Co-parenting always comes down to one thing: What’s in the best interest of your children. The ultimate goal is a long-lasting, sustainable partnership. As for co-parenting in 2021? Add the stress and uncertainty of a pandemic. Despite the nuances of your co-parenting dynamic and/or the state of the world, successful co-parenting can be achieved, and the importance cannot be overstated. Children…
Child support is calculated based on set rules, more typically referred to as guidelines. The Texas Family Code states they are “presumed to be reasonable and an order of support, conforming to the guidelines is presumed to be in the best interest of the child.” The child support guidelines help courts in determining the appropriate amount of support, however a…
We all know the idea of establishing a custody visitation schedule with a co-parent can feel like a worrisome process, but you can better prepare yourself by reviewing some common areas of concern. Ultimately, these arrangements are made to ensure the best interests of your child, and both parents should work together on establishing a consistent message and routine to…
Central Texas residents, Are you wondering what you can and can’t do during this questionable time? Should my kids be with mom or dad? Can I leave my house? What should I do in case of an emergency? We’ve got you covered. We’ve attached the all of the local Court Orders and guidelines for your easy reference. Supreme Court of…
Once there is an existing court order regarding conservatorship or child custody, it cannot be changed without a modification of the order. If both parties agree to the modification, they still need to get the order approved by the Court. While the process is much less dubious than a contested modification it is important to have the new agreed order,…
Spousal maintenance, sometimes referred to as “alimony,” is an award of recurring payments from the future income of one spouse for the support of another. The purpose is to provide support for a specified period of time to a spouse who lacks the ability to earn an income sufficient to support themselves. If parties are unable to reach an agreement…
By default, if you are married in Texas all property acquired during the marriage is community property, meaning it is owned jointly by both parties. However, there is a way around this by creating a marital property agreement, which can be done either before or after marriage. The marital property agreement outlines who owns what and what assets each party…
Nikki G. Maples participated in Career Day for the Girls Empowerment Network (GEN), which is an after-school program for girls in grades 3-8. The girls in GEN are surrounded by adult women who inspire them, motivate them, and give them a safe place to express themselves and address issues and challenges that the girls may be facing. On Career Day,…
Why is mediation beneficial, you ask? Mediation allows each party to have some control in the outcome of their dispute. Of course, if the idea of exposing your secrets, dirty laundry, and private conversations in a room open to the public and placed in the hands of a stranger (the judge), then the option to duke it out ‘blood bath…
There are many differences between guardianship and adoption in Texas. While both legal processes involve a person who is not a biological parent of a child taking over the care and welfare of that child, the circumstances and implementation of each arrangement can be vastly different. Guardianship is a legal arrangement that grants an individual, called a legal guardian, the…