Abilene TX Divorce Law Blog

Actor Charlie Sheen may owe $450K in child support

On behalf of Law Offices of Randy Wilson and Kristin Postell, PLLC posted in Child Support on Sunday, September 15, 2019.

When two Texas parents are not in a relationship with one another, it doesn't mean that their children's needs go away. Typically, one parent pays the other child support, determined by several factors, including income and the standard of living to which the children were accustomed if their parents used to be married. If one or both of the parents had a high level of assets, then the resulting child support payments will reflect that fact. This is the situation between actors Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards. Richards claims that Sheen owes her $450,000 in overdue child support.

The two actors were married for three years and divorced in 2006. They have two children together. Richards says that she did not have a prenuptial agreement with Sheen and could have asked for half of his assets, but didn't. She alleges that he has been spending the money he has on luxuries and to repay debt in lieu of making court-ordered child support payments.

Candidate for Sheriff accused of having unpaid child support

On behalf of Law Offices of Randy Wilson and Kristin Postell, PLLC posted in Child Support on Wednesday, September 4, 2019.

When parents have an agreement regarding payment of child support, most of them understand the importance of those payments. They know that their children need that money in order to have basic needs fulfilled and that missing even one payment can have a detrimental effect on their life. Even so, there are many parents who fail to make court-ordered child support payments. Right here in Texas, one county is dealing with reports that a candidate for the office of sheriff owes several thousand dollars in unpaid child support.

The man in question allegedly owes over $53,000 in overdue child support to his ex-wife. Local media obtained legal documents that revealed this story and spoke to the man about exactly what occurred. The reports state that, earlier this year, a judge determined the man should have and could have made the required payments on time. He was found guilty of contempt of court and eventually ordered under community supervision for 120 months. Since then, reports show that the man is now making his payments on time and even paying his overdue payments with interest.

Program encourages parents to pay overdue child support

On behalf of Law Offices of Randy Wilson and Kristin Postell, PLLC posted in Child Support on Monday, August 19, 2019.

Even when two parents are not in a relationship, their shared children still have needs. Typically, that means that one parent makes child support payments to the other, custodial, parent. Some Texas parents have difficulty making those payments for reasons that may be valid, such as a job loss. There are some parents who fail to make the necessary payments without any discernible reason, which can detrimentally affect a child's life. One state decided to take action by creating incentive for parents to make those payments and work with them so that their kids can get what they need.

The program is called "Back in the Driver's Seat." Many parents end up losing their driver's license due to missed child support payments. Officials wanted to see if they could work with those same parents to develop a payment plan and reinstate their licenses. A spokesperson for the Office of Child Support Enforcement said that 11,000 people in their state lost their licenses because of overdue child support. He said that parents who approach the office won't necessarily need to pay a lump sum of the unpaid amount, but could work out a payment schedule that works for all parties involved.

Singer Jennifer Hudson reaches agreement in child custody dispute

On behalf of Law Offices of Randy Wilson and Kristin Postell, PLLC posted in Child Custody on Monday, August 5, 2019.

When parents decide not to have a romantic relationship with one another, determining child custody can be difficult. Some parents here in Texas are able to come to an agreement easily, while others may struggle for various reasons. Singer Jennifer Hudson recently made an agreement with her ex-fiance regarding custody of their 9-year-old son, after a two-year child custody dispute.

The former couple split in 2017 and Hudson filed a protective order against her former fiance, saying that he pushed her while she was holding the boy. She dropped the petition eventually, but it is unclear why, though her fiance, a former pro-wrestler denied pushing her. A police investigation did not find sufficient evidence of abuse or harassment. The two filed several different motions against one another over the course of their custody battle.

County cracking down on unpaid child support

On behalf of Law Offices of Randy Wilson and Kristin Postell, PLLC posted in Child Support on Monday, July 22, 2019.

When one parent is entitled to child support payments, not having those payments can make life very difficult. Children have needs and that money is meant to provide for them. Texas parents may be interested in the efforts of one out-of-state county that decided to go after parents with unpaid child support. County officials say that the task force was very successful, but that in the end, it's all about making sure children's needs are met.

The county sheriff's office worked with the local social services department to find a way to hold parents who haven't paid child support accountable. The task force originally formed over a month ago. In just one day, officers arrested 13 people and had 12 turn themselves in.

Fathers hoping to solve unmarried child custody issues

On behalf of Law Offices of Randy Wilson and Kristin Postell, PLLC posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

For a long time, it has been presumed that mothers provide more care for their children. Though in many cases this can be true, there are countless fathers who want equal time to parent their children. However, for Texas dads who aren't in a relationship with their children's moms, child custody issues involving parents who did not marry one another can be harder to navigate. One group of fathers from out of state is hoping to change all of that.

The men in this story want joint custody of children to be the default option when determining a custody agreement. Historically, courts have sided with mothers when determining who should be the primary caregiver in a relationship where two parents were never married. The men have testified in Washington, D.C. regarding their belief that laws do not currently exist to protect their relationship with their children and in support of a bill they helped draft to accomplish their goals.

Law enforcement makes arrests for child support nonpayment

On behalf of Law Offices of Randy Wilson and Kristin Postell, PLLC posted in Child Support on Monday, June 24, 2019.

Children deserve the best care possible, even when their parents are not in a relationship with one another. Most parents are more than happy to provide for their kids, even when that includes making child support payments to the other parent. However, some parents don't make their court-ordered payments. Their reasons for doing so are varied, but that doesn't change the fact that the children still need financial support. A joint operation here in Texas recently resulted in several arrests for unpaid child support.

The operation was conducted by representatives from a local sheriff's office and the Department of Social Services Child Support Unit. Both mothers and fathers who had reportedly failed to make their allotted child support payments were the target of the investigation. There were 16 cases the operation considered and 13 people ended up arrested.

NCJFCJ launches website to help with military divorce

On behalf of Law Offices of Randy Wilson and Kristin Postell, PLLC posted in Military Divorce on Tuesday, June 11, 2019.

The nation's armed forces sacrifice a great deal for the freedoms of the civilians who live here. It is well known that military families often endure significant hardship that can lead to divorce. The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges wanted to offer military families a resource for dealing with difficult family-related issues. The council launched a website with the hope that families in Texas and all over the country will be better able to navigate a military divorce and other family struggles common to those in the armed forces.

The NCJFCJ created a project called the National Resource Center on Military-connected Families and the Courts with the intention of helping court officers who assist military families with both juvenile and family court cases. Certain legal matters involve both civilian and military court systems, and the project will help these two worlds collaborate in the best interest of families. The website will give easier access to vital information and needed resources.

Military divorce rates slowly dropping

On behalf of Law Offices of Randy Wilson and Kristin Postell, PLLC posted in Military Divorce on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.

Those who choose to serve our country typically do so at great sacrifice to themselves. One of those sacrifices that Texas service members often make is in regard to their marriage. The uncertainty of a career in the military is often too much for many couples, and military divorce is not uncommon. However, recent research shows that the rate of divorce among troops is declining at a slow pace.

The most recent study compared the divorce rates among service members in the last two years. Three percent of married military members got a divorce in 2018. Researchers discovered that the rate of divorce dropped 0.1% from 2017 to 2018. One expert says that this is in line with trends from the last 10 years, which show a steady decline.

Man jailed for over $18K in unpaid child support

On behalf of Law Offices of Randy Wilson and Kristin Postell, PLLC posted in Child Support on Monday, May 13, 2019.

When a child relies on the monetary support that one parent is ordered to pay to another, not receiving it can have far-reaching consequences. The needs of children cannot be overstated, and though some parents may not like it, this also goes for the needs of the custodial parent. However, many Texas parents are unable to make their court-ordered payments for various reasons, which can be devastating in the long run for everyone involved. This is what one out-of-state man is facing after he was jailed for his failure to pay child support.

Authorities say that the man was ordered to pay child support in 2011 for the next fifteen years. His payments were set at $215 per month. In 2017, those payments were increased to $265 per month in conjunction with a sentence of probation. At the end of that year, he owed over $18,000 in unpaid child support payments.