League City Family Law Blog

Parents in Texas who are going through a divorce and choose what is sometimes called "birdnesting" or "nesting" as a child custody arrangement might wonder how long they should keep the schedule in place. Nesting refers to when the children live full time in the family home while their parents take turns staying with them there. The rest of the time, parents live elsewhere, usually in a shared apartment. Most experts say this setup should not last more than three to six months.

Nesting can be a good way to offer children stability as they adjust to their parents' divorce. However, as it goes on, they might start to think the arrangement means a reconciliation is likely. Sharing homes can also be difficult for parents even if the divorce is relatively amicable and could start to create conflict.

The simple mention of a prenuptial agreement to a soon-to-be-married individual or his or her family is likely to bring a charged reaction. For many in Texas, it seems inappropriate, at the very least, to initiate a discussion regarding the potential for the failure of a marriage before it has had the opportunity to begin. At worst, it signals the inevitable doom of the union. However, understanding exactly what a prenup is and isn't can provide some perspective.

According to most legal relationship experts, the most common myth about prenups is that they exist solely to protect one spouse's existing wealth. While that issue is certainly a common one, a prenup can address all marital assets. Many times where couples have had a prior marriage with children, the prenup addresses the care of the existing family. Generally speaking, a prenup can address almost any issue, but it cannot circumvent issues of public policy, such as child support.

An increasing number of older couples in Texas and across the country are choosing to divorce. While the divorce rate remains twice as high among younger couples, it has doubled since 1990 for people age 50 and older. At the same time, the rate has remained steady or even slightly declined for younger couples. People at any age can divorce successfully and move on to a happy single life, but it can be particularly important for people who divorce later in life to take care of their health.

The Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory is a tool that measures the likelihood of a stress-induced health breakdown in relation to significant life events; divorce ranks second on that scale. While stress can affect people at any age, it can be a particular concern for seniors who are already dealing with other medical issues. When people over 50 decide to divorce, especially those who have already entered retirement age, there can be some particular physical and psychological health concerns to monitor. Depression, anxiety and chronic stress are common responses to divorce. These can also affect other physical conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure or Type 2 diabetes.

Researchers have discovered a surprising and alarming trend that is happening in Texas and around the country. Those who have close friends who get a divorce are 75 percent more likely to get divorced themselves. The study conducted by Brown University, Harvard and the University of California at San Diego found that even the divorce of a friend of a friend can have an impact on the likelihood of separation.

The basis of the family law study is that when one friend gets a divorce, other friends begin to imagine the possibilities of a life without their spouse. They take account of their lives and begin to believe if their friend could successfully go through the process of a divorce, they could as well. Researchers concluded that for many, this is simply a case of the grass looking greener on the other side.