Dallas Divorce Law Blog by Michelle O'Neil

Common Law Marriage In Texas

Michelle — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 23:13:36 +0000

O'Neil & Attorneys Family Law attorneys in Dallas, Texas announces the release of its new FREE booklet authored by Sarah Darnell and Michelle May O'Neil, firm attorneys. The booklet is available for download here: What You Need To Know About Common Law Marriage In Texas. You can also order a free hard-copy by calling the firm office at 972-852-8000.

Divorce, There’s an App for That!

Michelle — Sat, 15 May 2010 21:45:27 +0000

Michelle May O'Neil of Dallas' divorce boutique firm O'Neil Anderson announces the release of Divorce Cost & Prep -- the first in a planned line of divorce-related apps for the iPhone by her newly formed company DivorceApps.com. She and her business

The Tender Years Doctrine in Texas.

Ashley — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:36:19 +0000

I am often asked whether court’s still presume that custody of a child should go to the mother as opposed to the father. The short answer is no. Courts are not permitted to consider the gender of the parent (or the child) in making decisions regarding custody. Generally the best interests of the child are [...]

How Many Ways to Breakup?

Michelle — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:29:14 +0000

Remember that scene in the movie He's Just Not That Into You where Drew Barrymore complains about the number of ways to be turned down by a date? Well, it's worse after the relationship!

If I terminate my parental rights, do I still have to pay child support?

Ashley — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:27:44 +0000

Yesterday I was asked if someone voluntarily terminates their parental rights, then does that automatically end their child support obligation. Typically, the answer is yes, but the court can, in special circumstances, order the child support obligation to continue post termination.

Fair market value vs. Intrinsic value: Which one to use?

Ashley — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:08:37 +0000

I received a question from a client today asking how the court would determine the value of the piece of property in the community estate. Often times, the parties will litigate over the value of a piece of property, so it is important to know how, in the absence of an agreement, the court will determine a property's value.

Dollar for Dollar

Michelle — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:29:11 +0000

In dividing assets in a divorce, a dollar is not always a dollar. For example, in a typical divorce, a couple will have a house, retirement accounts, cash accounts, personal property. In dividing a house, typically the equity in a house for purposes of the division of assets in a divorce, is calculated by

Mom can’t smoke around the child…

Michelle — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:10:07 +0000

An Ohio appeals court has upheld a judge’s order barring the mother of a 9-year-old girl from smoking around her daughter, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Legal experts say that the issue of parental smoking is an increasingly common one in child custody disputes.

Child Success Depends on Family Stability

Michelle — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:03:57 +0000

The advantage that children get from living in two-parent families may actually be due to family stability more than the fact that their parents are married.

Dallas Divorce Law Firm Featured in News

Michelle — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:02:11 +0000

O'Neil Anderson, formerly known as The May Firm, was featured today in the NeighborsGo website. To see the article, click here: The May Firm Expands to Become O'Neil Anderson.