Austin Texas Family Law Blog

Dissolving a marriage is not a simple, straightforward process, particularly when young children are going through the process, too. The reality is that every family is different, so naturally, families do not approach the issue of child custody exactly the same. Nonetheless, noncustodial parents are usually required to provide child support to custodial parents, as this allows both parents to share in the cost of supporting the children. Two facts are essential to consider when navigating the issue of child support during divorce in Texas.

First, it is possible to modify a child support amount that the court previously determined. This is because the paying spouse may suddenly become disabled and thus unable to continue working. In addition, a paying spouse might suddenly fall into financial trouble due to losing a job. Alternatively, a paying spouse may receive an inheritance or even boost his or her income substantially. These situations have an impact on the child support amount being paid.

Although parents can separate for a myriad of reasons, the primary concern of both parents is usually the safety and well-being of their children. Working out a suitable child custody arrangement becomes a top priority when parents divorce. These days, more and more parents in Texas are choosing co-parenting. Co-parenting, or shared parenting, is an arrangement where separated parents assume equal responsibility in raising the children, like a partnership. Here are some helpful tips for divorced parents who are considering shared parenting.

It is vital to keep the marriage out of parenting. If there are unresolved issues from the marriage, never drag them into parenting the children. Instead, find friends or family to talk with or, better yet, a counselor. Set a good example for the kids, and always make their needs a top priority. The well-being of the children should always factor into any decision.

A marital breakup is oftentimes a hard process from both an emotional and a logistical standpoint. However, one thing that a person can control is how prepared he or she is for the divorce proceedings. Here are a few steps that divorcing individuals can take to prepare effectively for their proceedings in Texas.

First, it may behoove those going through divorce to take inventory of several items early on. For instance, they can gather their balance sheets and financial statements, as well as their property deeds and their loan/mortgage documents. Other important items to collect include wills and trusts, statements for credit card accounts, and insurance policies.

Research shows that the divorce rate is decreasing throughout the United States, including Texas. However, divorce is still inevitable in many situations and for a variety of reasons. Here is a glimpse at a couple of factors that, according to researchers, are contributing to divorce today: inadequate premarital education and differences in religion.

A lack of premarital education combined with religious differences have been shown to contribute to more than 13 percent of divorces. In a recent survey, the couples who participated in a program aimed at teaching them conflict and resolution and communication skills felt that the training still was not adequate. Specifically, one couple mentioned that although premarital counseling does teach couples how to deal with conflict, it does not discuss the various phases that married people experience over time.