Divorce can be a difficult and emotionally-charged process. If you are considering a divorce in Texas, one of the options available to you is mediation. Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution that can help divorcing couples reach amicable agreements without the need for a trial. In some cases, couples may be required to participate in court-ordered mediation, while in others, they may agree to use this process and work together to negotiate agreements on any outstanding issues that need to be settled in their case. By understanding how this option may be used, you can determine if it will be beneficial in your situation, and you can find the best solutions that will allow you to complete the divorce process successfully.

What Is Mediation?

Mediation is a process that helps divorcing couples resolve the outstanding disputes in their case with the help of an impartial third party. The mediator provides guidance and encourages communication between the parties, helping them find areas where they can compromise and come to an agreement. All discussions the spouses participate in during mediation are confidential. This means that anything discussed during the mediation sessions cannot be used as evidence in court should the mediation process fail.

When faced with the reality of divorcing parents, many children internalize the struggle between the parents. They are usually not privy to the countless closed-door disagreements and difficulties that may have existed in the marriage for years. Instead, children will often turn inward, blaming themselves for their parents’ inability to get along, and, ultimately, for the divorce. While you and your spouse may understand that it is not your child’s fault, it is your responsibility to make sure that your child comes to understand as well.

#1: Talk Openly, but Carefully

If it is at all possible, you and your spouse should talk to your child together about your impending divorce before it becomes a reality. The two of you need to make clear that the divorce is based on issues between the adults. Your child did not cause it, and your child cannot fix it. It is also important to be age-appropriate when considering what details to share with your child. For example, the challenges of raising children may have, in fact, contributed to the breakdown of your marriage. Your first-grader, however, may interpret that as being to blame by nature of his existence.

#2: Invite Communication

Once your child knows about your divorce, it is important not to place expectations on him or her regarding how to handle the news. Everyone—adults and children—will need to deal with the situation in their own ways. Do not ask your child to keep secrets; instead, share only as much as you would be comfortable with other people knowing. Do not demand that your child talks to you. Instead, provide a safe environment for him or her to express feelings and concerns without judgment or consequences.

The highest divorce rates are among military couples compared to any other profession. At Brandon Wong & Associates, we respect the sacrifices service members make for this country and we are dedicated to protecting their rights and interests. If you are deployed in another country and have been served with a military divorce it can be emotional and overwhelming. A skilled military divorce attorney can guide you through the process and ensure that you conserve your benefits.

Qualifying for a 90-day Stay

If you are serving your country overseas, you may not know how to respond to a divorce petition - but a skilled military divorce attorney can help guide you through this difficult time and process. The Service Members Civil Relief Act allows you to apply for a 90-day stay, which places a divorce or child custody issue on hold. You would need to prove the following to qualify for a stay:

Same-sex marriages are fairly new in the United States and subsequently divorces among the

LGBTQ+ community are too. Same-sex couples may come across unique circumstances if they decide to get a divorce or fight for child custody. It is best to work with an experienced LGBT family law attorney to protect your rights if you are thinking about parting ways.

When did the Marriage Actually Begin?

In 2015, the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages, enabling LGBT couples to enjoy the same rights and privileges as others in their marriages nationwide. The state of Texas recognized common-law marriages for LGBT couples beginning at the same time, although the reality is that many same-sex couples were already living together in Texas. 

Relationships often end because of infidelity, but even when a relationship ends for other reasons, infidelity may still have been present with or without one partner’s knowledge. Because genetic testing is inexpensive and widely available, some fathers find out unexpectedly that the child they believed was theirs, and which they have cared for and financially supported for many years, is not actually their own.

Understandably, this can cause a man serious distress. Feelings of anger, hurt, and betrayal are common, as is confusion over whether a man who is not the genetic parent of a child wants to keep contributing emotionally and financially to that child’s life. If you are a parent who has been paying child support for a child who turned out not to be your own, you deserve to know your options. Contact a Texas child support attorney for help.

Get a Court Order to Terminate Child Support

It is important not to stop making child support payments without court permission. Even if you find out a child is not yours using a private genetic testing service, you will likely still need to seek genetic testing through the state to prove you are not the father. For sure you will need to file a petition with the court to terminate the parent-child relationship and your child support obligation. You may also need to prove that you relied on misinformation when you assumed you were the child’s parent; for example, if you were married to the child’s mother at the time of the child’s birth and the law assumed you were the child’s parent, you may have assumed so as well.