There are many issues that a couple needs to resolve when they are going through a divorce. While a number of these issues can quickly turn a “friendly” divorce into a contentious one, it is often the issue of custody that can lead to a battle. The feelings of anger and resentment can become even more amplified if one parent is ordered to pay the other child support.

It is not uncommon in these situations where the paying parent accuses the receiving parent of using child support payments for their own benefit and not for the benefit of the child. The receiving parent often scoffs at these accusations since the child support check is likely deposited into their checking account, along with their own paychecks, and they know that the child support is going towards the care and well-being of the child.  

Texas Child Support Laws

Under Texas law, both custodial and noncustodial parents are responsible for supporting their children. Both parents are required to meet the reasonable and necessary physical, emotional, mental, and educational needs of the child. Custodial parents must also provide food, shelter, and clothing for the child, but custodial parents also know there will always be other expenses that go with raising the child.

Over the past several years, social networks have become a significant part of our lives. These sites allow us to connect with friends and family members, and share photos, thoughts, and opinions with others, no matter where we are. While this level of connection has many benefits, it can also have some negative effects. Social media is playing an increasing role in the breakdown of marriages. In fact, studies have shown that Facebook is involved in approximately 30 percent of all divorces.

How Addicted Are We?

According to some studies, the average person in the United States checks Facebook, Twitter, or other social networks 17 times each day. The latest industry statistics from 2020 reveal the following:

• The average user spent more almost two hours and 30 minutes each day on social media.
• Approximately half of the time the average user spent on their mobile device was accessing their social media apps.
• Facebook use consumed the most amount of time, with the average user spending about two hours each day on the network.
• The average user spent about 40 minutes a day on YouTube, 30 minutes per day on Snapchat, and 28 minutes per day on Instagram.

How Social Media Can Cause Relationship Issues

This amount of time focused on their social media accounts causes some people to neglect their personal relationships, and couples who spend more time on social media than they do interacting with each other are likely to experience relationship difficulties. 

In the United States, divorce is a fact of life for many people. However, one demographic that has seen an increase in divorce rates over the past few decades includes people over the age of 50. Divorces for people who are in their fifties or older is often referred to as “gray divorce.” According to national data, the rate for gray divorces has doubled in the past 30 years and researchers predict that by 2030, that rate will have tripled.

Those who choose to end their marriage later in their life will often face a wide variety of emotional and financial challenges that are different from those faced by their younger counterparts, and determining how to move forward after the end of a long marriage can often be difficult. The following are some tips for surviving and thriving after a gray divorce.

You Are Never Too Old to Start Over

A major life change like a divorce can be very stressful, especially when it involves the end of a long-term partnership. During the divorce process and even after it is over, you may experience anxiety about changes to your habits and routines and wonder if you will be able to find a new partner. However, by focusing on practicing self-care, taking part in activities you enjoy, and continuing to move forward, you can start the next phase of your life on a positive note.

At its core, marriage is a legal bond created between two people who, at one point in time, vowed to stay together forever. However, not all plans that we make in life unfold in the ways we think they will, and marriage is no different. 

When a marriage is no longer working out for either one or both parties involved, divorce may be the solution. While divorce proceedings are designed to result in the dissolution of marriage, there is far more to a divorce than simply ending the legal bond between two people. 

There are many details that must be addressed as two people begin the process of getting a divorce, including property division. Dividing assets and deciding on how to allocate shared property can be a grueling experience, but it is far more manageable when you have an experienced family law attorney guiding you through it all. 

If you have been looking into the process of getting a divorce in Texas, but you and your spouse have children together, you may have come across a term known as conservatorship. This word can have different definitions depending on the state in which it is being used. 

For example, a conservatorship in California is not defined in the same way as conservatorships in Texas. In the state of California, a conservatorship is regarded as a dynamic in which one adult is appointed to care for another adult. Conversely, in the eyes of the law in Texas, a conservatorship is synonymous with child custody. 

That said, you will not see the term "child custody" in any legal documents defining the law in Texas. Rather, it will always be referred to as a conservatorship.