For Judith Martin, aka Miss Manners, the matter of who gets the ring when an engagement ends is simple: “The laws of etiquette absolutely require you to return an engagement ring when the engagement is broken, for whatever reason, and by however nasty a fiancé.” State laws are not quite that absolute. And, as seems […]
If you pay or receive child support, you may be aware that on September 1, 2013, the cap on monthly net resources used to calculate child support payments increased from $7500 per month to $8550 per month. What you may not know, however, is exactly what that could mean for you. First, a little background: […]
Once the dust clears after a divorce, the prospect of starting over in a new place can seem pretty appealing. But child custody issues can cloud the pathway out of town, especially in Texas. In basic divorce cases with to two able parents, Texas courts generally award divorcing parents “joint managing conservatorship.” That means both […]
For modern families in today’s world, issues of law and of life are often interconnected. And matters of business and family often overlap. A high-powered executive is also a mother. A successful entrepreneur is also a husband. A masterful politician is also a grandparent. At CDB, our dedication is to you. Our attorneys are not […]
The recent historic ruling making same-sex marriage legal has changed our world. But legal issues don’t stop with the right to get married. That’s why you need an attorney who knows how to protect you, your family and your interests, whether you are married or planning to be. The attorneys of Christiansen Davis LLC practice […]
The legal landscape for same-sex marriage changes almost weekly, as more states recognize such marriage and federal law extends fundamental rights to all legal marriage, whether opposite-sex or same-sex. Texas, however, continues to resist such recognition and both the Texas Constitution and Texas Family Code apply only to couples legally married in Texas. That means […]
Prenuptial agreements are fairly common these days, with many couples choosing to address practical issues of rights and responsibilities in writing before they are married. But plenty of things change during the course of a marriage. Unless a pretty talented psychic wrote the prenup, chances are it doesn’t cover what happens after the wedding. That’s […]
The divorce process is fraught with paperwork — a lot of legal changes need to be made in order to give each partner independent status. Your will may be the last thing on your mind — but it shouldn’t be. Chances are that your spouse was primary beneficiary of your will while the marriage was […]
The year 2013 was historic for individuals that identify as LGBT. When the Supreme Court declared Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional, many same-sex couples saw a bright future for their right to be married legally. In Texas and other states that still restrict marriage to one man and one woman, […]
If you’re contemplating divorce, you’ve probably thought a lot about dividing your marital assets. But what about your debts? Will they be divided fairly as well? And what is “fairly,” if one party accumulated more debt than the other? First, take a look at the kind of debt you have, as individuals and as a […]
