Category: Child Custody

Perhaps the toughest part of a contentious divorce is how it impacts kids, particularly teenagers. The proceedings can be lengthy and divisive, and may expose younger family members to situations they had no idea existed. In Texas, there is well-established precedent for thoughtfully addressing where children of divorced parents will ultimately live. Today we will …

Are you contemplating a divorce, or do you think your spouse is? Here at The Essex Law Firm, I tell my clients, even if you are in the happiest of marriages, all marriages, sadly, end, and they end in one of two ways: death or divorce.  Most people realize they need to have Wills. Even …

Helping Families Plan Stress-Free Holiday Gift Giving In previous years I have written about holiday strategies for families. It is important to get through this period without problems and divisiveness, and to keep the kids feeling jolly in spite of any parental turmoil. Today I will be a little more specific. There are times when …

When thinking about the law, one of the most important considerations is how legal decisions are made. Many times, courts are asked to rule about something that has already happened but has no supporting body of law (i.e. no precedents). Twenty-five years ago, social media was brand new and as it gained influence, there were …

Why am I paying child support in a joint custody arrangement? This question comes up frequently in divorce negotiations, and it’s a good one. In Texas, the term “joint custody” is often misunderstood by non-lawyers. In a divorce, parentage, or other action regarding children, each parent is given the label “joint managing conservator” except in …

Transcription below: I’m Marivonne Essex and I’m the Red Headed Lawyer and I want to talk to you today about some common misconceptions that I see people speak to me about when they come in to talk about situations, legal situations with their family, with divorces, with child custody, that kind of thing. The most …