Texas Divorce at a Glance
By Eric Fredrickson
Oct. 14, 2010 11:50a
When you walked down the aisle to get married, your future looked bright and promising. Thoughts of divorce were met with, "It won't happen to us." And now, here you are either thinking about it, considering it or perhaps you and your spouse have made the final decision to end your marriage. It is not the end of the world and there is life after divorce. Your mind may be filled with questions about logistics; how does the money get divided, who gets the kids, will somebody have to pay alimony or child support? Below are some facts about Texas divorce laws:
Grounds for Filing
There are many reasons people may have grounds for divorce and they include the following: no fault (both parties agree), adultery, cruelty, abandonment, felony conviction (if one spouse was convicted) or if one spouse is in a mental institution for longer than three years or is staying there for a good while.
Spousal Support
Spousal support is not always granted and is done so on a case by case basis. It depends on a number of factors including: whether or not both parties agree, if the marriage was longer than 10 years, the physical ability of the spouse seeking maintenance to earn income and whether or not the person seeking maintenance has enough income to support the child if they have custody.
Child Custody
The court prefers for the parents to come to a custody agreement first, if they cannot, the court will do their best to determine what is in the child's best interests.At the age of 12 or older, a child can put in writing their preference of which parent they would like to live with, subject to the courts approval.
Child Support
The state of Texas uses a percentage of income guideline. The amount of child support paid is calculated as a percentage of the income by the non-custodial parent to the number of children to support. Child support is paid until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever comes later.
If you are considering divorce or have made the decision to do so, a Houston divorce attorney at the Law Offices of Eric Fredrickson can guide you through the process. We have handled over 500 family law cases over the course of 14 years. We will do everything possible to take the pain out of the process in order to help you reach your goals from the divorce.
Contact a Houston Divorce Lawyer at our office today for a free consultation.
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