through the process of calculating child support in a typical Texas case. If you prefer, you can read the transcript below: Continue reading →
Pick the Right Divorce Lawyer – Here’s How
This is a video by Scott Morgan, giving his three best tips on how to find the right divorce lawyer for your case. If you would prefer, you can read the transcript below: Continue reading →