The Lufkin Daily News reports that one 21-year-old man could be learning the consequences of bigamy the hard way. Justin Wayne Mitchamore, of Lufkin, reportedly married in March 2008 in Kansas, but separated from his wife after just three weeks of marriage. The man filed for a divorce in Angelina County in September 2009, but allegedly missed his final court date. Hence, his divorce was reportedly never finalized and his marriage was never dissolved.
]]> Justin Mitchamore then applied for a marriage license in December 2009 and allegedly married another woman. The estranged wife reported to authorities that her husband had married somebody else while he was still married to her. Justin Mitchamore was then arrested and booked at the Angelina County Jail.What's the moral of this story? Have an experienced family law attorney take care of divorce procedures to ensure that a dissolution of marriage is finalized before running off and marrying another person. Perhaps Justin Mitchamore's bigamy charge was all just a big misunderstanding, but Texas family law attorneys can ensure that you're familiar with the state's divorce process and that a final judgment is made in your case that resolves all the surrounding issues in a divorce. More information on the divorce process and bigamy laws can be found through our Related Resources pages.
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A gay couple that legally married in Massachusetts, but resides in Texas, is now having difficulties ending their marriage. The two men known as J.B. and H.B. in court filings were granted a divorce in Texas last October by a Dallas district court judge, but Attorney General Greg Abbott appealed the judge's ruling. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that the 5th Texas Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday that the district court judge did not have the authority to make a decision on a gay divorce case and reversed the ruling.
]]>Obviously, this case is quite complicated for the Texas family law attorneys involved. Because the divorce applicant J.B was not able get a divorce in Texas, he now has the option of either appealing the decision to the Texas Supreme Court or obtaining residency in Massachusetts so that he can get a divorce in the state that he married in.
"We respectfully disagree with the justices' opinion," J.B.'s family law attorney, Peter Schulte, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "However, we respect the process and are currently evaluating our options moving forward."
It seems as though Greg Abbott is doing everything he can to prevent gay divorces. The attorney general also objected to a divorce between two lesbians earlier this year in Austin. Yet Texas family law attorneys are continuing to fight for same-sex divorces in the Lone Star state by representing same-sex couples in family law procedures and ensuring that their rights are being protected under the law.
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The Houston Chronicle reports that the alleged victim was the doctor's fourth wife. Eight years ago, the man pleaded guilty to assaulting his third wife and received 10 years of supervised probation for the attack. Because of his previous conviction, Michael Brown faces a higher penalty this time around -- 10 years in prison along with a $10,000 if he is convicted of the criminal charges.
]]>Dr. Michael Brown is the founder of the well-known Brown Hand Center in Houston, which specializes in carpal tunnel surgery. His clinic also has locations in Phoenix, Dallas, Austin and Las Vegas.
In addition to the criminal consequences that the doctor can face, Michael Brown's criminal charges can be damaging in the child custody case that he is going through, as the man is still going through a child custody battle with his third wife. While there is no final custody order between the couple prohibiting Michael Brown from visitation, the man is currently not allowed to have contact with his two daughters due to a protective order. The doctor will probably want to get a Houston family law attorney on his side for help drafting an agreement in the family matter. Texas family law attorneys can often be helpful in family disputes regarding divorce, legal separation, or child custody.
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Cheryl Hines reportedly filed for a divorce on July 20, looking to put an end to her eight year marriage with producer and Manager Paul Young. The actress is currently best known for her role as Larry David's wife on the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm. However, in the real world Cheryl has a life of her own with Paul Young and a 6-year-old daughter named Catherine Rose. Together, the couple is looking to share custody of their daughter once the divorce process is finalized.
]]> A statement released by Cheryl Hines' rep stated, "They will remain extremely close friends and will raise their daughter together." Perhaps the fire and drama hasn't come yet with this dissolution of marriage case.Even if there are no arguments between each party involved in a divorce, it's still a good idea to have a family law attorney involved in a dissolution of marriage case, especially when there's a lot of money at stake. In Texas, a Houston family law attorney can not only negotiate family-related disputes on your behalf, but the lawyer can also give guidance and suggestions on what to do in the process of a divorce.
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The Office of the Attorney General states that House Bill 2176 requires all school districts to incorporate the Parenting and Paternity Awareness (PAPA) program into their high school health curriculum. The purpose of this program is to teach students about the rights and responsibilities of parenting. The PAPA curriculum focuses on the importance of father involvement, the value of paternity establishment, and the legal criteria of child support. Perhaps today's youth will come out of high school knowing quite a bit about family law.
]]> It's important for any parent to be informed of their rights. Being a single parent often brings about many emotional and financial challenges, but there are things that a non-married parent can do to seek financial assistance from the other parent. The custodial parent can contact a Houston family law attorney so that he or she can file a petition in court to receive child support. Texas family law attorneys can also assist with other legal procedures, including the establishment of paternity.People with questions about PAPA are encouraged to look through the session materials for educators online at http://www.oag.state.tx.us/cs/ofi/papa/sessions/. Parents with specific questions about the program can e-mail papa@oag.state.tx.us.
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The Attorney General's Child Support Division mission statement says that the agency "has responsibility to assist parents in obtaining the financial support necessary for children to grow up and succeed in life." Parents can obtain information on the state's child support services by contacting the Child Support Division at 1-800-252-8014. The National Child Support Awareness Month may also recognize the need to crackdown on deadbeat parents in the state of Texas and across the country. Any parent that has had trouble collecting court ordered child support should speak to a Houston family law attorney in order to learn how such an order can go about being enforced. Any non-custodial parent that his delinquent on child support payments can also contact family law attorney in order to learn more information on modifying an existing child support order.
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In Houston, there are many family law attorneys that can help if you have any questions about the process of creating a prenuptial agreement. If you decide that a prenuptial agreement is best for you, it's a good idea to have skilled Texas family law attorneys, preferably one on each side, draft an agreement.
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What's worse? The mother may have violated a child custody order. The lawsuit states that the father was supposed to have custody of his son on the weekend that the incident occurred. The defendants in this case have reportedly tried to get Child Protective Services involved, but the agency has stated that the cutting of grass by hand did not rise to a level of abuse.
As a Texas lawyer, Glen Engle is representing himself in his case. The defendant, however, should probably get a Texas family law attorney of her own if she wants to keep the child custody arrangement as it already is. It's possible that the father may want to modify the current child custody agreement after what he claims happened.
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The woman was born in England but she was adopted by a couple who went through the adoption process in Texas. At the age of 3, Alexis Stevens obtained a Texas birth certificate, but the naturalization process was never completed. Because she voted without being a U.S. citizen in several elections, she now fears that she will be deported.
]]> The story of Alexis Stevens shows how every detail in the adoption process is critical. There are Texas family law attorneys all over the Lone Star state that can help adoptive parents through every step of an international adoption, including the legal steps of a child getting U.S. citizenship and obtaining a social security card.Thanks to the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, most children being adopted from a foreign country can acquire American citizenship automatically. However, the law only applies to children that have at least one American citizen parent by birth or naturalization and to children that are admitted as an immigrant for lawful permanent residence. International adoptions can be very complex and often require more legal steps than a domestic adoption. It's a good idea for adoptive parents to find a Houston adoption attorney if they're interested in learning more information on foreign adoption.
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KIAH TV reports that Tahrick Perry took one of his babies to the doctor after he noticed that the child had a swollen leg. He said that one of his other children had fallen on top of the baby while they were in a car. A series of test showed that the baby had a broken leg, two skull fractures and seven broken ribs, which were not consistent with Perry's story. The father's biological children also said that they saw their father hit, shake and throw the baby for crying.
]]> Yet Tahrick Perry vows that he is innocent and says that he would never hurt an infant. He told KIAH that he has faith that justice will prevail and that he will soon have his children returned to him.At this point the man should see a Houston family law attorney so make sure that the justice system does actually follow through with what he believes. If convicted of child abuse charges, he may lose custody of his foster children and have to terminate his parental rights of his two biological children. An attorney, however, can argue against the termination of parental rights on behalf of a client and provide defense during termination proceedings. More information on parental rights can be found through our Related Resources.
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It some states it's rare for a person to be arrested for not paying child support. However, Texans should watch out because simply being delinquent on child support can mean serious business. The Cherokeean Herald reported that 20 parents in El Paso County were arrested earlier this week during a sweep, which focused on parents who are the subject of arrest warrants due to not paying their court-ordered child support.
The sweep kicked off at 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday when Sheriff Richard Wiles dispatched six teams of law enforcement officers to arrest the deadbeat parents before they had a chance to leave their homes for the day. When a person is arrested in Texas for failing to pay child support and goes to jail, the bail bonds posted are paid to the custodial parents and children who are owed back child support.
]]>Non-custodial parents that have an outstanding arrest warrant for not paying child support can contact the El Paso County Sheriff's Office to avoid an arrest by working out an arrangement. In the Lone Star state, there are also Texas family law attorneys that can help those parents that are behind on child support payments. A family law attorney can file a motion to modify an existing child support order if one parent can show a change in their circumstances that necessitates the modification. Change in income or job termination are some reasons why a non-custodial parent may ask for the lowering of child support payments.
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The mother told the San Angelo Standard-Times that she did not initially pursue a child support order after their break-up because she claimed that she didn't have the resources to go about getting such an order. While many people may not be aware of the process to go about getting a child support order, obtaining such an order can actually be very simple with help from Texas family law attorneys.
FindLaw states that child support orders are issued by the family courts, where a judge bases the amount of child support largely on the non-custodial parent's income and the number of children that must be supported. Other factors such as the custodial parent's income and the needs of each child are also taken into consideration by a judge when an order is made.
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It took 23 doctors in two different operating rooms to handle the quintuplets birth, but now it looks like that all of them will be healthy. Some of the babies are now even breathing on their own without any oxygen.
But perhaps giving birth to five babies is a piece of cake compared to raising the five children. Parents often find taking care of just one child is a lot of work and often seek help when it comes to parenting. In the Lone Star state, Texas family law attorneys will often deal with complex cases involving divorce or child custody. However, family lawyers can also provide information on parenting and can often give referrals to parenting classes in the local area. Starting a family can mean making a number of decisions about the future. When making parenting decisions, it can be a good idea to learn more about education, healthcare, and child safety when it comes to raising a family.
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The Houston Chronicle reports that Nikki Araguz was born a male, but had a court order to undergo gender surgery after being diagnosed with a genetic disorder that kept her from growing into a fully developed man. The family of Wharton firefighter Thomas Araguz III claims that their son never knew of his wife's sex change, which are grounds for an annulment.
]]> Yet Texas family law attorneys representing Nikki Araguz are presenting evidence that her husband did know of Nikki Araguz's entire gender history. Lawyers claim that the marriage between the couple is valid due to a new provision in the Texas Family Code that took effect last year, which allows a person to present a court order relating to a sex change to obtain a marriage license. The evidence includes the release of an e-mail exchange between the couple on the date of the genital reassignment surgery, where the firefighter allegedly indicated that he knew of the operation.The Transgender Foundation of America also released a statement that said Thomas Araguz accompanied Nikki to her appointments at the Houston transgender clinic and that she had witnessed Nikki ask questions about the genital reconstructive surgery in front of her husband.
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The San Antonio Express reports that this program was implemented across the state of Texas in 2005 in hopes of helping low-income unemployed or underemployed noncustodial parents who are behind on their child support payments and whose children are current or former recipients of public assistance. The program is a collaborative effort of the attorney general's office and the Texas Workforce Commission.
]]> After enrolling in the program, participants can meet with job counselors and get referrals for jobs. The program also helps its participants get access to resources on their job hunt, such as providing the participants with bus passes and giving them tips on how to dress for a job interview."If they can become employed, they have a better chance of keeping up with the child support payments," Senior Workforce Services Specialist Vickie Reece told San Antonio Express. "When these individuals get engaged and start working, you are really changing the whole family dynamic."
Most child support payers don't want to be deadbeat parents, but sometimes non-custodial parents have trouble making their court ordered payments. In this situation, Texas family law attorneys can help non-custodial parents modify their child support agreement. Programs like NCP can also help non-custodial parents get employment so that they can make their child support payments. More information about NCP can be found at http://www.twc.state.tx.us/welref/wrncpchoices.html.
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