GETTING CHILD SUPPORT WHILE MY DIVORCE IS PENDING

GETTING CHILD SUPPORT WHILE MY DIVORCE IS PENDING

Often, once a divorce is initiated, a need for support arises for the custodial parent (the one with whom the child or children primarily reside). A common question that clients in this situation ask is “Can I get child support while my divorce is pending?” The answer is yes, and there are a few ways for child support to be ordered while a divorce is pending, through the use of temporary orders. Temporary orders can mandate that temporary child support should be awarded.

What are Temporary Orders?
Temporary Orders are an order issued by a judge, or agreed to by the parties,that takes effect for the duration that a family law case in pending. Often, temporary orders are negotiated, agreed, and signed voluntarily by the parties. Once the order is signed by the parties, it is filed to the court and signed by the judge. If the parties cannot agree on their own, some courts require that the parties attend mediation and attempt to come to an agreement in that way, before being allowed to schedule a temporary orders hearing in front of a judge.

What if we can’t agree?
If the parties are unable to come to an agreement over the terms of the temporary orders, a party may file a petition or motion for temporary orders and there must be a hearing in front of a judge. A temporary orders hearing can feel like a trial, as the hearing usually involves testimony and evidence. Witnesses may be called and cross-examined, and documents, photos, etc. can be introduced into evidence.
Once a court has entered the temporary orders the parties must abide by them for the duration specified in the order. Usually it’s until the final order of the court is entered, but the court has discretion in setting a deadline.

WHY MEDITATION MAY BE A NECESSARY OPTION IN A DIVORCE CASE

Divorce is naturally a complex process from both an emotional and a financial standpoint. If you and your spouse struggle to see eye to eye on matters such as property division, this only makes matters challenging.
However, even in the most amicable of divorces in Texas, you and your spouse may still run into some hiccups. Perhaps you have agreed on most areas of dispute, but there are still a couple of issues that you are having trouble resolving. In this situation, you and your spouse may benefit from a process known as divorce mediation.

What exactly is mediation?
Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution that allows you and your spouse to take part in a negotiation process that a neutral third party facilitates. In mediation, the third party does not do any decision-making.

How do I know mediation is best for me?
Mediation is an ideal option for you and your future ex if you want a process that is hands on, structured and short term. Your third party will supervise your and your spouse’s exchange of information and help with the bargaining process. The goal of your mediator is to assist both parties with finding common ground.
You can also expect your mediator to help you to address any expectations that are simply unrealistic. In addition, this party may provide some unique solutions for you that you and your spouse may not have considered.

Benefits of mediation
A huge benefit of mediation is that it is a faster process than going to trial, and therefore, it is comparatively inexpensive. The procedures dictating mediation are also much simpler than those for formal litigation.
Another advantage of mediation is that it is often less stressful than litigation, which is especially ideal if children are involved in the divorce proceeding. Furthermore, if you have children, by mediating a divorce, you and your spouse get to practice working out issues on your own outside of court, which you will eventually have to do as co-parents after you finalize the divorce.

WHO GETS THE HOUSE IN A DIVORCE CASE?

Many clients in our Austin divorce cases want to know “who gets the house”. The home is often the largest single asset in a divorce, so it is important to know what factors are important in making this decision.

Judges distinguish between who gets the house on a temporary basis, while the divorce is pending, versus who will get the house and liability for it in the long run after the divorce is finished. When children are involved, judges will want to keep the children’s lives as stable as possible and not move them around too much. If it makes sense, the judge will try to keep the children in the house at least on a temporary basis while the rest of the divorce is being worked out. If the children have to be moved, the judge will want the parents to plan the best time to make a move.

The ability of either spouse to continue making the mortgage payments is of obvious importance. Judges do not want to impose any liabilities on a spouse that in all likelihood cannot be met. During the temporary phase, a judge may require the primary parent and children to live in the house while the other parent makes the payment. Or, the judge may require payments to be made out of existing assets. However, in considering the long-term award of the house and liability, the ability of the primary parent to make the mortgage payment and otherwise afford the house is of utmost importance.

Regardless of which spouse gets the house and is ordered to make the house payment, if the mortgage is in both spouses names, both spouses will continue to be ultimately liable. In other words, if the spouse who is ordered to make the payments fails to do so, the mortgage company could still look to the other spouse for payment. The divorce judge has no authority to relieve either spouse from liability on a jointly held debt. Likewise, although the judge may require the spouse taking the house to attempt to refinance the debt into his or her sole name, if the spouse cannot get new financing, the divorce judge has very little enforcement remedy as to the refinancing.

When one spouse takes the house and debt, he or she will be required to sign a deed of trust document that gives some protection to the other spouse if the payments are not made. So, if the spouse that took the house gets three months behind in payments, the other spouse would have the authority under the deed of trust to catch up the payments and take over the house altogether.

If neither spouse can afford to keep the house, then the judge can order it sold. If one spouse has a legitimate concern that neither spouse will be able to pay for the house in the long run, that spouse can make a request to the judge to order the house sold so both spouses are relieved from the liability.

Clarifying the Texas Summer Visitation Schedule

Clarifying the Texas Summer Visitation Schedule

Schools are now out and the three months of summer vacation have now started. While just about all parents are concerned with what their kids are going to do to fill the time they would ordinarily spend in the classroom, parents who are divorced will typically be concerned with when they actually get to spend time with their kids as well. This is especially true for those parents who are the possessory parent, i.e., the one with whom the child(ren) do not primarily reside with. The summer months are seen as an opportunity for this parent to have a chance to experience some extended time with the kids.

SUMMER VISITATION

The Texas Family Code draws a distinction between:
1. parents who live within 100 miles of one another and
2. parents who live more than 100 miles from one another.

If the possessory conservator lives within 100 miles of the managing conservator, the possessory conservator will give the managing conservator written notice by April 1st which states the extended period or periods of summer possession (totaling 30 days) that the possessory conservator is requesting for the upcoming summer months.

BEGINNING AND ENDING

That period of possession can begin no earlier than the day after summer vacation begins and shall end no later than seven days prior to the beginning of the new school year.
The possessory conservator may exercise their periods of possession in no more than two separate periods of at least seven consecutive days each. Further, each period of possession shall begin and end at 6:00 p.m. on whichever days he or she chooses.

APRIL 1ST NOTICE REQUIREMENT

If the possessory conservator does not give the managing conservator written notice by April 1st of that year which specifies the extended period or periods of possession he or she would like to take advantage of during summer vacation, they are automatically granted time with their child(ren) for thirty consecutive days beginning on July 1 at 6:00 p.m. and ending on July 31 at 6:00 p.m.
As far as the managing conservator is concerned, that parent shall have possession of the child(ren) on any one weekend beginning Friday at 6:00 p.m. and ending on the following Sunday at 6:00 p.m. during any one period of possession by the other parent.

The exception to this rule is that the managing conservator must give written notice by April 15th to the possessory conservator of their intention to take advantage of this weekend. Unlike the drop off/pick up rules for the rest of the year, the summer time sees the managing conservator be responsible for transportation purposes in this scenario.

While the summer is intended to be a time of fun for your kids, when parents do not work together, it can also cause stress and anxiety for the kids. When going through the summer visitation, it is in everyone’s best interests to remember that ultimately what is best for the children is what’s best for the parents