Family Law Updates
Pets in a Divorce: What Texas Law Says About Your Furry Family Members
TL;DR: In Texas, pets are considered property. Courts don’t typically offer pet custody or visitation, so it may be best bet to negotiate a pet agreement outside of court. For many couples, pets are more than just animals—they are family. So, when a marriage ends, one of the most emotionally…
Spousal Maintenance and Alimony in Texas Family Law
Many people believe that, with the passage of the Texas Spousal Maintenance statute in 1995, we now have alimony in Texas. That is not the case. Spousal Maintenance is not “alimony” in the traditional sense and that is why it is not called alimony in Texas Family Law. We do have contractual alimony…
Required Disclosures in Texas Family Law
Texas Legislative Updates that affect Texas Family Law In the 2020 Session, the Texas Legislature passed a law that required all parties in suits filed after January 1, 2021, to provide certain information and documents to the other parties regardless of whether a party formally requested that information. That law…
Harris County Courts remain overwhelmed
According to Texas Lawyer magazine (July 19, 2010), Harris County family law courts are “overwhelmed and under pressure.” Harris County Court House I couldn’t agree more. The Texas Lawyer article last year cites the fact that about 40 percent of all civil cases before Harris County courts are family law cases. Compared to a civil…
Protect Your Family Interests by Hiring a Family Law Attorney
Your future, your children’s future and your financial stability are important and must be protected Why it is important to hire an attorney that specializes in family law to represent you in ANY family law case: Many people might suggest that my point of view on this is biased because I make my living by working…
Texas Family Law in the 84th Texas Legislature
84th Texas Legislature Begins January 13, 2015 The Texas Legislature will convene on Tuesday, January 13 and run through June 1, 2015. The Law Office of Chris A. Spofford will watch the topics related to Texas Family Law and provide legislative updates and insight to our friends and clients about the…
Paternity and the Texas Family Code – How Long Do You Have To Prove You Are the Dad?
Who is a father? Your paternal rights under Texas Family Law can be protected This may seem a silly question, but it isn’t. Understanding how Texas Family Law defines “paternity” is extremely important when determining who has standing (the legal right) to file a suit to adjudicate parentage (a lawsuit to determine…
Summary of Texas Family Law Updates – Effective Changes Now in Effect
The Texas Legislature made changes in 2011 that impact many in the area of Texas Family Law. All of these Texas Family Law updates are now in effect: Voluntary termination of parental rights for men mistakenly adjudicated a child’s biological father. Senate Bill 785, codified into §161.005 of the Texas Family Code and effective as…
Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) – Texas Family Law changes by the Texas Legislature in 2011
In addition to the changes I discussed in my earlier blog entitled “Texas Family Law changes by the Texas Legislature in 2011,” significant revisions were made to the Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) statute by the Texas Legislature in 2011. In 1997, the Texas Legislature passed the first Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) statute under Texas Family Law…
Family Law mediator – an opportunity to reduce unnecessary divorce litigation
The role of Family Law mediator continues to grow in Texas Family Law Courts. Virtually all family courts in Harris and surrounding counties now require mediation prior to temporary hearings where the custody of children is in dispute, as well as prior to final trials. This is advantageous to the practice of Family Law…
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