Houston Business and Family Law Blog

Going through a divorce can involve many emotions. Not only is it difficult to separate from someone who you may have been married to for a substantial period of time, but there is also the overwhelming task of dividing marital property. Distributing possessions and assets that have been accumulated during years of marriage can be difficult, especially when you or your spouse have developed an attachment to certain items. There may also be a need to get as many finances possible in order to prosper in the future. This need may result in one party hiding or stashing property and/or assets, so they will not be available for division in the divorce settlement.

During the divorce, you and your spouse are required to disclose all property and assets in your possession. In order to ensure you receive everything you are entitled to in the settlement, you may want to be on the lookout for suspicious activity or behavior from your spouse. Some of these behaviors may include the following:

•          Getting a P.O. box and having certain documents diverted to that mailbox
•          Suddenly deleting certain financial programs used to track family finances
•          Changing account numbers and passwords to have sole access to financial accounts
•          Getting another phone or acting suspicious when making calls regarding finances

If you count yourself among the many people across Texas making their way through a divorce, you may be experiencing considerable change in your life. You may, too, need to take a new and different approach to filing your taxes this year in the wake of your divorce, because such a significant life change can have substantial tax implications. At Laura Dale & Associates, P.C. we recognize that divorce brings with it many changes, and we have helped many people facing similar circumstances navigate these changes and make informed decisions along the way.

According to Fox News, while your tax filing needs change in the wake of divorce, tax rules, too, are changing this year, and they can have far-reaching effects when it comes to your taxes. The more you understand about these changes and how they affect you, the less likely you are to experience unpleasant surprises, come tax time. So, what do you need to know about filing taxes after divorce in 2019?

Child custody can be one of the most complex issues in a divorce. Both parents probably have strong opinions about where the child should live, who should get to make decisions for the child and how much parenting time he or she should get. Custody and visitation matters are often emotionally charged and difficult to navigate, particularly when one parent moved or intends to move out of the country.

International child custody questions usually emerge in a divorce involving one parent who was born abroad, has family in another country or works in another country. If international custody issues will affect your divorce or you suspect that your spouse will try to take your child out of the country at some point, it is prudent to know your rights. You may also find great benefit in seeking help in dealing with your custody concerns.

You share almost everything when you’re married. Therefore, when you are about to get divorced, it can come as no surprise that you might not know which of the items you acquired during your marriage you or your spouse will get. Who is going to live in the house you bought, who gets the vacation cabin you inherited from your grandparents, and who keeps the minivan? Property division can be confusing for Texas residents.

As FindLaw explains, most states in the U.S. are equitable distribution states. A judge will consider numerous factors, like the earning potential each spouse receives and whether one spouse will continue to stay at home after the divorce to raise the children, when dividing assets. However, you don’t live in an equitable distribution state. Texas is one of the nine states that are considered community property states. This means you and your spouse equally own the assets, income and debt you acquired during the marriage, regardless of who purchased the property, who earned more or who was employed.