Sec. 154.009. RETROACTIVE CHILD SUPPORT. (a) The court may order a parent to pay retroactive child support if the parent:
(1) has not previously been ordered to pay support for the child; and
(2) was not a party to a suit in which support was ordered.
Sec. 154.006. TERMINATION OF DUTY OF SUPPORT. (a) Unless otherwise agreed in writing or expressly provided in the order or as provided by Subsection (b), the child support order terminates on:
(1) the marriage of the child;
(2) the removal of the child’s disabilities for general purposes;
Sec. 154.003. MANNER OF PAYMENT. The court may order that child support be paid by:
(1) periodic payments;
(2) a lump-sum payment;
Sec. 154.002. CHILD SUPPORT THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. (a) The court may render an original support order, or modify an existing order, providing child support past the 18th birthday of the child to be paid only if the child is:
(1) enrolled:
(A) under Chapter 25, Education Code, in an accredited secondary school in a program leading toward a high school diploma;
CHAPTER 154. CHILD SUPPORT
SUBCHAPTER A. COURT-ORDERED CHILD SUPPORT
Sec. 154.001. SUPPORT OF CHILD. (a) The court may order either or both parents to support a child in the manner specified by the order:
Many clients have concerns about the length of time a divorce may take. I understand that you want to move on with your life and plan for the future and that a pending divorce can be stressful. The best way to finalize a divorce quickly is to have clearly defined goals. That way we can choose the best strategy to meet those goals quickly.
Every family law case is different and no lawyer can guarantee how long a case will take. In general, if the parties agree on most issues you can finalize a divorce in a few months. If the parties do not agree and require a trial to finalize the case it may take 1-2 years to finalize a case. In Texas, you must wait at least 60 days from the date of filing to finalize a divorce (there are some very limited exceptions). Contested cases always take longer than agreed cases. Contested cases are also more expensive. In many cases clients compromise in order to achieve finality and certainty and avoid future litigation expenses. We can help you decide when to litigate, and when to settle. Our firms has decades of combined family law experience. We have seen it all and can bring the full weight of that experience to your case.
What can cause a delay in a divorce case?
As part of the procedural requirements to get a lawsuit going, you must either be the server or the servee. In family law cases, sometimes you are served with more than one document at a time. For instance, you could be served not only with the petition, but also with a notice of hearing. The key is what do you once you are served. If anything, never just sweep it under the rug. While it is something that you do not want to be troubled with, unfortunately, the process has begun and now you are forced to deal with it. If you do not take some form of action, a default judgment will be obtained against you. In divorce and child custody cases, this is especially problematic. It is either your property, debts, and or child on the line. You do not want to miss your opportunity to fight.
Also, many people operate under the misconception that you can do this alone. The Texas Family Code is very complex. Not only that, there are procedural issues to consider in the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. There might even be some criminal issues mixed in which would be covered, in part, by the Texas Penal Code. Given that, the very task of filing an answer to the petition can be daunting and intimidating. Where do you get the document? What is an answer? How do I file an answer? These are just a few of the introductory questions.
The key is to never do this alone, or what is called pro se. An example of how this could go south quickly is in a recent appellate decision rendered by the Dallas Fifth District Court of Appeals in Friedman v. Friedman. In this case, the woman filed a petition for divorce and had her husband served. He did not do anything, and the woman obtained a default judgment and the judge signed a final decree of divorce. The husband did not file an answer and he had been properly served, thus the judge could do this. The final decree of divorce dispensed with the marital property and debts. This was not enough for Mr. Friedman to learn his lesson, because he then filed his own appeal in the form of a motion for new trial and drafts the document himself.
Are you facing a child custody case in Kaufman County? Nothing is more important than your children. Understanding what to expect can minimize the anxiety and plan for the future.
Let’s walk through the basics of a Kaufman County Child Custody Case.
First comes the consultation. When you meet with one of our Kaufman County Child Custody Lawyers we will go over your goals for litigation. How do you want the case to end? What issues are important to you? Do you want your child to stay in a certain area? Do you believe you can co-parent successfully? Are the children safe with the other parent? What about child support and insurance? Once we understand your goals we will craft a litigation strategy for your case.
Every one has questions about their family law situation. I will be glad to meet with you and answer your questions about the process. I understand that their is nothing more important than your family. The internet can be a good source of general information on the divorce process, but to really understand what a Kaufman County family case is like, you need a consultation with an attorney who has experience in Kaufman County family law.
At Guest and Gray our lawyers have decades of experience in Kaufman County. We don’t just take case here, our lawyers been a part of the local legal community for years. I am a former prosecutor from the Kaufman County District Attorneys Office. I am also a former President of the Kaufman County Bar Association. I have never had an office outside this county. Kaufman County is our home and we are proud to serve the local community.
If you want to set up a consultation for your family law issue please call today.
Our firm is proud to represent Grandparents who are fighting to be a part of their grandchildren’s lives. In Texas, Grandparents have no right to see their grandchildren absent a court order. Let’s meet and discuss your options and what I can do to help meet your goals.
In Texas, a court can authorize grandparent visitation of a grandchild if visitation is in the child’s best interest, and one of the following circumstances exists:
Dallas Divorce Lawyer Blog
