Family Law FAQs

This page gives you, the non-lawyer reader, an introduction to the most common questions I have encountered in my practice of family law in Texas. For your convenience, the questions, along with the answers, have been prepared in simple, non-legal, plain English. However, every person's problem is unique. For direct answers to your specific personal questions, please contact one of our attorneys directly.
 

The below are simply answers to commonly-asked questions. Every single case is unique, and deserves individualized attention to details. The below is not intended as the providing of legal advice, and does not create any sort of attorney-client relationship between the reader and the attorneys of The Powell Law Firm. It is intended merely for informational assistance.

1. Where do I have to file for divorce?

2. Where do I have to file for my child-related matters?

3. How long do I need to be in Texas before I can file for divorce, or do something else related to my family law case?

4. How long does it take to get a divorce?

5. Must I get divorced in court?

6. Do I need an attorney to file for divorce?

7. Can we be divorced by agreement?

8. How is our property divided?

9. Who has to pay child support?

10. How much in child support should I be paying/receiving?

11. What income is included in the calculation?

12. What about my child's health insurance; whose responsibility is it?

13. What about my child's uninsured medical costs, such as co-pays or braces?

14. What can I do to enforce payment of child support?

15. What if my former spouse is missing?

16. What happens if my child is very young, say younger than 3 years old?

17. Can my former spouse file for bankruptcy to avoid paying child support?

18. If my child's other parent isn't paying child support, do I have to still allow the visitation, or vice-versa?

19. Can I still enforce my child support even if the other parent lives in a different state?

20. What if my spouse and I took part in assisted reproduction methods, such as sperm/egg donation, surrogate mothers, or artificial insemination? Who are the parents?

21. What happens to child support if my child has a disability?

22. What is a guardianship, and what is it used for?

23. Can I adopt my step-child?

24. Can I terminate my child's other parent's rights?

25. What if I want to adopt a child which is not my own step-child?

** The above are simply answers to commonly-asked questions of family law. Every single case is unique, and deserves individualized attention to details. The above is not intended as the providing of legal advice, and does not create any sort of attorney-client relationship between the reader and the attorneys of The Powell Law Firm. It is intended merely as informational assistance