Blog Posted By Kathryn Marteeny 28-Apr-2020 Is Mediation Right for You? Mediation. Even though most divorcees have heard about it, many of them don't necessarily understand what exactly mediation is—or the purpose it serves in the divorce process. We're here to help out. Whether you were required to go ... Continue Reading Posted By Kathryn Marteeny 20-Apr-2020 What Is Probate? (Estate Planning 101) Many people overlook probate in the estate planning process (or are even entirely unaware it exists), which can be a costly mistake. Probate is the process of verifying the legality of a last will and testament in court and ensuring that the ... Continue Reading Posted By Kathryn Marteeny 8-Apr-2020 How Much Will My Divorce Cost? Budgeting for Divorce Divorce can be notoriously expensive. The average divorce in the US costs around $15,000, and that amount can increase exponentially based on the circumstances of the divorce. Understanding common costs associated with divorce can help you manage ... Continue Reading Posted By Kathryn Marteeny 2-Apr-2020 Millennials Are Divorcing Less-at Least, We Think They Are According to various recent divorce statistics, millennials are divorcing less than previous generations—or are they? People love to throw out statistics like "50% of marriages end in divorce." The truth is, figuring out an accurate ... Continue Reading Posted By Kathryn Marteeny 26-Mar-2020 Why Are More Millennials Getting Prenups? For a long time, prenups have had something of a bad rap. However, that seems to be changing. Today, more millennials are getting prenups than any other generation. Several factors play into this statistic. Understanding them can help you learn more ... Continue Reading Posted By The Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 23-Mar-2020 How the Coronavirus Affects Shared Custody Arrangements As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread across the US, more and more states and cities are issuing mandatory stay-at-home orders. If you're a parent in a joint custody arrangement, you're probably wondering how COVID-19 affects ... Continue Reading Posted By Kathryn Marteeny 17-Mar-2020 What Are the Penalties for Avoiding Child Support in TX? Whether you're paying or receiving child support, understanding how Texas penalizes child support delinquency can help you ensure your child receives the support they deserve. Today, we're taking a look at how Texas penalizes child support ... Continue Reading Posted By The Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 17-Mar-2020 How the Coronavirus Affects Texas Court Closures and Proceedings As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to sweep the nation, governors and state officials are declaring states of emergency that change how their cities and states function. If you live in Texas and have a court date coming up, you're probably ... Continue Reading Posted By Kathryn Marteeny 11-Mar-2020 How Is a Living Trust Different From a Will? Estate planning can be uncomfortable—confronting your mortality is never easy. Understanding different kinds of estate planning documents can also be confusing, unnecessarily prolonging the estate planning process. Today, we're here to ... Continue Reading Posted By Kathryn Marteeny 5-Mar-2020 Recognizing & Reporting Domestic Violence in Texas Before reading any further: If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic violence, please call or text the national domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224, respectively. Alternatively, you can click this link to find a ... Continue Reading Posted By The Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 11-Feb-2020 Temporary Spousal Support in Texas As part of the divorce process in Texas, ex-spouses may need to engage in a spousal support arrangement so that all parties involved can exit the divorce gracefully. At the Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny, our Houston-based legal team will work with ... Continue Reading Posted By The Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 5-Feb-2020 Using License Suspension to Enforce Child Support Payments in Texas Bringing another human being into the world and caring for them during their most formative years requires an incredible amount of time and planning. But children can't be raised on effort alone—as any parent knows, children are expensive. ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 29-Jan-2020 Is Divorce Mediation Right for Me? There are many ways to end a marriage, many of which can keep you and your spouse outside of the courtroom, minimizing the potential for a nasty and drawn-out legal battle. Among these alternative approaches to divorce is mediation, which is ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 15-Jan-2020 What You Need to Know About Post-Divorce Modification The results of your divorce are not permanent. Life constantly changes and evolves and, if these shifts are substantial enough, you may be able to successfully modify the terms of your divorce decree. Generally, you cannot modify property or asset ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 8-Jan-2020 Your Prenuptial Agreement Checklist If you and your fiancé agreed to draft a prenuptial agreement before tying the knot, you already got through one of the most difficult hurdles in creating this crucial legal document. Next, you will both work together to decide which items to ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 1-Jan-2020 Can I Adopt My Grandchild? When a child’s grandparents take charge of caring for their grandchild, they essentially assume the role of the child’s parents and must provide a safe and loving environment that allows the child to thrive and grow. For all intents and ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 26-Dec-2019 Can I Reduce My Alimony Payments? No one is ever happy about having to make regular alimony payments to their former spouse. However, you cannot reduce them simply because it is frustrating. On the other hand, if your circumstances changed substantially, it is possible that a judge ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 18-Dec-2019 Caring for Yourself During and After a Divorce The divorce process can take a substantial toll on a person and, even once it is finalized, a considerable amount of self-care is necessary to heal and recover. Whether you are still in the middle of a family law dispute or you already finalized your ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 11-Dec-2019 What Can I Do if My Ex Refuses to Pay Child Support? Raising children is a major undertaking that requires the support, emotional and financial, of both parents. If you are the custodial parent, it is your co-parent’s obligation to make regular child support payments and it is an issue that ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 4-Dec-2019 Preparing for Your Child Custody Hearing For parents, nothing is more important than being part of your children’s lives, which is why a child custody dispute is often difficult for parents to process and cope with. With emotions and tensions at an all-time high, it is easy to make a ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 26-Nov-2019 Surviving Thanksgiving as a Newly Divorced Parent If you recently finalized your divorce, getting through the holiday season probably seems like an impossible task, especially if your children cannot join you at the dinner table for Thanksgiving this year. Given how family-centric this holiday is, ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 20-Nov-2019 Do I Need to Have a QDRO When I Get Divorced? If you are getting a divorce, you might be looking into the process, trying to get a better idea of the steps involved. During your quest for answers, you likely came across the term Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). A QDRO is essentially a ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 13-Nov-2019 How to Make Your Divorce Less Painful It is no secret that the divorce process is often painful and challenging, especially if you and your spouse spent a substantial amount of years together. However, there are ways for you to reduce pain and conflict, so you can both walk away ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 6-Nov-2019 Creating Consistent Rules for Your Children After a Divorce After a divorce, you and your former spouse will divide your time with the children and, although you will have two separate households, you must work together to maintain consistent rules. Consistent routines will help your children feel safe and ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 29-Oct-2019 5 Tips for Handling a Disneyland Parent A Disneyland parent is essentially a parent who rarely enforces household rules, showers the children with extravagant gifts, and shirks most parental responsibilities to earn their favor. If your co-parent is a Disneyland parent, you might worry you ... Continue Reading