The end of a marriage is always difficult, and a divorce can be as complex as it is painful. When going through a divorce, many people wonder what factors will matter, if their marriage will be treated differently than any other marriage, or if they will get stuck making alimony payments for the rest of their lives. Some people are uncertain as to whether they are even legally married. No matter what questions and worries you have, our experienced team will help you navigate the divorce process with ease.
In matters that involve infidelity, there is rarely a clear right or wrong side as many factors can contribute to one spouse getting involved with a paramour.
Courts generally analyze the impact of infidelity in the divorce by examining five factors: evidence, the existence and age of children, if money was spent on the affair or paramour, if the other party is seeking a ‘no-fault’ divorce, if children were exposed to the paramour, and whether or not the cheating spouse is forthcoming with the court.
Regardless of which side you’re on, you’ll want a lawyer who can effectively present your side of the story—that’s where we come in. We have years of experience successfully articulating our clients’ side of the story and developing appropriate legal strategies to support them.
The standard to which one must prove infidelity is by a burden of Clear and Convincing Evidence. The Clear and Convincing Evidence Standard is a standard that dictates that the evidence offered has a high probability for truth. Depending on the circumstances of the affair, testimony that the spouse was unfaithful may not be enough to meet this standard. Pictures and documentary evidence can be useful, but not all documentary evidence is seen as useful, nor does physical evidence always exist.
Some spouses choose to hire private investigators to obtain evidence of infidelity. Generally, a private investigator must be disclosed. There are other legal means to collecting evidence that can help to prove an affair (like obtaining financial records and phone records), so you should consult with an attorney experienced in handling these delicate matters strategically and in a way that helps your position in court.
Knowing if the cheating spouse spent marital assets on affairs is essential. If a spouse spends community property on their paramour—and the expenses or gifts are provable—then the faithful spouse may be entitled to a disproportionate share of the community estate or other compensation. If the standard of proof is met, the court will reconstitute the community estate, (meaning the cheating spouse’s half of the marital estate will be used to ‘pay back’ the marital estate).
If there are children involved in a divorce, the court may make orders for the protection of the children and make determinations about the cheating spouse’s parenting based on whether the cheating spouse has prioritized their affair over parenting. The court wants to ensure that children are not exposed to paramours, as this may have a negative impact on the child. If the paramour has been in the presence of the children, especially at the objection or lack of input from the other spouse, the court may issue a restraining order and require therapeutic involvement.
The court will also consider the character and background of the paramour to determine the judgment of the introducing spouse. Introducing children to a paramour who has a criminal history or issue with drugs, alcohol, or domestic violence, may significantly impact the parent’s credibility.
In Texas, divorces are granted based on reasons or ‘grounds’ for the divorce. If it is proven that either spouse committed adultery, that spouse may be found at fault in the dissolution of the marriage. In a No-Fault Divorce, neither party is held responsible. Additionally, even if the spouses were living apart at the time the affair began, Texas does not recognize legal separation, and the actions of the cheating party will still be considered adulterous.
Spouses often attempt to hide their affairs from their partner, so it should not be surprising that they may try to deceive the court or even their attorney. Some people are embarrassed by their affair, want to maintain innocence so their spouse won’t punish or resent them for their actions, or think they are protecting their spouse from pain by denying the truth. Fortunately, we are skilled in analyzing facts and indicators that infidelity or financial infidelity exist.
If you are the spouse that committed adultery, you must be honest about the affair. If caught, failure to be forthcoming can result in an unfavorable outcome in your case, and it may negatively impact your credibility.
The court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2071 (2015), 2015 U.S. LEXIS 4250 (June 26, 2015), holds that “the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the person, and under… the Fourteenth Amendment couples of the same-sex may not be deprived of that right and that liberty… same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry.” Now the law recognizes same-sex marriages as being equal to heterosexual marriages, and legal disputes receive the same treatment.
Simply put, there are no legal differences between a heterosexual divorce or a homosexual divorce. However, these divorces can be complicated by other legal factors such as instances when an informal marriage may exist before ratification of the same-sex marriage. At Walters Gilbreath, PLLC, we understand that—although they receive the same treatment—same-sex marriages and divorces require an in-depth understanding of the nuances that can affect or otherwise complicate cases. If you are in such a marriage and want a divorce contact us, and a member of our team will guide you every step of the way.
Most people think of alimony as court-ordered financial support that one spouse pays to their former-spouse after divorce. Under Texas law, there are a variety of spousal-support options: temporary spousal support, spousal maintenance, and contractual alimony.
To be eligible to receive spousal maintenance, the seeking spouse must prove that they do not have enough income and won’t receive the property necessary to meet their minimum reasonable needs. They must also meet at least one of the following criteria:
Texas policy requires courts to limit spousal maintenance to the shortest reasonable period, and they may not order support to last longer than ten years unless there is a disability. Two factors determine the duration of spousal maintenance: disability and marriage length.
The duration of support can change if a spouse has a diminished ability to work due to a physical or mental disability or if the spouse seeking support is the caretaker of a child with a physical or mental disability. It is important to note that psychological or physical disabilities may allow a court to extend spousal maintenance indefinitely.
Texas law may also impose statutory limits on support for marriages based on the length of the marriage. If the duration of the marriage is ten years (minimum), the requesting spouse may be eligible for up to five years of support. The spouse may also qualify for five years of support if they are a victim of family violence. If the duration of the marriage is 20 to 30 years, the requesting spouse is eligible for seven years of maintenance. For 30 or more years of marriage, the requesting spouse may be eligible for ten years of payments.
Maintenance can also end in certain circumstances. Spousal support terminates if either party dies, or if the receiving spouse remarries or begins to cohabitate with a new partner. Under Texas law, there is a limit to the amount of spousal maintenance a court can order. A paying spouse cannot be obligated to pay more than $5,000 or 20% of his or her income (whichever amount is less). In this instance, income includes earnings from wages, overtime, and retirement accounts, and it does not include veteran benefits, or social security.
Enforcing Support Payments
Contractual (agreed) spousal support can only be enforced as a contract. If the parties have agreed, the court may order a wage withholding order, but the court cannot make such an order if the parties have not reached an agreement. A party cannot be held in contempt for not paying contractual spousal support, but they can be liable for the amounts owed and attorney’s fees.
How Is Court Ordered Spousal Maintenance Enforced?
If spousal maintenance (‘alimony’ or ‘spousal support’) is ordered, the court can enforce the award through a wage withholding order or contempt proceedings. If the party fails to pay, they may be held in contempt or jailed. In certain circumstances, the non-paying party can be held in contempt and jailed.
You might be wondering if your spouse will have any claim to your stock options in a divorce. To determine the characterization of your current portfolio, you will want to gather the following information/documentation:
In Texas, there are several options for the division of restricted stock in a divorce:
Like stocks, retirement accounts often require an analysis because even if the plan was obtained before the marriage, the portion contributed and the interest accrued can still be considered community property.
Brian and his staff were great. Brian’s direction and expertise provided me with the legal information relevant for my needs over several years now. He listens and is steadfast which gave me comfort in the courses of action. I highly recommend him.Brian and his staff were great. Brian’s direction and expertise provided me with the legal information...
Larry M.
view all reviews
Request a Consultation