Am I married or divorced in Texas?

The Bureau of Vital Statistics in Austin, Texas keeps track of all family law cases.  I often have people call me to see if they are legally divorced.

1. Check the person's social security number. If the person is dead then the social security number will be inactive.  And, you don't need a divorce since you are a widow.

2.  If #1 does not work, then go to the Bureau of Vital Statistics website and search for information. With your full legal name, date of birth and social security number your info should show up. To be on the safe side, also include info on your spouse along with their date of birth and social security number (if known).  Many times, the spouse will not include your name correctly or your info correctly to make it hard to find you.

3. You can also hire a private investigator to do a search for you. This tends to be fairly expensive but perhaps it's worth it to you.

Good luck!

Texas Legislature for 2017 is very considering some new family laws

Getting Rid of No-Fault Divorce A Bad Idea in Texas

In a recent editorial, Maria Anglin argues that getting rid of the no-fault divorce law in Texas is a bad idea.  State Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, supports the idea that any couple looking to divorce should have to "live apart for three years before they can legally divorce."  Anglin counters that for some, "staying together is a painful mistake."   Maria Anglin, San Antonio Express News   Published around 01/07/2017

Read Article: San Antonio Express News     My 2 cents: 1. Before Texas had "no fault" divorce then couples would hire a p.i. to "catch" the other spouse in a compromising situation. Many were made up. 2. Domestic violence occurs in a lot of divorces. So why force a person to stay married to a "bad" person? 3. The kids can look at the final decree of divorce (files are open to the public) and learn that their parent committed adultery. In my 25 years of being a TX lawyer, I've only done it once - that was when a minister who had sex with a 16 yr. old child was trying to get a new job in another state. This guy did not need to be around teen-age girls! 4. Judges no longer require counseling to try to save a marriage. Why? Because they found it did not work. Usually by the time a person files for divorce they are DONE with the marriage and it's beyond hope. 5. It's going to cost people more to divorce. Divorce in Harris County can run thousands of dollars. Why encourage higher legal fees that the average person cannot afford?

Texas Supreme Court to hear same sex benefits case.

Texas Supreme Court to Hear Same Sex Benefits Case

The Texas Supreme Court is to reconsider same-sex benefits across the state.  The all-Republican state high court has agreed to hear reconsider a Houston case challenging the city’s benefits policy for married same-sex couples.  In October, Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an appeal asking the Supreme Court to reconsider the same-sex benefits case. Opponents of same-sex benefits may say that gay people have a fundamental right to marry but no right to equal benefits.  So stay tuned... Alex Ura, Ft. Worth Star Telegram   Published around 01/20/2017

3 truths about mediation from www.mediation.com

GREAT ARTICLE FROM WWW.MEDIATION.COM 3 Simple Truths about Mediation Mediation is a process that has led to the successful resolution of a number of different types of cases, including partner disputes, divorce cases, custody issues, intellectual property claims, personal injury cases, multi-jurisdictional tort issues and even some criminal cases. 1. Mediation Can Benefit Both Parties When mediation is handled properly, it can be an excellent process. Mediation is confidential, so even if the parties do not reach a settlement, they cannot disclose what was said in court. It is also a non-adversarial approach to legal problems in which the participants cooperate to resolve their legal dispute on their own terms. This allows mediation to resolve many disputes faster, cheaper and more amicably than litigation. 2. Mediation Takes Some Time Participants cannot be in a hurry. The legal issues involved in mediation are often complex with the potential to impact lives for a long time to come. It takes time for the mediator to determine the interests of the parties and to work out potential solutions to these issues. The parties must be prepared to negotiate in an ongoing manner. 3. Not All Attorneys Support Mediation Not all attorneys support the role of mediation. A seasoned litigator may rely on his or her own skills to try to get the outcome the client wants and may find little need for a mediator. However, mediation can often help both parties achieve positive results and develop solutions that litigation could not provide. Talk to your attorney early in the process to see if he or she supports mediation. For info on mediation I'd look at the following websites: www.mediate.com www.mediation.com Texas Association of Mediators Texas Mediator Credentialing Association Association of Attorney-Mediators Academy of Professional Family Mediators Association of Conflict Resolution - Houston Chapter Association of Family & Conciliation Courts