Houston Business and Family Law Blog

Going through a divorce or legal separation in Texas, or anywhere in the United States, can be difficult and often overwhelming. This is especially true if there are children involved. Parents who have spent a good portion of their lives taking care of their children must suddenly split their time with the other spouse, which can be hard in certain situations. Traditionally, mothers have been awarded primary custody of the children, as they were generally the ones who stayed at home and cared for the children.

Times have changed over the years, however, and as women have entered back into the workforce, many women have taken high-ranking positions. In some cases, women have become the bread-winners of the family and fathers are left to stay at home and provide care for the children. In these types of situations, the fathers may be the ones who are awarded primary physical custody of the children, as they are the ones who take the kids to school, help with homework and provide caring support. In fact, as many as 2.2 million fathers across the country have primary physical custody of their children, with mothers as non-custodial parents. There are some mothers who pay child support to their children who are in these types of situations.

If you and your spouse are going through a high-asset divorce in Texas, and if you acquired a significant amount of artwork during your marriage, you may want to know how you can ensure the divorce judge divides that artwork fairly between the two of you. While many people assume that the most reliable valuations come from humans, the NAEPC Journal of Estate and Tax Planning suggests that digital tools offer the most reliable results.

The Cincinnati appraiser of fine and decorative arts, collectibles and antiques who authored the study says that digital tools play a crucial role in the division, disposition and protection of tangible personal property during both divorce and estate planning. However, not all digital tools are created equal. You can ensure that the program you choose to use offers the most fair and accurate appraisal by checking to make sure it has certain characteristics.

When it comes to safely escaping from an abusive marriage, a great deal of emphasis is placed on domestic violence. It’s true that violence can threaten the safety of abused spouses and children. However, emotional violence should not be discounted. You and other Texas residents in unhappy marriages should understand what constitutes emotional and psychological abuse, as well as the long-lasting effects.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, emotional abuse can be as devastating as physical abuse, and it may be even more difficult to recognize. You and your spouse may argue often, but you might not realize your spouse’s behavior counts as abusive. Non-violent abuse can include verbal, financial and psychological attacks, which can impact your self-esteem and independence. The following behaviors are classic signs of emotional abuse:

• Your spouse isolates you from family members and friends by not allowing you to see or contact them without his or her permission.
• You are not allowed to work outside the home or have access to a car, phone or internet.
• Your spouse belittles and insults you, then says you are being overly sensitive to teasing or harmless jokes when you try to defend yourself.
• You constantly feel afraid of the slightest misstep upsetting or angering your partner.
• You feel as if everything that goes wrong, even if you had no control over it, is your fault.
• Your partner tells you and others that you are crazy and that everything is in your own head.

Regardless of what led to the dissolution of your marriage, you may feel like your world is ending. Nevertheless, life goes on. Your children have to get to school, you must work, and meals need to be cooked. These may be difficult to do under the present circumstances.

In fact, you may feel overwhelmed by some of the decisions you must make. For example, if you and your spouse are splitting up, who will stay in the house? When will you see the children? Who will pay the bills? How will you manage those daily obligations you used to handle as a couple? You certainly don't want to be battling with your spouse over these issues for months to come.