McKinney Divorce Law Blog

The decision of how to raise a child is not one that the majority of parents take lightly. And when a relationship between parents ends, it can be difficult to decide how children will be cared for going forward. Texas parents who are facing a child custody decision may benefit from understanding what factors are involved when judges are considering their ruling.

For a family court judge, the knowledge that his or her decisions will impact a child's life requires careful study a of a variety of aspects that will affect the child going forward. First and foremost of these is what arrangement will best meet the physical, mental and spiritual needs of a minor? This means that a court will examine all of the relationships in the child's life This will include the parental bonds between both parents as well as those involving siblings and extended family. This will also extend to the child's educational needs and how they will be met in the future.

Most couples today likely understand that the happily ever after in a marriage may not be attainable. For those couples who come to the realization that a marriage is no longer sustainable, there are many questions about how an impending divorce may affect future retirement plans. Texas residents who are preparing for a divorce while looking to save their retirement dreams may place an added emphasis on the property division aspects of their proceedings.

Those who are ending a marriage relatively early on, may not need to alter their retirement plans extensively. However, for those who are closer to retirement age, more in-depth planning may be necessary in order to reach the desired goals. One of the first steps is to determine what one's current and future living expenses will require. Couples who did not have either a pre- or postnuptial agreement regarding any retirement savings plans may need to work to reach a suitable agreement on how to split any existing accounts.

After the recent close of the federal fiscal year, child support agencies released their year-end figures for collections. One Texas city reported that it collected approximately $39.6 million through child support enforcement. Not all of these monies were the result of stringent enforcement methods, as only an estimated 10 percent of cases require advanced collection methods.

The majority of the money collected is the result of a cooperative effort by the Attorney General's child support division office, district court clerks and the associate justices. Court orders are issued by the justices and then passed along for the appropriate enforcement methods. The majority of non-custodial parents make every effort to keep up with their support obligations. However, there may be situations that arise that may require modifications to these orders.

When a relationship between parents sours, children often find themselves caught in the middle. If a child custody dispute involves allegations of neglect or abuse, the services of a neutral attorney are often contracted to protect the best interest of the child. Texas parents who are concerned about the outcome of a contentious case may benefit from the services of a Guardian  ad litem.

No matter whether child custody disputes are the result of a divorce, protection order or revisiting a prior agreement, any allegations of abuse or neglect may require the services of a court-appointed impartial attorney for the child. This court-appointed Guardian ad-litem serves a vital role in ensuring that the custody order represents the best outcome for the child. This individual is appointed by the judge and works with the parents' attorneys in a neutral fashion. He or she is granted full access to all pertinent information related to the physical, mental and emotional well-being of the child.