Fort Worth TX Family Law Blog

Celebrities have a tough time keeping their marriages together. Common sense dictates that if a spouse is traveling the world for filming, promotions and movie-making meetings, there isn't going to be very much time for an enduring relationship. Divorce in Texas and elsewhere doesn't come easy for anyone, and the same is true of celebrities.

One renowned actor-director, the venerable Clint Eastwood, is the latest celebrity whose marriage seems to be floundering in deep seas. The meltdown was revealed by the recent emotional decision of Eastwood's wife of 17 years, Dina, to sign in to a residential rehab facility. It's reported that she is suffering depression and anxiety due to the spiraling collapse of her marriage and the prospect of impending divorce.

While most divorces do not involve a celebrity, they do emotionally affect one or both parties.  there are resources available to help you through these times and they should be used.

Interstate custody disputes continue to be among the most challenging of domestic relations cases, and they also probably present the greatest potential for wrongdoing between parents. Recently, a 43-year-old woman took her 12-year-old daughter from the Texas home of the girl's father in defiance of a child custody order. She fled 900 miles with her to another state, where she was arrested two days later.

The father, the girl and the girl's stepmother moved to a home in Cedar Hill near Dallas just a few weeks ago. The mother, who had been in a child custody dispute with the father, tracked them down at the new residence. Neighbors spotted her driving slowly near the home and noted the license number for police. She got the girl on a cellphone and had her come out to the car. There were heated words and the mother drove away with the girl in the car.

Interferring with a child custody order is a state jail felony with a sentence of 180 days to two years and a $10,000 fine. The jail term can be enhance significantly depending on the actual circumstances.

Technology brings changes in all fabrics of life, including the way people communicate and conduct their business and social activities. The communications revolution even impacts on how divorces and custody cases transpire, including that sparring spouses can use the social networks to repeat their charges to each other, and to their children. The courts in Texas and other states have always been inclined to restrict contact between warring spouses in a bitter custody or divorce proceeding, and now that rule may be applied to their contacts on the social networks.

A three-judge appellate panel in another state recently rejected the free speech arguments of a husband who was appealing a family law judge's gag order stopping the parents from talking to each other on Facebook and other media. The panel also said the father could be prohibited from talking with his children on the social networks. The two are in a bitter divorce and child custody battle.

Texas family law courts have wide discretion in limiting the abilities of parents to do things that are not in the best interests of the child.  Some even limit the parents to communicating through an Internet portal such as Family Wizard.  I have been successful in obtaining restrictions as to what goes on social media.  Given the fact that anything put on social media can damage a case, it is usually wise to avoid that.

There has been a growing trend in recent years for the use by couples intending to marry of a seemingly rather unromantic contract. The agreement sets forth future terms for a property division if the marriage fails and a divorce occurs. In Texas and other states, a prenuptial agreement is usually urged by the wealthier party to the upcoming marriage for the purpose of preserving that person's assets in the event of a divorce.

In some situations, a prenuptial agreement is also used by a person to preserve his or her assets for the benefit of children from a prior marriage. An appellate court decision in another state recently held that a prenuptial agreement obtained under false pretenses was legally invalid and would not be enforced in the parties' divorce. I believe that a Texas court would rule the same depending on the specific facts of the case.

Having a premarital agreement can bring you peace of mind.  Having one that is not valid can be shocking later on and can cause a lot of grief.