Dallas Family Law Blog | The Shapiro Law Firm

The journey to expungement

On behalf of Todd Shapiro of The Shapiro Law Firm on Tuesday, October 6, 2020.

If you have been charged with a crime in the past, you will likely feel that you have already faced the consequences of the crime, and in many respects, you will still bear the burden today. While your prison sentence or probation may have been completed many years ago, you may feel that your criminal record still holds you back from living the life you want to live.

You'll likely need to disclose your criminal history every time you apply for a job or a place to live, and the fact that you have to disclose this may prevent you from achieving your full potential. This is why many people in this position engage in the process of expungement.

Divorce: What if you share a professional practice with a spouse?

On behalf of Todd Shapiro of The Shapiro Law Firm on Monday, September 21, 2020.

You and your spouse are in the same field. As medical providers, you feel like you're a good team at work. One of you works specifically with children, and the other prefers to work with adults, so your practice can see anyone.

Unfortunately, the good work relationship you have didn't translate into a good marriage the way you thought it would. Instead, you rarely see one another, and you've grown apart.

When can I have a marriage annulled in Texas?

On behalf of Todd Shapiro of The Shapiro Law Firm on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

Marriage is rarely easy -- after years of living with a person that you once believed was your soul mate, you may have come to the conclusion that you would both be happier if you were no longer married. While this can be difficult to admit, it's also brave. Taking action to improve your own life will undoubtedly benefit your children, too.

However, while you may want to end your marriage, you may be reluctant to file for divorce. You may not want to file for divorce for religious or personal reasons, and in this situation, you should look at the other options available. In certain circumstances, it is possible to have your marriage annulled. An annulment is a legal process of invalidating a marriage. If you are wondering whether you can have your marriage annulled in Texas, the following is an overview of the grounds for annulment.

Alimony expectations in Texas

On behalf of Todd Shapiro of The Shapiro Law Firm on Friday, August 14, 2020.

If you earn less than your divorcing spouse, it's likely that you're concerned about how you will be able to maintain the same standard of living post-divorce. Your expenses are still likely to be considerable, especially if you will keep the family home, but your income is undoubtedly going to take a significant cut.

Divorce courts try to operate in such a way so as to minimize any unfairness and inequity during the divorce process. This is essentially why alimony, otherwise known as spousal support, is often awarded to the spouse who earns less. If you are hoping to receive alimony as part of your Texas divorce settlement, it is important that you understand how the law will apply to your situation.

Community property and high asset divorces

On behalf of Todd Shapiro of The Shapiro Law Firm on Friday, August 14, 2020.

In the state of Texas, marital assets in a divorce are subject to equal division, regardless of the circumstances. This is in contrast to many other states, where assets are divided according to the circumstances of the marriage and the divorce.

If you are going through a high asset divorce, you may feel quite frustrated by this law, because you likely believe that you are entitled to more than 50% of the assets held within the marriage. While there are not many options to change this outcome unless you were able to have your divorcing spouse sign a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, there is one important way that you can ensure that the process of dividing assets is done fairly, and that is by ensuring that assets are correctly categorized.

What to do if your divorcing spouse is toxic

On behalf of Todd Shapiro of The Shapiro Law Firm on Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

Going through a divorce is a tough and emotional battle, no matter the circumstances. Even if you are able to be amicable with your divorcing spouse, you will have to come to terms with the fact that your relationship has come to an end and that your children will no longer have an intact family unit.

Dealing with a divorcing spouse who is toxic, aggressive and hostile toward you can only make things more difficult to deal with. They may be acting in this way because they are upset and hurt, but they may also have more strategic and manipulative intentions. During the divorce process, stakes are high, and it is important that you do not let your divorcing spouse's emotions change your perspective. The following are some actions to take if you are divorcing a toxic spouse.

Drunk or diabetic? Defend yourself if there's confusion

On behalf of Todd Shapiro of The Shapiro Law Firm on Friday, June 26, 2020.

You were driving your child home when you started to feel a little unwell. You weaved out of your lane but corrected your vehicle as soon as you could. As soon as you were able, you pulled over to the side of the road where you saw a police officer pull over behind you. They came up and asked if you'd been drinking.

You told them you had started to feel unwell, but the smell of alcohol on your breath made them think you'd been drinking. You tried to explain that you had type II diabetes, but the officer was already going through the process of testing you with a Breathalyzer. You later took your blood sugar and saw it was fine, but that didn't mean that it was in the moment of the stop.

How are assets divided in Texas divorces?

On behalf of Todd Shapiro of The Shapiro Law Firm on Thursday, June 11, 2020.

If you are going through a divorce, you'll need to have a good understanding of the state law so that you can ensure that you get the divorce settlement that you deserve. If you intend to file for a divorce in Texas, arm yourself with the knowledge of how Texas laws govern the process.

Completing a divorce means that you will need to find a way to divide the assets that you have acquired during your partnership. If you and your spouse have been married for many years, this can be particularly challenging. The law in Texas controls how assets and debts are divided in Texas divorces. The following is an overview of these laws and their associated implications.

If your teen is accused of distributing drugs, get the full story

On behalf of Todd Shapiro of The Shapiro Law Firm on Tuesday, May 19, 2020.

Your teenager has always been a good kid. They've never caused many problems, and you thought that they knew not to use drugs or to get involved with them.

You were shocked when you got a phone call from the police saying that they'd been arrested and were waiting at the station. You hurried there to find out that they'd been accused of drug trafficking. Your teen vehemently disagreed with that accusation, but you knew you'd need to get to the bottom of things.

Driving while impaired? You could face serious penalties

On behalf of Todd Shapiro of The Shapiro Law Firm on Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

Driving while intoxicated is a big deal in Texas. Though it may not be taken as seriously in some other states, driving while drunk can land you serious fines and penalties in Texas.

The Texas Department of Transportation has made it easy for people to find out about the charges and penalties they could face if they choose to drive while impaired. For instance, did you know that you could be fined up to $10,000 if you're caught drinking and driving with a minor age 15 or younger in your vehicle?