Many people going through a divorce or child custody situation in which child support is involved think that the support amount is determined by the courts through a formula, and that both parties have no choice but to accept the outcome. However, this is only half true.   Depending on your state, there likely is a specific worksheet that the courts use to determine the initial child support obligation. Influencing factors include: how much both parents have been making, including any bonuses or overtime pay; health insurance costs, out-of-pocket medical expenses, any childcare expenses; and who gets the federal tax exemption. Once...

Going through a divorce is hard, and the myths swirling around the process make it even harder. Misconceptions are often spread by well-meaning friends and family that are trying to help but end up doing just the opposite. If you're considering divorce, it's important to separate fact from fiction so you can make the best decisions for yourself and your family. Here are five common misconceptions about divorce. 1. Half of All Marriages End in Divorce Half of all marriages end in divorce is a statistic that hasn't been true for decades. Divorce rates hit their peak in the 1970s and 1980s and...

If you're facing a divorce, you already know you'll have to speak with a lawyer to determine your custody arrangements and alimony payments, but what about dividing your assets? While you might think that division of assets is a fairly simple process, the truth is that things can quickly become complicated if you live in a communal property state. This is because in a communal property state, everything you and your spouse own is considered joint property. If you have a boat, a car, or even a business, this may be considered to be shared property. If you're new to...

Typically, parents who are divorcing in Texas are appointed as Joint Managing Conservators of the children.  This means that both parents have specific rights and duties when it comes to the children.  These rights and duties include:   • physical possession of the child, • directing the moral and religious training • designating the primary residence, • consenting to medical, dental, and psychological treatment, • receiving child support, • consenting to marriage or joining the armed forces, • education decisions, and many more.   Joint Managing Conservators are also awarded possession and access schedules.  The most common is the Standard Possession Order where the non-primary parent has the children on...

Parents have the duty to support their child, which includes providing the child with clothing, food, medical and dental care, shelter, and education. This duty to support is not limited to providing only the bare necessities. The duty to support is imposed on parents when the child is born. The duty exists regardless of whether a court has ordered a parent to pay child support. The duty to support ends when any of the following occurs: • Minority ends: -  When the child turns 18; -  When high school ends, if the child is still enrolled when he/she turns 18; • Parent-child relationship terminated: •...