Adoption is a wonderful opportunity to grow your family. Texas allows several types of adoption, including agency and stepparent adoption. The right choice depends on your family’s situation.

A Weatherford, TX adoption attorney can walk you through which type of adoption is the best fit for your family. They can also explain what the process will involve in 2026.

Who Can Be Adopted Under Texas Law?

Adoption cases often involve children, although adults can be adopted in Texas as well. In most cases, the parental rights of each living parent must be terminated before an adoption can happen (Texas Family Code Section 162.001). If a parent’s rights have not been terminated, the termination case can be filed with the adoption case.]]> Child Custody 2026-08-19 00:00:00 https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/is-my-family-business-at-risk-in-a-texas-divorce https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/is-my-family-business-at-risk-in-a-texas-divorce Whether your family business is at risk of division during a divorce depends largely on when it was started and how it has been managed during your marriage. If you're concerned about what will happen to your business during your 2026 divorce, a Palo Pinto, TX asset division lawyer can explain how the court will approach the division process.

Does Texas Law Treat a Family Business as Marital Property?

Texas is a community property state. Property acquired during a marriage is generally presumed to be community property under Texas Family Code § 3.002. This may include an ownership interest in a business that either spouse started or acquired during the marriage. 

A business interest owned before marriage is usually separate property. The spouse claiming that a business is separate property must prove this with clear and convincing evidence.]]> Property Division 2026-07-22 00:00:00 https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/what-happens-if-a-parent-violates-a-child-custody-order-in-texas https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/what-happens-if-a-parent-violates-a-child-custody-order-in-texas

Not every parent is willing to follow the directives in their custody order. When a parent repeatedly violates an order, it often puts strain on the other parent and their relationship with their child.

In these cases, the other parent can ask a court to enforce the order. The violating parent can face penalties ranging from make-up parenting time to fines, attorney's fees, and even jail for contempt of court.

If you're dealing with an uncooperative co-parent in 2026, a Parker County, TX custody attorney can help you petition for enforcement.

What Counts as Violating a Custody Order in Texas?

In Texas, custody is called conservatorship, and the schedule for when each parent has the child is called possession and access. A parent violates a conservatorship order anytime they don't follow what the order requires, whether that involves parenting time or decision-making.]]> Child Custody 2026-06-16 00:00:00 https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/does-the-parent-with-more-custody-time-get-to-keep-the-house-in-a-texas-divorce https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/does-the-parent-with-more-custody-time-get-to-keep-the-house-in-a-texas-divorce Who gets to keep the family home is often the biggest concern during the property division process of divorce. If one parent takes care of the children the majority of the time, they may feel that the most sensible solution is for them to keep the house. Divorce is already stressful on kids, and being uprooted from their home would only make it more so.

Courts are responsible for considering the best interests of children during divorce proceedings in 2026. However, that doesn’t always guarantee that the parent with more custody obligations will receive the house. If you’re the primary caregiver and worried about the possibility of having to relocate with your kids, a Weatherford, TX family lawyer can help you understand the Texas courts’ decision-making process.

Are Custody and Property Division Separate in Texas?

In Texas, child custody and property division are two completely separate legal matters. The amount of time you spend with your children doesn't automatically give you a stronger claim to the marital home or any other piece of property.]]> Property Division 2026-05-15 00:00:00 https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/will-a-protective-order-actually-keep-me-safe-from-my-partner https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/will-a-protective-order-actually-keep-me-safe-from-my-partner Restraining orders, called protective orders in Texas, are a legal way to make sure your partner or spouse can’t get near you if they’ve been abusive. That’s all well and good…if they actually work. If you’re trying to leave an abusive partner, a court-issued piece of paper may not seem like the best protection. It’s true that while a protective order is a powerful tool, it isn't a perfect guarantee of physical safety.

That being said, protective orders can be very effective in many situations. Understanding how protective orders work and if they’re right for your situation can give you more peace of mind. A Palo Pinto family law lawyer can help you understand what a protective order does in 2026 and what you can do if you’re in immediate danger.

What Does a Protective Order Do in Texas?

A protective order is a court-issued legal directive that prohibits your partner from doing things like contacting you or coming near your home or workplace. In the case of family violence, a judge can order your partner to do certain things per Texas Family Code, Chapter 85. Elements of a protective order may include:]]> Family Law 2026-04-15 00:00:00 https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/how-is-child-support-handled-if-i-have-children-from-two-relationships-to-support https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/how-is-child-support-handled-if-i-have-children-from-two-relationships-to-support Child support calculations can get complicated when a parent has children from more than one relationship. If you are already paying support for one child and now face a new support order, you may be wondering how Texas courts handle this. A Parker County child support attorney can help you understand how the law applies to you.

How Does Texas Calculate Child Support When You Have Children in Multiple Households?

As of 2026, Texas uses an income-based formula for child support per Texas Family Code Section 154.061. For one child in one household, the guideline amount is 20 percent of a parent's monthly net resources. For two children in one household, it is 25 percent, and so on up to a maximum of 40 percent of the monthly net income for five or more children.]]> Child Support 2026-03-17 00:00:00 https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/should-i-consider-signing-a-postnuptial-agreement https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/should-i-consider-signing-a-postnuptial-agreement Most people have heard of prenuptial agreements, which couples sign before they get married. Fewer people know that married couples can create similar protections after the wedding with something called a postnuptial agreement.

If you are married and wondering whether a postnuptial agreement makes sense for you, a Weatherford family law attorney can help you.

What is a Postnuptial Agreement?

A postnuptial agreement, sometimes called a "postnup," is a legal contract that married couples create after they are already married. It spells out how property and debts will be divided if the marriage ends or if one spouse dies.]]> Family Law 2026-02-16 00:00:00 https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/getting-joint-custody-in-same-sex-divorces-in-texas https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/getting-joint-custody-in-same-sex-divorces-in-texas Going through a divorce is hard for any couple, but same-sex parents face certain legal challenges that can make custody issues even more complicated. Data from some states shows that around one percent of same-sex couples nationwide end their marriages annually. 

Recent changes to Texas family law have made it harder for non-biological parents to keep their parental rights during a divorce. If you are starting a same-sex divorce in 2026, a Weatherford, TX family law attorney can help you understand your rights and protect your relationship with your child.

Why Is Custody More Complicated for Same-Sex Couples?

When a married heterosexual couple has a child, Texas law automatically assumes both spouses are legal parents. This does not always apply to same-sex couples. If one spouse is the biological parent and the other did not legally adopt the child or get a "parentage judgment" – a court ruling that says who a child’s legal parents are – only the biological parent may have legal rights under Texas Family Code Section 160.204. During a divorce, the non-biological parent might have no standing for custody or visitation.]]> Child Custody 2026-01-23 00:00:00 https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/how-long-does-a-texas-divorce-take https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/how-long-does-a-texas-divorce-take If you file for an uncontested divorce in Texas in 2026, you can expect it to take two to three months at a minimum. Contested divorces where spouses disagree about property division, child custody, or support can take six months to a year or longer. Complex cases involving significant assets or difficult custody disputes may extend even further.

Texas has a higher divorce rate than the national average; more than eight people per 1,000 file for divorce every year, according to the United States Census Bureau. If you hope to be one of these people in 2026, our Parker County, TX divorce attorney has more than 25 years of experience and can walk you through your options.

Texas Residency Requirements for Divorce

Before you can file for divorce in Texas, you must meet specific residency requirements under Texas Family Code Section 6.301. You or your spouse must have been a resident of Texas for at least six months before filing. Additionally, you or your spouse must have lived in the county where you plan to file for at least 90 days.]]> Divorce 2025-12-16 00:00:00 https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/how-do-texas-courts-decide-if-a-parent-is-unfit https://www.karykeylaw.com/blog/how-do-texas-courts-decide-if-a-parent-is-unfit When a Texas court decides who should have custody of a child, the judge’s main goal is to protect the child’s safety and emotional well-being. If questions come up about whether a parent is "unfit," the court looks at all the facts before making a final ruling. If you have been accused of being an unfit parent or have concerns about the "fitness" of your co-parent, a Weatherford, TX child custody lawyer can help.

What Does It Mean to Be an "Unfit Parent" Under Texas Law?

The word "unfit" has a legal meaning in Texas. Judges base custody decisions on Texas Family Code §153.002, which says that every custody order must focus on the child’s best interests. A parent may be considered unfit if the child’s physical or emotional safety is at risk when they are with that parent]]> Child Custody 2025-11-18 00:00:00