Tyler Legal Issues Blog

When people in Texas think about prenuptial agreements, they may consider them to be matters for celebrities or the ultra-wealthy. However, prenups have benefits for many couples, even those who are just starting out in life. Many people think of prenuptial agreements as documents that benefit only the wealthier, more powerful party, but a properly constructed prenup can include provisions that provide important protections for both spouses, not only one at the expense of the other.

For example, students who choose to marry while completing college or university may be good candidates for a prenuptial agreement. These agreements address how assets will be divided and separated in case of a later divorce or even the death of one spouse. When students marry, they may have few assets but substantial debt due to student loans. They may not have lucrative jobs. In short, they may be the opposite of the traditional image of someone pursuing a prenup. However, it may be an easier, more productive process to negotiate a prenuptial agreement between students because both parties are making decisions about future rather than existing assets.

Some Texas men prefer to pursue relationships with women more physically attractive than themselves. While there is nothing wrong with this particular preference, research suggests couples in physically mismatched marriages may be more likely to call it quits. This is the primary takeaway from various studies on relationships involving notable differences in physical appearance between spouses, especially when it's the man who is marrying a more attractive partner.

Most people do actually pair with partners on par with their physical attributes, although online dating data shows both men and women sometimes pursue romantic interests more attractive than themselves. If such relationships result in marriage, however, there is an increased risk of divorce. As for why this is so, some studies say it's because more attractive spouses tend to flirt more with other individuals. Other research suggests jealously on the part of the less attractive spouse may be a factor.

When a Texas business owner gets a divorce, the other spouse may be able to claim an interest in half of the company. Most of the property that either person acquires during the marriage will be considered shared marital property; although, that does not necessarily mean a business will be split 50/50 between divorcing spouses. If the business was started before the marriage, the amount it has increased in value is usually the portion that's considered marital property.

The first step is to get the business appraised. This should be done by an experienced professional, and it involves far more than simply a look at the company's official books. In addition to equipment and other assets owned by the business, there are intangibles to be considered, such as the reputation as the company, as well as whether there are handshake loans or other informal deals conducted that affect the company's worth. In some cases, a business owner could take steps to inflate or hide the company's true value.

When couples in Texas decide to divorce or separate, it's almost always better if they are able to work together to reach a fair agreement on parenting issues, including child custody and support. However, in some cases, parents' vindictive behavior towards one another could cause severe emotional harm to the children involved. In other instances, abusive former spouses may attempt to manipulate the situation to perpetuate further abuse even after the divorce is finalized. Indeed, abuse may be a factor when divorcing parents are unable to reach an agreement to divide parenting time.

Some advocates are concerned that abusive former spouses are using claims of parental alienation in order to further perpetuate control over their families and former partners. Parental alienation syndrome was first coined in the 1980s to describe the effects of bitter divorces on children whose parents kept them away from their other parent or lied to them in order to sour the relationship. However, it can be difficult to prove or disprove claims of parental alienation and for judges to differentiate those claims from the actions of an abusive parent.