Abilene TX Divorce Law Blog

No parent relishes the thought of a custody battle, but some cases are exceptionally difficult to weather, in Texas and across the nation. Parents are usually so emotionally connected to their children that the thought of losing access to them can cloud otherwise good judgment. Unfortunately, that can lead to negative outcomes in child custody court, a lesson that one mother has learned the hard way. 

The case centers on an 11-year-old little girl whose parents were involved in a bitter child custody fight when the mother's grandmother shot and killed the child's father. The grandmother is currently serving a 55-year prison sentence. In 2010, the child's mother took the little girl to Florida to avoid a court-ordered visit with the child's paternal grandparents, which led to her arrest and the current case against her. 

The topic of what to do with frozen embryos after a relationship ends is becoming more and more common, in Texas and across the nation. As fertility treatments continue to expand, couples have more options than ever before when it comes to having a child. Those options, however, can lead to serious child custody disputes if the union ends before the embryos are used to have a child. One state recently passed a new law addressing the issue, and has sparked debate across the nation. 

The new law gives preference to the party who wishes to use frozen embryos to bring a child into the world, even if the other party strongly opposed such action. The opposing party would have no parental rights or responsibilities in relation to the child. That, however, brings little comfort to many. Few men or women would be comfortable knowing they have a child that they have no connection to.

For some Texas spouses, fertility issues, health problems or personal preferences can make surrogacy a very appealing prospect. Once embryos are created and stored, however, there is a risk of a child custody case if the parties decide to go their separate ways. That is made clear in the ongoing high profile child custody battle between actress Sophia Vergara and her former partner Nick Loeb. 

The couple created two frozen embryos in 2013 with the intent to use a surrogate to bring them to term. By 2014, however, the pair had parted, and Loeb asked a court to grant him the right to use the embryos to have a child. He dropped that case, but then moved the matter to a state with more "pro-life" support. 

Recent research suggests that men and women who go through divorce are more likely to encounter serious health issues than those who remain married. For Texas spouses preparing for a military divorce, this information can help prevent a decline in health and wellness. As with so many things in life, being fully informed is the best way to chart out a course for success.

Researchers found that people who've gone through divorce have higher rates of smoking and sedentary lifestyle. Both of those things can cause numerous health problems and should be avoided at all costs. Researchers believe that marriage provides important social controls that help both spouses regulate behavior and embrace healthier choices. When those social controls vanish, some individuals will turn to negative habits as they adjust to single life.