Ilarraza Law, P.C.

06/08/2026

In Texas, the law presumes everything you own with your spouse is community property, but you can overcome that presumption by proving certain assets were yours before the marriage or came to you as gifts or inheritance.

Without that proof, even property you believe is yours can be pulled into the community estate and divided by a judge.

Building a clear record of your separate property before or early in a divorce case is one of the most effective ways to protect what matters most to you.

Schedule your free case evaluation today at www.ilawtex.com or call 214-393-7049.

06/06/2026

Establishing legal paternity can help secure important rights and responsibilities for both parents and children. Learn more about paternity testing, child support considerations, and the legal process involved in confirming parentage.

Learn how paternity testing impacts child support decisions. Explore legal rights, DNA testing options, and how to establish paternity for financial support.

06/05/2026

Child custody in Texas actually runs on three separate tracks - physical custody (determining where the child sleeps), legal custody (covering decision-making authority), and child support (as its own obligation).

These three areas do not cross over, meaning a parent behind on child support still has visitation rights, and a parent with supervised visits may still have legal say in medical and educational decisions.

Understanding how these tracks work independently is one of the most important things you can know before entering a custody case.

Schedule your free case evaluation today at www.ilawtex.com or call 214-393-7049.

06/05/2026

If you were married for at least 10 years and are age 62 or older, you may be eligible to collect Social Security benefits based on your ex-spouse's earnings history. Filing for these benefits will not notify your ex-spouse or reduce their monthly payments, making it a critical asset to evaluate when navigating a divorce.

The end of a marriage doesn’t necessarily end eligibility for family benefits

06/03/2026

Texas is a community property state, which means there is a legal presumption that everything you and your spouse own together is subject to division in a divorce.

If you believe something belongs to you alone as separate property, the burden is on you to prove it, and that proof has to be clear enough to satisfy the court.

Knowing the difference between community and separate property before your case begins can protect assets you worked hard to build.

Schedule your free case evaluation today at www.ilawtex.com or call 214-393-7049.

06/03/2026

While both annulments and divorces end a marriage, they have very different legal requirements and consequences. Learn more about the key differences and the circumstances under which each option may apply.

Compare annulment vs. divorce—understand the legal differences and determine which option suits your situation. Get expert insights with MetLife.

06/02/2026

Texas does allow spousal maintenance, but the rules are much stricter than in other states, where courts can match your pre-divorce standard of living without limits on amount or duration.

In Texas, the law caps both how much you can receive and how long those payments last, so it is not as easy to qualify for as many people expect.

If you are heading into a divorce and wondering whether spousal support applies to your situation, getting clear answers early is the smartest move you can make.

Schedule your free case evaluation today at www.ilawtex.com or call 214-393-7049.

05/31/2026

Hiding assets and money during a divorce is never a good idea.

There's typically going to be a provision in the divorce decree or a mediated settlement agreement that says anything not disclosed is subject to future division. So if it comes out later that you have four Lamborghinis — now they're subject to division.

It can even be written so that if something wasn't disclosed, it automatically goes to the other spouse. It does not behoove anyone to hide assets.

Schedule your free case evaluation at www.ilawtex.com or call 214-393-7049.

05/30/2026

It might be tempting to use a cheap online platform to draft a DIY prenuptial agreement, but family courts heavily scrutinize these contracts. In many states, if both parties do not have independent legal counsel or if financial disclosures are incomplete, the entire agreement can be thrown out during a divorce. Protect your future with an enforceable, attorney backed prenup. Check out this guide on prenup lawyers and schedule a consultation with our team today.

Considering a prenup? Find out when you should hire a prenup lawyer, what a lawyer does, and how much a prenuptial agreement typically costs.

05/30/2026

Child support in Texas is based on a formula — it's called the Texas Child Support Guidelines.

The formula takes into account the obligor's income, how many children are being supported, and what the health insurance obligation is so that the paying parent gets credit for that.

Your attorney can walk you through exactly what the numbers look like for your specific situation.

Schedule your free case evaluation at www.ilawtex.com or call 214-393-7049.