In Texas, all property that is acquired during marriage will be divided equally if the parties file for divorce. Unfortunately, it can be hard to determine how to equally divide assets that are illiquid, such as a partnership interest in a family business. In community property states like Texas, if two parties to a divorce cannot agree on which of them will keep a contested asset, a judge may order the parties to sell the asset to ensure that the profits can be equally split.
The pitfalls of using social media while in a divorce
It may be very tempting for Texas residents in a divorce to take to social media to rant about their ex or their divorce. However, that short rant could prove costly in the long run. It is important to remember that social media is not private, and, even if someone has blocked an ex, there are still ways an ex can see that information and use it in the divorce.
Future promises to pay can be dangerous in divorce settlements
For Texas couples seeking a divorce, negotiating a settlement agreement that is future-proof can be difficult without an attorney. There are many possible misconceptions one can have regarding future payments as one father recently found.
Health insurance coverage and divorces
Divorcing couples in Texas may wonder about the availability or loss of health insurance after their marriage is dissolved. Many choose to stay together because one spouse can not get a policy after losing coverage under the other spouse's employer-provided policy. As a result of the Affordable Care Act, more options have become available, and insurance may no longer have such an effect.
How assets are divided through divorce in Texas
Texas residents may be interested in how the state's courts divide assets during a divorce. When two people get married, they form a community estate. The assets they accumulate during marriage are part of the community estate. Assets that were owned separately prior to marriage are not part of the community estate. Texas is considered a community property state, which means all assets are considered to be part of the community estate unless a spouse can prove that the asset should be classified as separate.
More single dads heading up households
The rise in divorce rates in Texas and elsewhere has resulted in an increase in single parent households. Many of these are run by single moms, but there has been a fairly rapid rise in the number of households led by single dads as well. A recent Pew Research Center study found that in 1960, there were an estimated 300,000 households with minor children headed by single fathers, with the number growing to 2.6 million by 2011.
