Welcome to our Houston and Midland, Texas Family Law, Estate Planning Blog

As the end of the year approaches, many people in Texas and around the country will be looking toward their future and making changes. Some people may decide to file for divorce after the holidays are officially over. Many law firms report that they see an increase of people filing for divorce in the month of January, with some saying filings can rise as much as 30%. Though many people typically associate divorce with a decrease in income, especially for women, researchers say that isn't always the case.

According to an expert at the U.S. Census Bureau, when states have laws that make divorce easier to access, that can help both people in the long run, but particularly women. Having the ability to file for a "no fault divorce" increases the likelihood that both spouses will work outside the home on a full-time basis. Having a solid career can help women take care of themselves.

Having insurance is one of life's necessities, whether the policy covers a person's home, car or medical expenses. People trust that if they make their regular payments that when they need to make a claim it will be paid. Unfortunately, many legitimate insurance claims are denied by insurance companies. Texas families sometimes find out the hard way that their insurance company is in the business of making money and not helping people. This is what one man from out of state alleges after his insurance provider twice refused his claim to cover the cost of repairing his home's roof.

The man says that last year, his roof sustained damage due to a hail storm. He claims that a representative for his insurance came to inspect the damage and claimed that there wasn't any. The man asked a roofing contractor for another opinion who told him that his roof was indeed damaged. The man then paid an engineer to do another inspection, at the encouragement of his insurance company. That engineer confirmed the damage once again.

Most people here in Texas don't enjoy thinking about the end of their lives, but it is an important subject to consider. Some assume that if they are young, they don't need to worry about writing a will or estate planning, but that is untrue. Those who don't have a comprehensive estate plan may not have their assets and property distributed in accordance with their wishes, and their children may not be cared for by people of their choosing. In some cases, people may even attempt to make a fraudulent claim on a person's estate. One such case went on for several years after four people attempted to submit a fake will to claim a large inheritance that didn't belong to them.

Several years ago, a man who suffered injuries in the famous Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion received a multi-million dollar settlement. He met a woman who worked as a real estate agent, who helped him purchase multiple properties. Eventually, the man joined the business of the real estate agent's husband and even began dating their daughter. The man ended up dying in a car accident and leaving behind an underage son from a previous relationship. His brother and son both searched for a will, but never found one.

If you were feeling relatively content in your marriage, you were likely caught off guard by your spouse's decision to file for divorce. Learning that your spouse no longer wants to continue in the relationship can affect every aspect of your life, and for a time you may find it difficult to concentrate at work or be an engaged parent. You may even be feeling depressed, in which case you should seek professional guidance.

If you are struggling to emotionally deal with the difficult aspects of divorce, you may want to step back to reflect on the bigger picture. It's easy to focus on the short-term negatives, but by thinking about the ways that divorce may benefit your life, you may be able to move forward more positively. The following are some of the possible advantages of divorce.