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League City Family Law Blog

Divorced households may struggle during retirement

On behalf of The Veenstra Law Firm P.L.L.C. posted in divorce on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.

Going through a divorce can cast a long financial shadow, and a study released by the Center for Retirement Research reveals that the net worth of divorced households in Texas and around the country is about 30 percent lower than married households. The Boston College-based group also says that divorced spouses are 7 percent more likely to struggle financially during their retirement years. The study, which was published in June 2018, used figures from the Federal Reserve's latest Survey of Consumer Data.

Researchers from the National Regulatory Research Institute have also been looking into the impact that the end of a marriage has on retirement, and they found that more than half of the nation's divorced men and women lack the funds needed to enjoy their golden years in comfort. While spouses who divorce early in life may still have time to prepare financially for retirement, those who end their marriages in their 50s or 60s often face uncertain futures.

How to successfully co-parent after divorce

On behalf of The Veenstra Law Firm P.L.L.C. posted in child custody on Monday, July 30, 2018.

Texas couples divorce because they no longer wish to spend their lives with each other. However, parents can't simply sign divorce papers and expect to never speak with their ex again. Instead, they must learn to co-parent together for the sake of their child. There are some steps parents can take to help the process go more smoothly.

First of all, parents should always act out of their child's best interests. This means that they should never put down their ex in front of their child or try to use the child to get back at their former spouse. These behaviors only harm the child. Second, parents should establish the same rules for both households. This helps give a child a sense of stability and consistency. Third, parents need to effectively communicate with each other about their child's needs and schedule. This can be done by creating an annual calendar and sending messages via an online co-parenting messaging system.

Talking to children about prenups

On behalf of The Veenstra Law Firm P.L.L.C. posted in family law on Monday, July 16, 2018.

Parents in Texas who anticipate the time when their children will marry may want to consider teaching them about prenuptial agreements before they go to college. People can use a prenuptial agreement to ensure that their interests are protected should they get a divorce.

One reason parents should begin talking to their children about prenuptial agreements well before they are considering marriage is so that there is no mystery about the documents when the time comes to use them. The children have to be familiar with prenuptial agreements and know what they can do so that they are able to make informed decisions about the documents.

Why getting divorced before 2019 might be a good idea

On behalf of The Veenstra Law Firm P.L.L.C. posted in divorce on Tuesday, July 3, 2018.

When setting the terms of a divorce, it's important to consider how the current tax system will affect support payments and asset division. For instance, the new tax law passed by Congress in 2017 will have deep ramifications for divorcing couples in Texas one year from now. This is why plenty of couples contemplating divorce may want to get their separations finalized before 2019.

There are several reasons why getting a divorce in 2018 is more advantageous than waiting until after the law has taken effect. To start with, alimony payments will no longer be deductible for the paying spouse nor taxable for the receiving spouse. This change may not be beneficial for either party as the receiving spouse tends to fall in a smaller tax bracket than the paying spouse. Because of this, the total sum of money to be shared between both parties may be lowered, reducing everybody's share of the proverbial pie.

Child support can be affected by disability

On behalf of The Veenstra Law Firm P.L.L.C. posted in family law on Monday, June 18, 2018.

When a parent in Texas experiences an acquired disability, it can have a major impact on their life, including their ability to work or conduct many of the same activities they have loved for years. In addition, a disability that affects a person's ability to work can also have a significant impact on their ability to pay child support. Child support orders are issued based on a statewide formula that reflects the income of the paying parent and that helps a child continue to benefit from both of their parents' standard of living.

However, just as disability itself can significantly change a parent's standard of living, it can also change their ability to pay child support. If they are no longer receiving income at their pre-disability level, they are unlikely to be able to meet the obligations of a child support order that reflected that level of income. However, becoming disabled does not cancel a parent's obligation to support their children. It can, however, lead to a modification of an existing support order if it is accompanied by a legitimate change in financial circumstances.

Understanding gray divorce

On behalf of The Veenstra Law Firm P.L.L.C. posted in divorce on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Gray divorces, or divorces on or after the age of 50, are on the rise in Texas and across the United States. Currently, around 25 percent of all divorces fall into this category.

According to experts, part of the reason gray divorces are increasing is that there are now more Americans at or over the age of 50 than ever before. In 1990, there were only 63.5 million adults in that age bracket. However, by 2010, there were 99 million. The number is expected to balloon to 158.5 million by 2050. Meanwhile, life expectancy has improved over the past few decades, with men gaining an extra 11 years and women gaining an extra 10. These statistics mean that there is now a large population of older adults who have an extra decade to contemplate divorce.

Is your ex needling you with discovery?

On behalf of The Veenstra Law Firm P.L.L.C. posted in divorce on Thursday, May 24, 2018.

It is no secret that divorce and contested child custody matters can be emotionally draining and contentious.  Couples at odds with each other may see routine parts of the legal process in divorce as hostile acts. Being served with discovery is one of them. While being asked to answer questions may make you furious, it is important to understand what a party is entitled to know for the under the Texas Rules of Evidence.

This post will provide a few examples.