coronavirus texas
The world is currently being taken over by a pandemic known as the novel coronavirus, also known as Covid-19. After a few months, the virus has spread practically all over the world. People are scrambling, trying to figure out how to deal with this new and never-before-seen type of coronavirus. While scientists are still trying to find a cure for the virus, we should not panic. There are still ways to protect yourself from the virus and avoid contracting it. The Current Situation in Texas and US As of March 14, the number of coronavirus cases in the US has gone up to 2,900 with an estimated 59 deaths. There have been over 30 confirmed cases in the state of Texas, with about 50 more pending tests from Texas citizens. It is because of this that the governor has decided to declare a state of disaster. What Can You Do? While the statistics do seem pretty scary, one shouldn’t just go scrambling about in a blind panic. Yes, the virus is very infectious and can spread, but there are still some things you can do. The first thing you should do is know what you’re dealing with. Not much is known about it since it is new, but what is definitely known is that the virus has a predilection for those who are immunocompromised as well as the more elderly individuals in the population. These two populations are at higher risk of acquiring the virus. But whether you are old or young, healthy or not, you should all exercise the same caution.  Maintain Proper Hygiene One of the most basic ways to avoid getting the virus is to maintain proper hygiene. That includes washing your hands properly, and health agencies all over the world cannot stress the importance of this […]

Protecting Your Family from COVID-19   Recently updated !

vaccination
To Immunize or Not Science and medical research have come a pretty long way. Health care has vastly improved and benefited humankind since its inception. There is the development of drugs, finding safer ways to perform surgeries and new technologies for diagnosis and treatment. Despite all the science and research, it may still be hard to convince people of what is necessary and effective. A good example of this would be when it comes to immunizations. For the past few years or so, doubt regarding the safety and necessity of vaccines has been coming up. There are movements where parents choose not to vaccinate their children. It’s not much of a problem if you and your co-parent are on the same page. What if you’re not? Vaccines and Distrust Towards Them The Good Since the development of the first vaccine by Edward Jenner, it was discovered that certain diseases could be prevented. The eventual development of vaccines has helped decrease the incidence of diseases that were discovered to be preventable, even eradicating smallpox and polio. Vaccines eventually became a useful tool for public health. It proved to help keep people healthy by controlling the occurrence of diseases. Immunizations work by helping people get immunity to those certain diseases. The Bad While this seemed to be a great thing, a study in the 1990s came out claiming that vaccines caused autism. This caused people to panic and begin to avoid vaccinations. Eventually, the study was debunked. However, damage done to people’s perception of vaccines could not be undone. It left distrust as to the efficacy of vaccines. And as if that wasn’t enough, people began to even think that vaccines had been just a way for “Big Pharma” to make money out of people and also get them sick just so […]

What to Do When My Spouse and I Disagree on Our Child’s Immunization   Recently updated !

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Frequently Asked Questions About Annulment
What is an annulment? Annulment is a legal procedure that would invalidate your marriage – so it will mean that you were never married. In order to go for annulment, you need to qualify for it. Once you are granted an annulment, your status will be single and you can remarry. It basically cancels and erases a marriage. It declares basically that your marriage never married. Can a court divide property in an annulment? The court will issue orders regarding the children and the separation of property in an annulment. The court will also determine which properties and assets are community property and which ones are separate property. These will be divided accordingly. What happens to the children in the annulment? When there are children from your marriage and you want the marriage annulled, you will have to submit a SAPCR (Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship) which will determine the rights and duties of each parent towards the children.  Will an annulment affect the presumption of paternity? No. The husband will always be the presumed father of the child if the marriage took place before the birth of the child or if the child was born during the marriage. He will also be the presumed father if the child was born 301 days after the marriage was terminated by divorce, annulment, or death. What is the difference between a suit to void a marriage and an annulment? Both legal procedures focus on reasons why the marriage is not valid. The difference between the two is that a void marriage is not a valid marriage from the start, despite what the court may say. Annulment, on the other hand, needs the permission of the court to invalidate the marriage. Also, in a void marriage suit, spouses will not have the option […]

Frequently Asked Questions About Annulment in Texas   Recently updated !

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trial separation texas
There are times when a spouse is not sure about divorce. The spouse may only want some time alone, or there might just be a crisis they have to hurdle.  In any case, there are some counselors who would advise having time apart from each other. Are there any legal parameters for this kind of arrangement? Legal vs Trial Separation There are different types of separation. There is legal separation and trial separation.  In a legal separation, there is an agreement by both spouses that they would live apart. But legally, they would still be married. The usual question is: why would they not just get a divorce instead? Legal Separation offers the same benefits to married couples. These benefits include: Community property Healthcare coverage for the other spouse The spouses can resume marital union at any time without any complications (because they are still legally married). The state of Texas does not offer legal separation. Generally, a trial separation is only an informal agreement. However, the court may recognize it if in a legal document. You can agree in conditions and have a signed agreement. This option is for couples who are unsure of divorce but wants space from each other. Making the Separation Agreement Binding As trial or legal separation is not recognized by the state of Texas, there is no formal agreement required. What the separation agreement actually does is offer a level of accountability. If the judge signs the agreement, a court order may be issued for the custody terms, visitation rights, child support, etc. The separation agreement then works as a legal contract when sought with the aid of the court. It is signed by both parties and the judge. The purpose is to have a written record of the conditions of the separation as […]

Trial Separation in Texas   Recently updated !

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divorce family movies
Going through a divorce is something that might not be unusual nowadays. A lot of couples may end up disagreeing on a lot of things. Many think that maybe it would be best to part ways. For adults, it’s easy to understand this. But for a child, why this would happen may not make much sense to them. Explaining the situation may help them understand why mom and dad are deciding to split up. It might help if they find a way to see how divorces go and how life goes on after. One good way they could see that would be through movies where the story revolves around a child’s parents divorcing. If you plan on doing so, you may want to consider these two movies. Boyhood This movie revolves around how the youngest child, Mason, sees life with his parents having separated at a young age. The movie follows Mason for 12 years. Mason grows up together with his sister. The movie shows his life from when their parents were still married until after the divorce. One thing that is shown in this movie is the reality about relationships. We are shown how some relationships just turn out great while others don’t end up so great. Some are better off just putting an end to. By helping your child see this reality regarding relationships, maybe they can understand why mom and dad are choosing to part ways. Mrs. Doubtfire Starring the late Robin Williams, this movie helps show us divorce in a rather light way. This movie revolves around how Robin Williams chooses to secretly see his children by disguising himself as a nanny for his kids. Though this may be illegal in reality, Mrs. Doubtfire shows us that just a parent’s love for their children isn’t any […]

Movies that Can Help Your Child Understand Divorce Better   Recently updated !

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inheritance of adopted
Can the adopted child inherit from his or her adoptive parents? Yes. Under the Texas Probate Code, when a child is adopted legally or formally, they are treated in the same footing as a natural-born child of the adoptive parents. Therefore, if the decedent dies without a will, the adopted child has the same inheritance rights as the natural child. In cases of formal adoption, the state conducts an investigation to ensure that the adopting parents are qualified to adopt a child. The investigation may include but is not limited to inspecting their home and doing a background check on the applicants. The state must verify that the applicants have enough resources to provide for the adopted child. Once everything is in place, the judge then approves the petition for adoption. The adopted child will legally become the child of the adopting parents and he or she enjoys the same rights as a natural born child. This means that the inheritance rights of the adopted child extends not only to what he may inherit from the adopting parents but he or she will inherit from the adoptive parents’ decedents, such as the grandparents, and in some cases, uncles and aunts. Can the adopted child still inherit from his or her biological parents? Another issue at hand is whether or not the adopted child still has the right to inherit from his natural or biological parents. As a general rule, yes. The adopted child can inherit from both his or her birth parents and adoptive parents. This is only applicable if the natural or adoptive parents do not have testamentary wills and if there is no court order that especially prohibits a child to inherit from his or her natural parents. If the adoptive and natural parents have testamentary wills, their estate […]

What Can the Adopted Child Inherit?   Recently updated !

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CPS Parent Resource Guide Cover
Maintaining A Good Relationship With Your Caseworker   CPS (child protective services) caseworkers are extremely valuable people to your case. They are hardworking, caring people, with only the best interests of your child in mind, and they have chosen their job for a reason.  In fact, your CPS caseworker is probably the most important person on your case, because he or she is the person you will work with the most to coordinate any services you are ordered to get. This includes and is not limited to: arranging visits with your child, talking to a therapist or parenting coach about how you are doing with your services, and he or she will report to the judge how you are doing with your services, your visits, housing, employment, etc. In the alternative, he or she will also report to the judge when you are doing or NOT doing well with your services, visiting with your children, seeking and finding housing, working at a job for money so you can take care of your kids. If your case goes to trial, your caseworker will be the person telling the judge why your parental rights should be terminated. Additionally, while keeping a good repertoire with your CPS worker, it is important to remember that that they too are extremely busy people. It is normal to get aggravated or feel slightly ignored if the CPS worker does not respond to your calls right away or remember every detail of your case as well as you think they should. However, caseworkers work with many families, have lots of cases just like yours that they must pay attention to, and like everyone, caseworkers sometimes make mistakes. CPS workers care a lot about the job they do and have chosen this job for a reason! Keep this […]

CPS Parent Resource Guide Part 11: Working With CPS   Recently updated !

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adultery
Adultery is one of the most common reasons for divorce. For many married individuals, it is a deal-breaker as it reeks of betrayal.  Adultery as a Ground for Divorce While it is often met with anger and condemnation, adultery is not considered a crime in Texas law. There is no direct penalty for any spouse who commits adultery. However, it can be one of the grounds for divorce.  In the state of Texas, there are two kinds of divorce. The first one is a “no-fault” divorce. This is where both parties agree to separate. There is no need to find fault or disparage the other party. Nor is there a need to justify their decision.  However, if you want a divorce and your spouse resists, you can file based on grounds accepted by the court. Adultery is one of them. Alimony and Adultery Adultery is legally defined as voluntary or willful intercourse of a spouse with a person who is not the husband/wife. If you will file the divorce based on these grounds, there has to be acceptable proof.  If the court finds the proof acceptable, the divorce proceedings will commence. It is often noticed that adultery will be a factor throughout the course of the trial. When a judge decides on temporary custody and property division, he can consider one party “at fault”. Requirements for Spousal Maintenance Alimony or Spousal maintenance is given by Texas courts to a spouse who is incapable of meeting his/her personal needs. The state has certain conditions before awarding alimony. While adultery is not one of them, there are some judges who may consider it when they make their decision.  Even if the marriage lasted more than 10 years, a judge may deny alimony if the requesting spouse committed adultery. On the other hand, […]

How Does Adultery Affect Alimony in Texas?   Recently updated !

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Child Support Image 2
I read an article today that estimated that more than 120,000 men paying child support for children that aren’t theirs. The article didn’t go into much detail regarding how that number was reached, but even if the true number were half that, it is still somewhat staggering. I have personally come across this enough times to think it probably isn’t that far off either. There are a number of different situations that can cause this, but the most common in my experience are when Mom will tell someone that they are currently romantically involved in that they are father and are the only person who could be the father. This person believes them and signs the birth certificate and/or a potential acknowledgement of paternity. Then, low and behold, they find out that Mom was sleeping with other people and begins to question paternity and/or gets a paternity test. It seems like the process should be simple at this point with how conclusive DNA testing. Simply show the evidence, get parental rights terminated, no more child support right? Not so fast! Unfortunately, almost nothing in the legal arena works simply, and this process least of all. First of all, pretty much everything in this process requires hiring an attorney, simply because every step of the process is like pulling teeth, and that creates its own complication for people struggling financially (child support payments for other people’s children certainly don’t help with this!). Second, even if you can conclusively prove you are not the father, the judge may determine that you are “effectively” the father either due to an acknowledgement of paternity, or based on the fact that you may have been acting as the father for this period of time. This means that you can still end up on the hook for past, […]

Men owe child support despite not being fathers   Recently updated !

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