It is not at all uncommon to see "For Sale" signs posted in front yards throughout a typical neighborhood in Houston. Unfortunately, the reason for selling the property is not usually because a family's income has increased and they are moving into a bigger yard with a swimming pool and three-car garage nor is it due to a newly retired couple who has just purchased an RV with the intention of seeing the country. Instead,...
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There are certain notorious crimes that leave a lasting impact even on the people that only read about the violence in the newspaper or see it on the news. Perhaps a high-profile celebrity gets killed and the details are fodder for the tabloids for months. Or, maybe the crime that is committed is done so against the most innocent and harmless among us, and the violence leaves everyone asking how such an act could occur....
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Different states characterize married couples' property differently, and Texas is what is known as a "community property" state. This means that, in Texas, a couple's property upon divorce will be divided into two categories: separate and marital. Separate property goes to each spouse individually and includes property that he or she owned before entering into the marriage. Marital property includes almost everything earned or acquired by either spouse during the marriage, except for gifts and...
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The troop withdrawal in Iraq marked the end of an era in American history. While thousands of servicemen will return home, it is anticipated that many more divorces will take place. According to a report by USA Today, 30,000 divorces occurred in 2011, and the military divorce rate reached its highest point since 1999. Chaplain Carleton Birch, a spokesman for the Army Office of the Chief of Chaplains, explained that the drawdowns in Iraq and...
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The division of property can be one of the most contentious aspects of a divorce. This is especially true when the husband has been the primary financial provider in the marriage. By the time a marriage comes to an end, most couples have accumulated wealth that might include personal property, real estate, bank accounts, investments, family business assets, insurance, retirement accounts and other assets. Multiple types of assets earned over the years can make property...
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With the end of the year, there is certain to be no shortage of published lists that are meant to summarize the events, trends, and tragedies of 2009. If you live in Texas, an unfolding of The Austin American-Statesman or The Houston Chronicle will likely provide you some reflective reading along the lines of "Celebrity Deaths," "Fashion Faux Pas," or "Top Ten TV Moments." While these pieces provide an interesting way to reflect on the...
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When you are homeless, chances are that your current financial circumstances have left you with few material possessions. In fact, this struggling economy in which we live has many families deciding every day the next item they can do without in order to afford the payment that will keep a roof over their heads. For this reason, I was somewhat surprised to discover that a homeless man threatened violence in Austin earlier this week with...
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I am sure that everyone has heard that famous warning, "Never discuss politics or religion if you want to avoid a contentious conversation." When it comes to current events surrounding the idea of the separation between church and state, guaranteed by the First Amendment, both taboo topics take center stage. Court cases are heard every year and on every level about whether or not people can pray in a particular location. And, politicians who are...
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Does the following scenario sound familiar to you? The Smith family has had a difficult year financially. John Smith lost his lucrative career as a result of cutbacks to middle management at a previously thriving construction company and has been working two jobs in retail for several months. Jane Smith recently re-entered the workforce after twelve years of staying home to raise children in order to help make ends meet. As the year comes to...
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The amazing men and women who serve in the United States military are the finest our country has to offer. They have made the choice to risk their lives to protect each and every one of us and we can never repay them enough. The commitment that the members of our armed forces are asked to give has become even more significant in the wake of the September 11 th terrorist attacks. We now have...
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