Typically the rights and duties of a parent are outlined in Chapter 151 of the Family Code. Those rights include (a) A parent of a child has the following rights and duties: (1) the right to have physical possession, to direct the moral and … [Read more...]
Common Law Marriage in Texas
What Is Common Law Marriage? Under the common law marriage doctrine, if certain conditions are met, a couple is considered to be legally married, despite not having a marriage license, a ceremony, or a marriage certificate. Texas recognizes common … [Read more...]
Introducing our New Board Certified Family Law Attorney Duana Boswell-Loechel
Duana Boswell-Loechel grew up in Moore, Oklahoma and moved to League City, Texas her junior year of high school where she attended and graduated from Clear Creek High School. Duana earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology and Marine … [Read more...]
DIVORCED OR WIDOWED? Words matter
One of the common ways divorce litigation ends is with mediation. Mediation is a method of alternative dispute resolution encouraged by the Texas Family Code and the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. In mediation the parties meet with a neutral who … [Read more...]
Guiding You Through Divorce
Last month I wrote about all of the Paperwork involved in finishing up a divorce. Among the things you must do is visit with an Estate Planning attorney. Mr. Bailey’s article this month will cover that. I also suggest that you visit with a counselor. … [Read more...]
The Paperwork
As gut-wrenching as a divorce can be, once the court signs the decree you're only half done. You have to file paperwork with the Bureau of Vital Statistics, the Texas Department of Public Safety Drivers License Bureau, Social Security and so many … [Read more...]
Lifetime Alimony In Texas
Alimony, spousal support, or maintenance, as it is called in Texas, provides vital financial assistance to a spouse after a divorce. There are multiple types of maintenance options, including lifetime alimony in Texas. But how do you go about … [Read more...]
MODIFYING CHILD CUSTODY AGREEMENTS
Earlier this week I read about a court in New York that denied a mother the right to move with a child seventeen miles based on an agreement incident to divorce the former couple had signed. Yes, the court denied the mother’s request to move with the … [Read more...]
Bailey & Galyen Announcement
Bailey & Galyen is proud and excited to announce that Dana Manry has passed the exam to become Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of Texas. The State Bar recognizes Board Certification as “a mark … [Read more...]
Does Living Together In Texas Mean You’re Married?
In Texas, the short answer is “maybe.” The concept of an informal marriage, sometimes referred as Common Law marriage, does exist in Texas. According to current law, (which may undergo a major re-write in this upcoming session of the Legislature) the … [Read more...]
Every Year About This Time People Lose Their Minds
Every year about this time people lose their minds. The holidays are special and who better to spend them with than our children? I completely understand. This last weekend the phone rang off the hook because “primary conservators” did not let the … [Read more...]
Understanding the “Standard Possession Order”
In a divorce with children, and in other cases involving custody, the courts often impose what is commonly known as a “Standard Possession Order” or “SPO” for short, to resolve the competing desires of the parents to allocate periods of time with … [Read more...]
