Dallas, Texas Family Law Blog

Even if the charge is minor or from decades ago, a criminal record can have a profound impact on your professional career. A pre-exisiting charge can make it difficult to get great jobs. Even if you wind up charged with a crime well after you've established yourself in your profession, your criminal record could make it harder for you to secure a promotion or move to a better job with a different company in the future.

Simply having a criminal record doesn't mean that you should give up on your professional aspirations, as just because you have had a run-in with the law in the past doesn't mean you'll have similar issues in the future. Instead, it might be wise to consider whether an expungement is an option in your case.

Chemical evidence often plays a crucial role in the state's case against alleged criminals, particularly in cases stemming from allegations of impaired driving. It's no wonder then that those worried about potential criminal charges, especially driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses, may not want law enforcement officers to test their breath or take their blood after an arrest.

During an impaired driving traffic stop, officers typically ask people to allow a chemical breath test. When a driver refuses a breath test, officers often treat that as a reason to suspect impaired driving. Additionally, that refusal is a violation of the state implied consent law that mandates that anyone driving on public roads allows officers to perform a chemical impairment test if they reasonably suspect someone is under the influence.

You promise to honor and love your spouse until death as part of your marriage vows. While you may have taken that promise seriously, not everyone does. It can be very difficult to learn that the person you committed to has violated the trust you placed in them. Quite a few marriages end because one spouse chooses to develop an intimate relationship with someone else.

Occasionally, people can work through infidelity, sometimes through the use of counseling or other times by signing a postnuptial agreement that creates penalties for the unfaithful spouse if they cheat again in the future. Regardless of what reaction you have and what attempts you make to save your marriage, sometimes it simply isn't possible to do so.

Even if you know that asking for a prenuptial agreement is a good idea, actually bringing this topic to light is a challenge. As you inch toward your wedding day, the last thing you want to do is give your partner the impression that you're already thinking about divorce.

There are a variety of steps you can take to ease the tension when asking for a prenuptial agreement, including the following:

• Don't issue demands: If you feel strongly about a prenuptial agreement, it's natural for you to nudge your partner in this direction. You don't want to issue demands or come across as overbearing. You're best off having an open and honest conversation during which the both of you express your true feelings.
• Talk about your fears: There's no point in keeping anything bottled up inside. For instance, if you're scared of divorce because your parents went through the process when you were young, explain this to your partner. Talking about your fears will help clear the air.
• Don't let your emotions get the best of you: Asking for a prenuptial agreement is never easy, as it's hard to say how your partner will react. Control your emotions at all times, as becoming upset or angry will drive a wedge between the two of you.
• Listen: Rather than do all the talking, take the time to really listen to your partner. Furthermore, if they have questions, do your best to provide an honest answer.
• Don't cram it all into one session: You don't have to ask for a prenuptial agreement and work through the details all in one conversation. Once you have your feelings out in the open, take a step back so you both have time to process what comes next.