Houston Family Law Blog

Separated or divorced parents and their children may be eligible for more support after September 1. A law took effect that requires parents paying child support to provide dental insurance to their children. Parents who pay child support have been legally required to pay for health care insurance in addition to other living expenses. Many supporting parents already voluntarily paid for dental insurance before this new law.

This support obligation may not take effect immediately for every parent, however, because of court rulings. New court cases requiring child support will probably require dental insurance payments.

A divorcing spouse has many opportunities to undermine their case for spousal and child support, property division and other important matters. The misuse of social media is a misstep that can be used against a spouse during divorce.

First and foremost, everything posted on Facebook, Twitter and other open forums can, and very likely will, be used against the posting spouse during a divorce. Pictures about vacations and purchases can undermine arguments about the ability to pay support, for example. Posting pictures about dates and partying can resurface in a custody battle.

Splitting a married couple's assets is often difficult during divorce. However, property division of retirement assets has its own unique concerns. Specific rules govern dividing 401(k) plans, pensions and individual retirement accounts. Annuities are also difficult, and couples may have to trade assets to avoid cashing in an annuity and losing significant value.

A qualified domestic relations order is required for 401(k) plans and pensions. A QDRO is a judicial decree that sets forth a spouse's right to receive any part of an account owner's qualified plan. These orders are submitted to plan administrators and then plan assets may be transferred to the spouse's name. Dividing a 401(k) plan with a QDRO allows a one-time tax break. Rolling these funds immediately into a new IRA also eliminates taxes or penalties. Beneficiaries must be reviewed to assure that there are no unintended recipients, such as the soon-to-be former spouse.

A good relationship is difficult to find. You were one of the lucky ones who managed to find the perfect person and grabbed on tight. Over time, though, things have begun to change. Where there was once non-stop excitement and joy, now there’s uncomfortable silence. Or worse, the painful noise of arguments.

Marriages are difficult relationships to maintain. People change, and sometimes their partner doesn’t change with them. People in a bad relationship are often the most blind to it. If your relationship has felt off, consider these four signs that it may be time to end things.