Couples getting divorced in Texas often find that they are unable to resolve their differences without professional help. And no wonder - after years of marriage, a couple’s communication patterns are often unproductive but very difficult to change. Furthermore, each partner is likely to have strong feelings and preferences on various issues that likely are incompatible with their spouse’s preferences. This is where a mediator can help. 

Some couples need the help of a mediator throughout their entire divorce process. Others can resolve certain issues easily while requiring help with others. Whatever your situation may be, here are three areas in which divorce mediation may be helpful.

Possession and Access

Rather than using the terms “custody” and “visitation,” Texas law uses “managing conservatorship” and “possessory conservatorship,” which mean the same thing, respectively. The parent or parents with managing conservatorship have the authority to make important decisions for a child on issues bigger than day-to-day concerns; the parent or parents with possessory conservatorship have the right to spend time with their children. 

As many people who have gotten divorced can testify, the decision to get a divorce in Texas is not always so clear-cut. Even when someone is sure they are making the right choice, she may question herself, have doubts, and even feel regrets. In some cases, a divorcing couple will realize partway through the process that they want to try to resolve their problems and stay married. If this sounds like you, read on. 

Can We Cancel Our Divorce? 

If both spouses want to stop the divorce process, they simply need to file a motion for dismissal and the process will be over. If only one spouse was seeking to get a divorce, and the other spouse had not responded with his or her petition, only the first spouse needs to file a motion for dismissal. This is called a Notice of Nonsuit. 

If one spouse wants to continue with the divorce, the divorce will go on. Even if the other spouse decides not to cooperate at all, a judge can finalize the divorce without the help or input of the non-cooperative spouse. A spouse cannot simply “cancel” her divorce in the hopes that the divorce will not move forward. 

Every year, more than 3,000 Americans are killed because someone is driving while distracted, with many hundreds of thousands more injured in such accidents. Tragically, about 20 percent of those killed in distracted driving incidents are pedestrians or cyclists. When crossing the street or responsibly riding your bike is dangerous, our nation has a serious distracted driving problem. 

For those who survive, the injuries sustained in car accidents can be severe and permanently life-altering. Medical expenses can quickly become overwhelming and the prospect of a full recovery may seem dim. While a Texas car accident attorney cannot go back in time and undo the crash, great legal representation can make it possible to recover financial compensation for the suffering you have experienced. 

Common Texting and Driving Car Accident Injuries

Even when a vehicle is not going very fast, drivers and passengers can suffer serious injuries. A list of the most common injuries in car accidents includes: 

For most Texas parents, child support payments stop when their youngest child turns 18 or graduates from high school. But when a child has a disability that prevents him or her from becoming financially independent, the usual limits may not apply and a parent may be required to pay child support for an adult child indefinitely. For a brief overview of adult child support, read this blog and then contact a Texas family law attorney for help with your case. 

When Does an Adult Child Qualify for Child Support in Texas? 

For a parent to be responsible for their adult child indefinitely, the child must have a disability that meets certain requirements and which manifested before age 18. A child with debilitating depression or who has been in a serious car accident once she is already an adult will not qualify, even if she still lives at home. If the disability was known before age 18, the parent requesting child support payments must show that: 

• The child has a mental or physical disability, and

  ...

When parents of an underage child get divorced or establish a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR), child support payments become part of a legally-enforceable court order. These orders are an essential part of making sure a child has the support he or she needs from both parents and sometimes, as time goes by and circumstances change, modifying an order is necessary. Understanding when child support orders can be modified is important for avoiding frivolous suits and increasing the chances of your petition’s success. Read this blog for an overview of when child support may be increased, then call an experienced Texas child support attorney for help with your case. 

When Can a Texas Child Support Order Be Modified? 

During a child support review process (CSRP) or court hearing, a judge will examine both parents’ claims and determine whether a change in child support, such as an increase, decrease, or termination, is necessary and appropriate. Generally speaking, child support orders can only be modified in the following circumstances: 

• A substantial change in circumstances has changed since the original support order was put into place 

  ...