Experienced, Empathetic Advocacy In Family Law And Criminal Defense

Avoiding mistakes during a Texas military divorce

On Behalf of | Jul 10, 2014 | Military Divorce

For Texas spouses who are going through a divorce, the sheer number of decisions that must be made can feel overwhelming. Women, especially, can have a difficult time moving through the process of a military divorce, especially if they are unaware of their rights under the law. Reaching a fair child custody agreement and property division outcome are the most important aspects of a Texas military divorce, and wives must be sure that they are looking after their own best interests during this critical time.

One issue that many military mothers face involves feeling pressure to trade off custody rights for financial outcomes. Specifically, some women are placed under a great deal of pressure by their spouse to accept a lesser division of assets in return for primary physical custody of their shared children. This can create a very stressful situation for a woman who is trying to balance her financial needs with her desire to retain physical custody of her children.

It is important to realize that the division of marital assets is not in any way related to child custody matters. Property division is largely guided by state law, with the overarching intent that each party is given a fair share of marital assets. Child custody, on the other hand, is largely dictated by what is in the best interests of the child or children involved. When parents are unable to agree on either issue, the court will intervene.

Women should never feel pressured to forego a fair division of marital wealth in order to secure increased child custody rights. One way to reduce the stress that can come with being pressured in this way is to hire a divorce attorney to guide the property division and child custody processes. An attorney will be able to explain one’s rights under the law, and help move a Texas military divorce toward a fair settlement.

Source: TIME, “The 7 Biggest Mistakes That Divorcing Women Make“, Lili A Vasileff, July 9, 2014

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