San Antonio Family Law Blog

Strategies can help with coping with grief during divorce

On behalf of Law Office of George C. Ruiz, PLLC posted in Divorce on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

Going through the dissolution of a marriage can no doubt be difficult financially. However, it can be just as tough to swallow emotionally. Here are some strategies for coping with the grief that accompanies the divorce process in San Antonio and elsewhere.

First, it is a wise move for individuals who are going through divorce to accept that their marriages are over. Only then can they fully embrace the divorce process and all of the responsibilities that come with it. It may also behoove these individuals to seek expert help, such as that from a life coach or therapist. These types of professionals can help divorcing individuals process their feelings and keep them on track for achieving their life goals outside of marriage.

Joint child custody can be a relatively peaceful process

On behalf of Law Office of George C. Ruiz, PLLC posted in Child Custody on Thursday, October 31, 2019.

The process of getting divorced is not easy for people at any age, but it can become doubly complicated for parents who share young children. Conflict can easily occur in the area of child custody, particularly if the parents have joint custody, where they must make decisions regarding the children's upbringing together. Still, some tips might help to make joint custody a positive experience for all involved in San Antonio.

For starters, it is imperative that both parents show each other respect. For instance, they should not badmouth the other party in front of the children. This will help them to have a more conflict-free co-parenting situation.

A couple of moves may help with deciding whether to get a divorce

On behalf of Law Office of George C. Ruiz, PLLC posted in Divorce on Thursday, October 17, 2019.

Going through a marital breakup can be draining both financially and mentally. However, sometimes divorce is inevitable if two spouses have irreconcilable differences. Of course, this also means that, in some cases, two spouses may be able to resolve their differences before heading to divorce court. Here are some steps to take prior to going through with the divorce process in San Antonio.

First, it is important that those who are contemplating divorce are vocal about their frustrations with their spouses. In many cases, people assume that their spouses know what issues exist in their relationships and simply are not willing to address these issues. However, sometimes the true problem is that the two parties do not see eye to eye on their relationship troubles.

How can parents help infants and toddlers cope with divorce?

On behalf of Law Office of George C. Ruiz, PLLC on Friday, October 11, 2019.

Children of different ages and developmental stages have different abilities to understand divorce. Young children, such as infants and toddlers, may have little to no understanding about what divorce is, but this does not mean that they will be oblivious to changes at home.

Fortunately, there are ways parents can help young children cope with these changes. Every child’s response to divorce can be different. However, an understanding of common infant and toddler reactions can help you anticipate your young child’s possible reaction and consider the type of support that may benefit your child most.

Research shows that gaming may lead to divorce

On behalf of Law Office of George C. Ruiz, PLLC posted in Divorce on Thursday, October 3, 2019.

Couples in San Antonio choose to get divorced for a wide range of reasons, and interestingly enough, gaming is potentially one of them. According to research, 8% of marital unions end in divorce as a result of gaming addiction. The reason for this is that gaming can easily develop into a destructive addiction that affects the gamer and his or her spouse.

Gaming generally starts out as an activity that adds joy to a person's life. However, a game can quickly become a tool for hiding from one's problems. For other people, games make them feel as though they can fix their past mistakes, as they can replay levels time after time.

Divorce has monetary repercussions

On behalf of Law Office of George C. Ruiz, PLLC posted in Divorce on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The process of getting divorced is often viewed as an emotional ordeal. However, divorce also has financial repercussions in San Antonio and elsewhere. For this reason, it is critical that individuals who are going through divorce closely examine their finances right away.

For starters, it may behoove those going through divorce to create budgets, as this will help them to review their finances. In their budgets, they can list their incomes as well as their expenses. The income listed should ideally exclude the future ex-spouse's wages. However, it may include future child support if appropriate. In addition, it is important to include in the expenses any costs that one will have to assume entirely following the divorce, such as a car loan or mortgage.

Why hire an attorney for a Texas divorce?

On behalf of Law Office of George C. Ruiz, PLLC posted in Divorce on Tuesday, September 17, 2019.

A lot of newlyweds find the legal side of getting married surprisingly simple. They marvel that Texas lets you change your life so profoundly with little more than filling out a form.

But many people are blindsided by how long, complex and contentious divorce can get, and how suddenly. By the time you understand, it can be too late. Divorce attorneys are often hired to undo the damage left after someone attempts divorce alone, without an attorney.

Parents' interaction during divorce has an impact on the children

On behalf of Law Office of George C. Ruiz, PLLC posted in Divorce on Friday, September 6, 2019.

Divorce impacts all members of the family, but it can be particularly challenging for children. Sometimes, the children feel that they caused the divorce. In addition to feeling guilty, they might feel anxious about how the divorce will alter their personal lives. However, there are a few steps that can be taken to minimize the effects of divorce on children in Texas.

First, as a general rule of thumb, it is important that the parents avoid fighting in front of their children. They should also avoid speaking negatively about each other in order to help foster positive relationships between the kids and both parents. In addition, making a child the messenger puts unnecessary pressure on him or her at a time when life already feels unstable.

Preparation helps with financial decision-making during divorce

On behalf of Law Office of George C. Ruiz, PLLC posted in Divorce on Thursday, August 22, 2019.

Navigating divorce proceedings can be intimidating. In San Antonio and elsewhere, the financial impact of divorce is a common concern. However, those confronting divorce proceedings can make things easier on themselves by being financially prepared for the future.

Prior to the divorce process, it is a good idea to gain a thorough understanding of the household finances. This can be done by keeping a detailed account of all current expenses, as well as trying to anticipate future costs. Monthly or quarterly statements regarding investments, retirement savings, bank accounts and credit card accounts can be especially helpful in gathering this information.

Divorce asset division can have a long-term impact on finances

On behalf of Law Office of George C. Ruiz, PLLC posted in Divorce on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

The process of getting divorced can do more than take a toll on a person's emotions in San Antonio. It can also derail the individual's finances. However, a few steps can help people who are going through divorce to make wise financial decisions now so that they can protect their financial statuses long term.

First, it is important to take into consideration the tax consequences of various assets during the asset division process. Texas is a community property state, so all assets that two people accumulate during their marriage must be split 50/50 when they get divorced. However, the dollars in certain accounts are not equal to the dollars in other accounts. For example, a qualified retirement account has funds that are pre-tax, whereas this is not true for funds in other accounts.