Mediation in the Nude: Stripping Down Barriers to Resolution**
Sometimes good, albeit unconventional, ideas emerge from the most unexpected places. Take, for example, a recent suggestion from a highly successful businessman I know – someone well-acquainted with litigation and certainly no stranger to mediation. Over cocktails one evening, completely out of the blue, he floated a rather unorthodox concept for family law mediations: “Mediation in […]
Drive-By Mediation: Just a Checkbox or a Genuine Resolution Tool?
Introduction When we talk about “drive-by” mediation, let’s be clear—we’re not talking about anything involving a moving vehicle or a crime scene. Instead, we’re referring to a streamlined, often misunderstood process of family law mediation that can be as quick as it sounds. But just because it’s fast, does that mean it’s effective? Can a […]
Mastering Mediation: Tips from a Former Family Law Judge
Greetings, family law warriors! As a former family law judge and now full-time mediator, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing a wide range of mediation approaches – some that hit the mark beautifully and others that, while well-intentioned, could use a bit of fine-tuning. Through these experiences, I’ve learned a few tricks of the trade […]
What Are the Rules for Texas Child Support?
Under Texas law, all parents have a legal duty to support their children. In a divorce or custody scenario, a court can order the non-custodial parent to pay money each month to the custodial parent for the support of the children. The court can also order the non-custodial parent to provide additional support in the […]
The Stages of a Texas Divorce or Custody Case
While each divorce or custody case is unique, most cases flow from start to finish according to six distinct “Stages.” Of course, not all cases fit perfectly into each stage. It’s not uncommon for the stages to overlap and run concurrently with others. But in general, the following should provide a good understanding of the […]
From Spy to Bye: Texas Family Code’s Ban on Spousal Surveillance
Introduction In the realm of domestic violence and stalking, abusers often resort to tracking and monitoring their victims’ movements as a means of harassment and intimidation. To address this issue and strengthen existing laws surrounding protective orders and temporary restraining orders in dissolution of marriage suits, the Texas Legislature passed HB 2715. This legislation prohibits […]
How Long Does A Divorce Take?
Other than “How much does a divorce cost?” the most common question we’re asked is “How long will my divorce take?” Both questions are important, but as you can imagine, they’re difficult to answer with absolute precision and certainty. Divorce is unpredictable, and you can’t always control a case’s direction. But we’ve been doing this […]
What Will Happen to My Property?
All divorces involve at least some division of property. The division can range from each party keeping the personal property in their possession to more complicated estates involving the division of multiple houses, parcels of land, businesses, brokerage and retirement accounts, and even assets like Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. Regardless, clients frequently ask, “What’s going […]
What Will Happen to My Home?
As the saying goes, there’s no place like home. Your home is your castle. Your sanctuary. It’s the one place on Earth where you can go to relax, rest, and feel safe. It’s not surprising then how devastated you may feel if facing the prospect of having to move from or sell your home. Yes, […]
The New Old Discovery Rules
Introduction Just when you finally wrapped your head around the “New Rules,” along come the “New Old Discovery Rules.” Applicable to family law cases filed on or after September 1, 2023, the New Old Rules remove “required” disclosures and production of documents established by the New Rules, reinstating old rule “requests” for disclosure. Undoubtedly, those who loathe required disclosures will cheer, […]