In some cases, separating couples are not required to go through the time-consuming process of a divorce, but instead can obtain an annulment. However, courts do not grant no-fault annulments, which means that in order to obtain an annulment, a couple must demonstrate that a marriage was void or voidable. Although annulling a marriage can save time and money in the long run, it is not the best course of action for every couple, so if you are considering ending your marriage, it is crucial to contact an experienced complex divorce attorney who can explain your options.

Void Marriages

In Texas, annulments can be used to invalidate two types of marriages, those that are considered void and those that are voidable. Void marriages are those that were never legal, which in Texas means that they were either incestuous or bigamous in nature. Most bigamy-related annulments involve situations where a party did not wait the required 30 days after the finalization of a divorce before marrying someone else. In these types of cases, the new spouse could legally annul the marriage. However, he or she would only have until the couple’s one year anniversary to do so.

In Texas, the legal rights and responsibilities of a parent who retains custody of a child is referred to as a conservatorship. Although a family law judge can set the terms of a conservatorship, it is much simpler and less stressful if the parents can come to an agreement outside of the courtroom, so if you are considering a divorce, it is important to contact an experienced complex child custody attorney who can help explain your options.

Types of Conservatorships

There are two main types of conservatorships, or custody arrangements in Texas, including:

It appears that the United States Navy may be the latest organization to jump on the bandwagon of extended paternity leave for new fathers.

During a recent visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Admiral John Richardson presided over an impromptu meeting that included himself, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike Stevens, and ten sailors who had become new fathers within the past year. Currently, the Navy provides ten days of paid paternity leave, and Admiral Richardson asked the sailors what they believed a reasonable leave policy would be. After a brief conference, they proposed 30 days of paid leave. Admiral Richardson told the group that "it's great to get a sense for what your input will be," and he promised to pass the recommendation along to his superiors in Washington.

The meeting comes shortly after the Navy tripled paid maternity leave to 18 weeks. In the last several months, Amazon, Netflix, Microsoft, and other large companies have all expanded their paternity leave plans, or at least are considering such action.

Collaborative law is quite common in certain areas of North America, including California and Canada, but it has not gained much traction in some areas of The Lone Star State. Is this model an option for your complex divorce or other family law issue?

The Collaborative Family Law Act outlines the procedure in Texas. In a nutshell, the process is somewhat similar to ongoing mediation, with a few important distinctive qualities. The mindset is different. In traditional mediation, it is "every man for himself." The lawyers are determined to walk away with the best deal possible for their respective clients, and they care little or nothing about anyone else's interests. In collaborative law, the parties remain cognizant of how the outcome may affect other people both directly and indirectly involved in their complex divorce.

There is also a structural difference. In traditional mediation, a third-party mediator does all the negotiating, and the parties are merely interested bystanders. However, in collaborative law, the parties themselves do the negotiating.