One of the most surprising aspects of the Texas Family Code, as it relates to father's rights, deals with stepdads. It's actually possible for a stepdad to gain parental rights to a child if he meets several requirements. But even with that provision in Texas law, it...
Fathers’ Rights
How do I get my parental rights restored?
When a parent has his or her parental rights limited in the Texas Family Courts, it can be a devastating blow--or it can be a wake-up call that leads to meaningful life changes. I've seen many parents who undergo rehabilitation or anger management programs and come...
Equal Custody: Has Its Time Come in Texas?
It wouldn't be a legislative session in Austin without someone trying to remake family law in Texas! This year, there was a bill introduced by an East Texas legislator, Rep. James White, calling for equal custody for both parents in a divorce case. Adopting this bill...
Legal Scenarios in Big Little Lies
HBO recently concluded its mini-series Big Little Lies, and if your office, circle of friends, or family is anything like mine, the buzz created by the final episode was all you could talk about since it aired. Of course, the talk at our office water...
Rethinking Visitation
When parents negotiate a divorce settlement, parenting time is one of the most important elements to consider. Too often, in my view, parents either go with the default standard order or seek a 50/50 schedule in the interest of "fairness" and "equal time." But I find...
A Reality Check for Men in Divorce
I've noticed a trend in some recently-concluded cases I've been working on - namely, that a lot of men are frustrated in the divorce process. It's a world in which many couples share the load in working outside the home, in taking care of the household, and taking...
How to Persist When the Opposing Side Won’t Budge
In most family law cases, I often have to remind myself of the importance of patience. As a family law attorney, we are always coming across the same issues, wherein the opposing party decides to thwart all efforts at our completing the discovery process. These...
Bigotry Hides in the Bathroom
On November 3, 2015, Houston voters rejected an ordinance that made it unlawful to discriminate against an individual based on sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual...
An attorney can help you establish paternity
When we talk about fathers' rights, we often tackle the issue in terms of fathers who are worried about being denied time with their children based on court biases. While this gender bias in the courts is not nearly as serious as it may have once been, that does not...
Factors that affect child custody in Texas
When it comes to child custody in Texas, there are two options: joint managing conservatorships and sole managing conservatorships. These different options are essentially joint custody and sole custody, but some parents, particularly fathers, may be concerned by the...