Recent Posts in Divorce Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 19-Nov-2018 4 Tips for a Gray Divorce Deciding to get a divorce is never easy, but it can be particularly challenging to go through with a divorce later in life. Most people over the age of 50 have all of their ducks in a row, so to speak. In other words, they have a career, they have ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny to 14-Nov-2018 4 Questions to Ask Your Divorce Attorney Before you hire a divorce attorney, make sure they can provide you with the service you need. As with anyone you hire, its important to ascertain whether or not you work well together before you fully commit. A divorce attorney can make or break your ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 5-Nov-2018 Do I Qualify for Spousal Maintenance? The cost of divorce can be devastating, especially if you are asked to pay alimony or if you receive fewer assets after your properties are divided. In order to protect your interests and your possessions, make sure you know everything you need to ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 31-Oct-2018 Tips for Co-Parenting During the Holidays The holidays can be a stressful time of year for just about anyone, but it can be particularly overwhelming for divorced parents who are trying to co-parent their way through this supposedly merry season. Effectively co-parenting is hard enough on ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 24-Oct-2018 What is the Waiting Period for Divorce in Houston? If you and your spouse are about to embark on the divorce process, you are likely wondering how long it will take before you can get the ball rolling. Every state has its own rules regarding waiting periods and divorce, including Texas. Given that no ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 17-Oct-2018 Why You Should Meet with an Attorney When Planning a Marriage When two people embark on a marriage, they generally think of love, romance, and starting a new chapter together as partners in life. While these are certainly great qualities to begin a marriage with, one should not forget the legal side of things. ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 3-Oct-2018 Will Divorce Affect My 401(k) or Retirement Benefits? In a divorce, everything that is considered marital property will ultimately end up on the chopping block, subject to division. This also includes your 401(k) plan, pensions, and other retirement accounts. However, only the amount you contributed to ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 19-Sep-2018 Preventing Childhood Obesity: Tips for Co-Parents September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, giving us all a chance to spotlight an issue that many children are at risk of developing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 out of every 5 children in ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 31-Aug-2018 When Children Can Have Their Own Attorney Divorce and child custody proceedings can be emotionally overwhelming. If a child’s parents cannot come to an agreement over legal decisions involving their children, a viable option might be appointing a child attorney. Although parents have ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 24-Aug-2018 Remarriage in Texas: How It Affects Alimony & Child Support In a Texas divorce, one spouse is ordered by a judge to provide financial support to the other spouse and their children. But if the recipient spouse decides to get remarriage to cohabitates with a new significant other, how does this affect alimony ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 21-Aug-2018 How to Help Your Kids Cope with Divorce Going through a divorce is difficult, especially for your kids. For them, a divorce can feel like a devastating tragedy. They experience the loss of a parent, the loss of the family unit, or the loss of the life they once knew. Fortunately, you and ... Continue Reading Posted By the Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 18-Jul-2018 How to Divorce Your Missing Spouse Couples always have the option of divorcing when their marriages don’t work out. Divorce can be a complicated and emotional legal process, but for many couples the benefits still outweigh the struggles. In some circumstances, divorce becomes a ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 2-Jul-2018 How Long Does Texas Law Require Me to Pay Spousal Maintenance? Questions about spousal maintenance are very common during divorce proceedings. In Texas, spouses may be eligible to receive spousal maintenance if they are unable to financially provide for themselves following a divorce. Texas law is very strict ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 26-Jun-2018 How To Divorce an Abusive Spouse Dealing with domestic abuse can be upsetting and dangerous. Whether the abuse is emotional, physical, or verbal, it can cause serious harm to everyone in the household. Domestic violence often takes places between spouses, but the abuse can also ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 14-Jun-2018 How Long Will My Divorce Take? Once you have decided to end your marriage, you should know the basics about the divorce process, including how long it will take to obtain a divorce in Texas. Anyone who lives in Texas can file for a divorce with the local courts, even if the ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 4-Jun-2018 4 Tips To Make Co-Parenting Easier This Summer Sharing parenting responsibilities don’t always make the job easier. In fact, parenting alongside your ex is often a bit challenging, if not downright difficult. With summer just around the corner, it’s important to start the season off ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 31-May-2018 What Happens to Debt in a Divorce? One of the most confusing aspects of a Texas divorce case is determining the division of debt. When a couple files for divorce, any debts they have incurred are legally divided by a judge and recorded on the Final Decree of Divorce. The distribution ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 3-May-2018 How to Survive Wedding Season After a Divorce The sadness and confusion of a divorce don’t end simply because legal documents have been signed. Whatever the circumstances of the separation, your life has irrevocably changed. Isolation is normal during this period, though not necessarily ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 24-Apr-2018 Could Mediation Be Better for Your Kids? When you and your spouse decide to file for divorce, there are many big decisions you have to make in a somewhat short period of time. If you share children, your priority is probably to make sure that they leave the divorce process as unscathed as ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 18-Apr-2018 How Could a Postnuptial Agreement Benefit Me? Most people know that they could draft a prenuptial agreement to protect themselves before a marriage, but did you know a postnuptial agreement could help you after the marriage has taken place? With a postnuptial agreement, spouses can outline their ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 9-Apr-2018 4 Common Divorce Mistakes Fathers Need To Avoid The divorce process is hard for both parents, and figuring out how to handle your own emotions while also providing support for your kids can be extremely taxing. On top of the emotional stress, you have to deal with the financial strain and the ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 5-Apr-2018 How To Tell Your Kids About Your Divorce Telling your kids that you’re getting a divorce can be one of the most difficult discussions you ever have. Most parents worry about how their children will take the news, whether they’ll be angry, sad, or a combination of the two. You ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 22-Mar-2018 Why Do I Need an Attorney for My High Net-Worth Divorce? When you and your spouse shared a high number of assets, it could make your divorce that much more complicated. Even though much of the divorce process remains the same, couples with a high net-worth may need additional time and resources to help ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 14-Mar-2018 What Can I Do If My Ex Stops Paying Child Support? Dealing with a noncompliant ex can be extremely difficult in any case, but when you both share a child those problems can be even more challenging to overcome. When your ex pays child support, they might use those payments against you, or they could ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 26-Feb-2018 How is My Property Divided in a Texas Divorce? There are many tricky aspects in divorce, and sometimes property division can be more difficult to contend with that others. Couples involved in long-term marriages can accumulate a large amount of assets during their time together. Even spouses ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 6-Feb-2018 Tips for Divorcing a High-Conflict Spouse Going through a divorce is always challenging, but if your spouse is especially argumentative and contentious, it can be even more trying. The divorce process is often emotional and stressful for everyone, but some people can respond to the ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 17-Jan-2018 What are the Benefits of Collaborative Divorce? The divorce process can be messy, emotional, and extremely stressful. Contentions couples often argue more as tensions rise in the court room, and even more amenable spouses can sometimes grow argumentative and angry. In any case, divorce buts an ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 11-Jan-2018 Family Law & Modifications: When Can You Seek Change? The terms you reach with your ex after a divorce or separation might now always be applicable to your family. As your life changes, you may need to seek a modification for your current court-orders. Whether you are looking to relocate, remarry, or ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 1-Dec-2017 When Is My Divorce Final? No matter how common it is, getting a divorce is difficult, stressful and hard to get over. As a result, you want to get through it as quickly as possible, so one question we often get is, “How long will my divorce take?” Well, Texas ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 22-Nov-2017 Who Gets to Keep the Pets in Divorce? During a divorce, your mind is probably occupied with issues such as child custody, alimony, parenting plans and division of property, but there’s one aspect that tends to get overlooked— pet custody. Unlike your children, the courts will ... Continue Reading Posted By Nelson Aguilar 13-Nov-2017 How to Modify a Divorce Agreement Divorce agreements are meant to be permanent, but it’s not uncommon for a party to want to change it for one reason or the other. A significant change in circumstances (death, relocation, job loss) after a divorce can make a modification ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 9-Oct-2017 Mistakes to Avoid in a High Asset Divorce Divorce is not only an emotionally draining experience, but oftentimes a financially complex one as well, especially if you are in the midst of a high asset divorce. With a substantial amount of money, property, assets, and other valuable items at ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 25-Sep-2017 When is the Best Time to Get Divorced? Just because you have come to the conclusion to get divorced does not mean you have to move forward with it right away. Choosing the right time to file a divorce is something that should be planned thoughtfully and carefully. Of course, ending a ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 18-Sep-2017 The Risks of Online Divorce Services If you and your spouse decided to file for divorce, your next step is to execute the actual process and, considering how much of what we do these days can be carried out online, using an online divorce service might seem like a tempting option. After ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 11-Sep-2017 Gray Divorce: What It Is & How to Deal With It If you are over the age of 50 and getting a divorce, you might think this is a rarity, but the truth is that more and more couples over the age of 50 are deciding to part ways. This relatively new phenomenon is known as a “gray divorce.” ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 30-Aug-2017 The Most Common Reasons Why People Get Divorced When two people say, “I do,” they generally do not expect that they will eventually have to untie the knot. Unfortunately, many people do end up having to do exactly that. Why do so many once happy couples end up having to pull the plug ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 16-Aug-2017 Dating During Divorce - Is It A Good Idea? Your marriage has likely been over for quite some time even if you are just beginning the process of divorce. This might seem like the right time to turn the page and get back into the dating pool, but this is actually a mistake. Dating before your ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 2-Aug-2017 Why You Should Stay Off Social Media During Your Divorce For many of us, social media is a part of our everyday lives, allowing us to remain connected to our family, friends, and acquaintances. It is a platform that often encourages oversharing, giving us a forum for stating our innermost thoughts and ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 24-Jul-2017 What to Look for in a Mediator Mediated divorces are becoming more and more popular options throughout the United States. Instead of getting involved in lengthy court battles, couples wishing to divorce quickly and cost-effectively will opt for deciding most divorce issues through ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 8-Jun-2017 Signs of Domestic Violence It’s hard to know what happens behind closed doors. People experiencing the daily trauma of domestic violence often feel unsafe or scared to tell someone else about the abuse. They could also fear that, even if they do tell, no one will believe ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 9-May-2017 How to Prepare for a Divorce Sometimes, divorce can be simple and straightforward, while other times the proceedings can drag on for months. How fast it takes depends a lot on how well you and your spouse can communicate. If you can agree on the terms of a divorce in advance, it ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 28-Apr-2017 What Rights Do Fathers Have in a Divorce? Some fathers panic at the prospect of divorce. After all, don’t women usually get custody of the children? Actually, both parents are equally likely to get physical custody of their kids. Fathers are also likely to be awarded total custody if ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 20-Apr-2017 Complexities of High Asset Divorce One of the things that can really complicate the divorce process is property division. This process can be particularly complicated if high net worth individuals are getting divorced. Prenuptial agreements (prenups) are more popular than ever, but ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 2-Mar-2017 Children and Divorce: The Dos and Don'ts Getting divorced is difficult for many people, but having children can complicate the process even further. Many parents are often grieving the end of a relationship and stressed over the cost of the divorce or the change in living arrangements. ... Continue Reading Posted By Kathryn Marteeny 30-Jan-2017 Fact or Myth: Is January Really Divorce Month? The concept of January being “divorce month” is really no myth. Family law attorneys frequently report January and February as being the prime months for divorce. It is not just married couples, however, who tend to end their relationship ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 14-Dec-2016 Should You File for Divorce Before or After the Holidays? At Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny, we often have clients ask us if they should wait till the holidays are over to file for divorce. The holidays can be a special time for many, but they can also be a time of extreme stress, especially if your ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 7-Dec-2016 Creating a Holiday Visitation Plan As you navigate through the divorce process with your Houston family law attorney, you will be asked to submit a parenting plan. In that plan, you should include your plan for splitting the holidays between parents. While you can both design separate ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 23-Nov-2016 Divorced Parents: Child Custody Dos and Don'ts During the Holidays For some the holiday season is a time of giving and cheer, but for divorcing or divorced parents it can be incredibly stressful. You have the coordinate which nights of Hanukkah that children will spend with what parent, or if you celebrate ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 16-Nov-2016 Holiday Tips for Divorcing Parents The holidays are stressful enough on their own, but if you are in the middle of divorce, they can be emotionally draining. If you haven’t told your family, you might be dreading telling your parents why your marriage has fallen apart between ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 25-Oct-2016 3 Surprising Divorce Myths Many people navigating divorce endure comments, ideas, and other misconceptions their friends, family and co-workers have about the divorce process. If you are considering divorce, keep reading. In this blog, our Houston divorce lawyer debunks three ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 26-Sep-2016 Grounds for Contempt When it comes to divorce issues, such as child custody, and spousal support, a judge will distribute court orders that both parties must follow. However, there are many cases where a noncustodial parent will refuse to pay child support, or a party ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 23-Aug-2016 3 Tips for an Easier Divorce At the Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny, we understand the stress, fear and anxiety you must be going through as you process what your divorce could mean for your future. Divorce can be an extremely challenging time in some peoples’ lives as you ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 5-Aug-2016 How Texas Courts Divide Property As you begin the divorce process, you may be wondering how the courts in Houston will divide you and your ex’s property. Learn more about the process from a Houston divorce attorney. The state of Texas considers all income and property acquired ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 26-May-2016 How to Act in Family Court One of the most overwhelming and frightening experiences you will encounter in your family law case is testifying in court. Whether your part of particular party or testifying as a witness, when your name is called to the stand, having the right ... Continue Reading Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny 12-Feb-2016 Valentine's Day and the Increase of Divorce Filings Here is something to think about: the number of divorce petitions being filed increase significantly around Valentine’s Day. Many Houston divorce attorneys have noticed this interesting figure, and it certainly begs discussion. On a day meant ... Continue Reading