Good Sense - Family Law

For 30 years I have represented regular folks in their family law problems. Family law is what walked into the door 30 years ago and that became my practice. I had little ones at home and whatever I could generate in legal fees put bacon and eggs on my table. I think I charged $300.00 for my first divorce case.

I have seen too much in these last 30 years. There is no more strife, anxiety, anger, hate than that which can be generated in a family law case. Those cases render destruction upon families. The nastiest things comes out. The wildest accusations. Many times those accusations being made up out of whole cloth.

Look, use good sense.

In cases involving children, someone will be awarded the right to establish the residence (what we call primary) but otherwise, the parties will be Joint Managing Conservators with pretty much equal rights and duties. As to visitation, the Texas Expanded Possession Schedule is about 50/50. Not quite. But pretty close between primary and non-primary. The funny thing, the non-primary (usually Dad) is in a real control position to control his visitation, especially over the summer. In divorces with children, just do the standard deal. Get it in and get it over. Unless you have real serious issues, get it done.

In cases involving property, the Court is going to divide the property pretty much on a 50/50 basis. Make an inventory of all your assets (not so much personal property like the TV), put values on the personal property and then divide by 2. This will be the rule in most cases, a 50/50 division. There are exceptions but as a general rule, it will be 50 - 50 on property.