Law Office of Cynthia Barela Graham, PLLC

04/20/2026

If you think divorce is messy, try leaving a life built together without ever having been legally married.

More Americans than ever are facing that reality.

More than 20 million adults are living together without the legal bonds of marriage, up from 14 million in 2009, according to the National Center for Family & Marriage Research. Protracted court battles around the country over everything from pets to property show how laws haven’t kept up with the changing ways people are coupling up.

While state laws govern how marriages are unwound, resolutions for unmarried couples often hinge on a court’s interpretation of case law, with varying outcomes.

The law generally treats marriage as a financial partnership and the presumption is that assets will be equitably divided upon breakup. A few states including Texas and Kansas recognize common-law marriages, where u***d couples who publicly represent themselves as spouses are subject to the state’s marriage and divorce laws. But most states don’t.

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04/09/2026

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Podcast Episode · But the Years Are Short · March 10 · 47m

02/15/2026

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“Don’t delay the inevitable. Don’t stay together for the kids. Just be honest. We knew it was going to end, but instead, we had to live through years of awkward tension, strategic avoidance, and fighting. It built resentment that, to be honest, is still there.”

02/03/2026

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Domestic partners are "increasingly likely" to use chemical and biological toxins to kill or harm their partners, a trend so alarming that the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning to law enforcement.

The warning came in a January intelligence note, obtained by ABC News, that said people intent on harming or killing their domestic partners are turning to poisons like cyanide or ricin to do it, which are "often sourced from online black markets or made at home."

Substances most often used in domestic poisoning incidents are antifreeze, eye drops, the synthetic opioid fentanyl and the prescription medication colchicine, as well as cyanide and the chemical element thallium, according to the note. https://abcnews.visitlink.me/OK3sp5

01/03/2026

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16 Signs It Might Be Time to Get a Divorce—If You Keep Wondering, You May Already Know the Answer

01/01/2026

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10/18/2025

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10/16/2025

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07/14/2025

Is your anger with your spouse or ex controlling the situation? Are you losing perspective because you are so angry? Do your kids pick up on your feelings? Know that anger affects your children, while also limiting your ability to think clearly and rationally. If you are going through a divorce or custody case, consider counseling with a qualified professional to help you through these very challenging life events. Counseling is a good way to deal with your frustration caused by divorce and/or custody litigation.

Cindi Barela Graham has been practicing law in the Panhandle for since 1990. She is Board Certified in Family Law.

03/02/2025

Divorce does not have to be war. Read this article to learn about the process that focuses on minimizing the damage to your family that divorce can cause.