Getting a divorce can be a stressful experience, especially if only one spouse wants to end the marriage. As a recent article on Psych Central explained, it is essential for the person who wants the divorce to be honest and upfront with his or her spouse and to be clear about all intentions. Trying to be too nice or sending mixed signals can be harmful for all parties involved. One of the best ways to ensure...
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Because Texas is a community property state, debt acquired during marriage is generally considered to belong equally to both spouses. This is true no matter who acquires the debt. Unfortunately, the outcome is that you could become responsible for your ex-husband or ex-wife's debts. A divorce settlement does not necessarily protect you from being forced to pay the bills as a recent CNN article pointed out. You need to understand the rules for shared responsibility...
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Bitcoin is an electronic alternative currency that has been growing in popularity. Unfortunately, the electronic currency can be harder to trace than traditional money and thus there is a growing concern that Bitcoin could be used to hide assets during the process of divorce. When a couple separates and dissolves their marriage, a detailed accounting of their assets must be obtained so that a fair divorce settlement can be reached. If one spouse hides money or...
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March 11, 2014 Commenting on a news report about teen drivers who use their cellphones to snap pictures of themselves while driving, Austin lawyer Tony R. Bertolino said today that taking "selfies" behind-the-wheel is yet another technology-related driver distraction that could lead to tragic consequences. Attorney Bertolino said he has handled cases in his office involving distracted drivers and strongly encourages drivers - especially teenagers who lack overall driving experience - to avoid cellphones and...
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If you are considering a divorce or going through the process, you know that ending a marriage is not a pleasant experience. A divorce attorney knows there is a lot of stress in making the tough choice to end a legal and emotional relationship, and there is often great concern over the terms of a divorce settlement. The good news, however, is that a new study shows that a hardship like a divorce can change...
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There are lots of people who own land in the state of Texas but who are residents of another location. For example, you may have a parent or loved one living in another state who owned property in Texas and who left that property to you. When the deceased dies in this case, his assets are in different places. This can leave you wondering whether you need to go through the probate process twice: once...
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This November, a car carrying seven people hit a curb and rolled into a field in Texas. Two 17-year-olds in the vehicle died in the wreck and the five other young passengers were taken to the hospital. My Fox Austin reports that there are only five restraints in the vehicle, and that the passengers taken for medical help suffered injuries ranging from minor to critical. Any car accident lawyer in Austin knows that this tragic accident...
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As more states are passing legislation permitting same-sex couples to get married, the latest being Illinois just this week, the polls of citizens here in Texas demonstrate that such action is not likely to be successful in the chambers of the Austin state house anytime soon. That does not mean, however, that our state is exempt from dealing with the family law questions that develop when gay couples make their union legally binding in another...
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Statistics gathered and released by the Pentagon show that divorces among couples in which one or both of the spouses is a member of the military decreased slightly in 2012, with 3.5% of all married military couples divorcing last year in comparison to 3.7% divorcing in 2011. While one year cannot indicate future expectations, this shift should not be discounted. Repeated and lengthy deployments, which became so common in the decade following September 11, 2001,...
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As you may already know from the unwanted experiences of your colleagues, the number of complaints filed with the Texas Medical Board and Texas Board of Nursing has greatly increased over the past several years. This influx of cases that must now be reviewed by overworked state board investigators is due largely to Proposition 12, which was passed by Texas voters in 2003. Under this legislation, the maximum amount that patients could win in a...
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