Becoming a father should be a life-changing moment in any man’s life. However, there should be no clouds of uncertainty hanging over you or the child. If you are uncertain of your paternity or if your paternity is being disputed by the child’s mother, there are steps you can take to legally determine if you are the father of the child. No matter what led to the disputed paternity case, the legal establishment of paternity can benefit the child, the father, and the mother.

Options for Establishing Paternity in Texas

If a man and woman are married, or if the child is born within 300 days of the couple’s divorce, the man is legally presumed to be the father of the child. For couples who are not married but agree on who the father of the child is, paternity can be established by both parents signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) form. This form is only legally valid if both parents sign.

If there is any dispute or uncertainty over who the father of the child is, then the simplest way to establish paternity is through a DNA test. After a paternity suit is filed, then the mother, father, and child will have their DNA tested through a simple cheek swab. The accuracy rate of the tests is nearly perfect.

If you are married, it is common to find yourself worrying or wondering about your joint finances. You may not want to burden your spouse with any new debt you have taken on. You may even be considering a divorce and want to secure what you consider your separate property or assets. Like the better-known prenuptial agreement, a postnuptial agreement, also known as a marital property agreement, can be used to clarify what portion of a couple’s property is shared and which is considered separate.

Benefits of Creating a Postnuptial Agreement

Under Texas law, a postnuptial agreement can be used by spouses to divide shared marital property into separate, individual property and merge previously separate property into marital property.

A common use of the agreement is to insulate each other from risk when taking on new debt or if one spouse entered the marriage with substantial debt. If one spouse is starting or investing in a new business opportunity, they could separate out that portion of their assets from the couple’s community property. They also have the option to transfer assets, such as the marital house, to the other spouse so that it wouldn’t be at risk if the business failed and creditors were looking for assets to repay the debts.

When two spouses both put their heart and soul into making a business succeed, it can be a personal and professional accomplishment. However, if the couple decides to divorce, the co-ownership of a business can make matters more complicated. A trusted divorce attorney can help you through the complex process of handling your business during a divorce.

Steps for Business Owners During a Divorce

Before any decisions are made, it is necessary to have a financial expert determine the value of the business. There are different methods for finding the value. It can depend on which type of business you own to find the best way. Each spouse may bring in their own experts who may need to reconcile if they come to different values. Other complicating factors include if one spouse had started the business themselves, with the other later joining in, including if the business was started by one spouse before your marriage. In this case, some share of the business may be considered separate property and not subject to division.

Once the value is determined, you and your spouse have three basic options for approaching the handling of the business during your divorce. These include:

For many grandparents, their relationship with their grandkids is the greatest joy of their life. Ideally, visits are enjoyable, and the relationships between all parties are amicable. However, in cases of negligent care or tragic cases of the death of the child’s parents, grandparents may seek custody of their grandchild under Texas law. There are specific scenarios under which a grandparent has legal standing to pursue custody, and it is recommended to consult with a lawyer who can advise you in your case.

Cases When Grandparents Can Petition for Custody in Texas

To provide a stable home life for a child that has been subjected to heartbreak, abuse, or unsafe living conditions, grandparents may pursue being named as their grandchild's managing conservator. This means they would assume responsibility for the child's care and be allowed to make important decisions about their life. For grandparents, these cases are limited by Texas law to one of the following situations:

• Both parents of the grandchild are deceased.

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Since 2015 when same-sex marriage was legalized throughout the United States, LGBTQ couples have enjoyed the same benefits, rights, and protections as opposite-sex couples in the state of Texas. This also means that they have the same responsibilities during a divorce as well. However, there are certain unique circumstances with same-sex divorces that must be considered during the divorce process. 

Same-Sex Divorce in Texas

Spousal Support - If one of the spouses in the divorce would potentially qualify for spousal maintenance, also known as spousal support or alimony, there could be some question as to the length of your marriage. This is especially important, as marriage length is a factor to determine how much support the spouse may receive and for how long. The question of the length of a same-sex marriage could be complicated by a few factors. Perhaps you were married in another state which recognized same-sex marriage before the federal ruling, before moving to Texas. You may have also lived together in a lengthy partnership before same-sex marriage was legal. The factors may be taken into account by the judge when ruling on spousal maintenance, and an experienced divorce attorney can help build your case.  

Division of Martial Property - Similar to spousal maintenance, the potential for varying interpretations of marriage length can impact the division of marital property in a same-sex marriage. The accumulation of joint property may predate your legal marriage, but it could be argued that you have a claim to the property due to your relationship situation.