Frisco Family Law Blog

3 things to remember if you plan to sell the house in a divorce

On behalf of Pfister & Associates, Attorneys and Counselors at Law on Wednesday, July 3, 2019.

Divorce is a complex road to go down, especially if you have high-value assets that will have to be divided between you and your ex. For instance, some assets will have to go through a valuation process before you know how much they are worth. Moreover, it might make more financial sense to sell some assets and divide the proceeds rather than try to keep them. Your house in Frisco is a prime example of an asset that you may want to sell.

If you choose to move forward selling the house, there are a few things you can do to smooth out the process. Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you are going to sell the house in a divorce.

When grandparents rear their own grandkids

On behalf of Pfister & Associates, Attorneys and Counselors at Law on Tuesday, June 4, 2019.

Years ago, when you pictured spending time with your future grandchildren, what did you envision? Perhaps you saw yourself decked out in finery, sipping tea with a granddaughter or tossing around the ball with your grandson.

It's likely that the memories you imagined making with your grandchildren did not include your being responsible for their 24/7 care and feeding. But then life intervened.

Financial security during a divorce

On behalf of Pfister & Associates, Attorneys and Counselors at Law on Friday, May 3, 2019.

Going through a divorce can have the potential to wreak havoc on your finances. One of the main reasons for this is because, in Texas, the legal theory of community property is recognized. This means that, in many cases, assets will be divided between spouses 50/50, even if one spouse acquired the vast majority of income.

If you are considering filing for a divorce in Texas, it is important that you plan ahead to ensure that you are organized and that you go about the process in a way that protects your interests. The following are some strategies that you can adapt to ensure that you get a successful financial outcome from your divorce.

Yes, you can learn to co-parent effectively with your ex

On behalf of Pfister & Associates, Attorneys and Counselors at Law on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

One of the lingering effects of particularly contentious and acrimonious divorces is the inability of the exes to successfully co-parent their children together. The very problems that led to the couple splitting up continue to wreak havoc in their post-divorce relationship.

This is troublesome on all fronts. It keeps the adults trapped in negative relationship patterns where settling even the most minor difficulties becomes impossible. But worst of all, the kids suffer needlessly when their parents can't manage to civilly interact with one another.

Is lump-sum alimony the right choice for you?

On behalf of Pfister & Associates, Attorneys and Counselors at Law on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

When you get divorced in a community property state like Texas, it's very important to determine whether spousal support (or alimony) is appropriate in your circumstances. Since alimony payments are rarely a given in 2019, you may not qualify to receive these payments nor be required to pay them.

But alimony is still awarded in Texas divorces in some cases: for instance, if you are coming out of a marriage of long duration where you eschewed pursuing a lucrative career in order to stay home and rear the children and take care of the home and family. But even in these cases, all spousal support is not equal.

4 ways to protect your money in a divorce

On behalf of Pfister & Associates, Attorneys and Counselors at Law on Friday, February 1, 2019.

Divorce can be a long and complicated process and, if you are not careful, you may walk away with less than your fair share of the marital assets. For example, if you insist on keeping the house in Plano and give up other assets in exchange, you could end up with the raw end of the deal. The house might become too expensive to maintain and you might have to sell it at a loss. In fact, as soon as you make the decision to divorce, it is time to start taking steps to protect your money.

With just a little bit of planning, you can organize your finances so that you are not only ready for divorce proceedings but also for your new life. Here are few ways to protect your finances.

Sudden income deficit syndrome and divorce

On behalf of Pfister & Associates, Attorneys and Counselors at Law on Monday, January 7, 2019.

Many things happen when a person files for a divorce. For people who have a family business, keeping an eye on what is going on with it is beneficial. Sometimes, one party will start to tamper with the profits of the business to make it look like it isn't as profitable as it really is. This is known as sudden income deficit syndrome.

Some people claim that this a form of self-protection. However, it isn't legal to try to hide any assets, including the income of a family owned business. This doesn't stop some individuals from trying. For this reason, you should pay close attention to the claims the other side is making about business matters.

Could you be derailing your own divorce?

On behalf of Pfister & Associates, Attorneys and Counselors at Law on Wednesday, December 5, 2018.

Divorces can be fraught with complications. That doesn't necessarily mean that they have to be, however. Especially when a spouse makes errors that weaken their own standing in the case.

It happens more often than one might think — likely because divorce is a traumatic event, and having to cope with the trauma makes many people less able to manage their legal positions. Read on to learn more about the common errors to avoid in divorce.

Grandparents, formalize your custody agreements

On behalf of Pfister & Associates, Attorneys and Counselors at Law on Monday, November 5, 2018.

If you look around at many Frisco families, you might notice that you are seeing many older parents with young children. Are couples waiting longer to start their families these days?

Not exactly. What at first glance appears to be a traditional family unit is often a set of grandparents rearing their children's kids. The national opioid crisis has hit the Texas heartland particularly hard. Families have been fractured by addiction and decimated by overdoses. All of this has led to a lost generation whose children must be taken in by family members or raised by foster families.

Divorce mediation can save couples money and time

On behalf of Pfister & Associates, Attorneys and Counselors at Law on Thursday, October 4, 2018.

Divorcing Texas couples may be able to settle all or many of their issues using mediation rather than litigation. Mediation can definitely be cheaper and faster, but it is by no means appropriate for all couples in every situation.

If you plan to divorce, mediation can be a viable option. But before initiating any proceedings, it's important to take an honest look at the situation between you and your spouse.