BEAL LAW FIRM

10/15/2026

Think alimony works in Texas the way it does in the movies? It doesn't. What Texas calls spousal maintenance is narrow by design. Courts start from the assumption that it isn't necessary, and a spouse has to show both a genuine financial need and one of a short list of qualifying factors, like a marriage lasting at least ten years combined with limited earning ability, a disability, caring for a disabled child, or a family violence conviction against them.

Even when maintenance is awarded, state law caps the monthly amount and generally limits how long it can last based on how long the marriage lasted. Permanent, open-ended alimony simply isn't part of the Texas system, except in very limited circumstances.

If you have questions about what applies to your situation, reach out to Beal Law Firm at dfwdivorce.com/contact-family-law.

10/06/2026

Kids grow. Life moves on. The custody order from years ago might not fit anymore, and Texas law gives parents a path to revisit it. Generally, a court can modify custody if there's been a material and substantial change affecting the child or a parent, or if a child age 12 or older tells the judge privately that they'd prefer a different primary residence, or if the primary parent has voluntarily given up care of the child for six months or more.

Shifting who holds primary status within the first year of an order, or during temporary orders, requires meeting a higher bar. And even when one of these circumstances applies, a judge still has to find that the shift serves the child's best interest before anything moves.

If your custody arrangement no longer reflects your family's reality, reach out to Beal Law Firm to talk through a possible custody review: dfwdivorce.com

Book an Initial Consultation for any Texas Divorce, Custody, or other Family Law Matter Now with one of our Senior Associate Attorneys.

09/30/2026

Wondering how child support actually gets calculated in Texas? The state uses a percentage of the paying parent's net monthly resources, starting at 20 percent for one child and increasing with each additional child. Net resources isn't the same as gross pay. It's calculated after specific deductions like taxes and union dues, and there's a cap on how much income factors into the guideline number.

Judges can and do deviate from the guideline amount when a child's proven needs call for more, or when a parent's resources fall below the cap. None of this happens in a vacuum, since the formula interacts with custody arrangements, health insurance obligations, and more.

Want a clearer picture of what this means for your family? Visit our website to get started: dfwdivorce.com

09/22/2026

Starting a divorce, or thinking one might be coming? A few early missteps tend to cause the most damage down the road:

🔹 Waiting to file once you know a divorce is coming. The party who files first gains procedural advantages that can carry into negotiations.
🔹 Trying to appease a spouse who has already decided to leave, which rarely changes the outcome and often makes things worse.
🔹 Skimming the paperwork instead of reading it carefully, especially notices about hearings and deadlines.
🔹 Assuming temporary orders are temporary. They can shape custody and finances for the life of the case.
🔹 Posting about your spouse or your case on social media. Assume everything is discoverable.
🔹 Taking legal strategy advice from friends or family instead of your attorney.

None of these are fatal on their own, but avoiding them puts you in a stronger position from day one. If you're facing a divorce, reach out to Beal Law Firm before you make a move you can't undo: dfwdivorce.com/contact-family-law

Find out about the 32-year history of Beal Law Firm and its lawyers. Including those that are Board Certified, AV Preeminent Rated, and more.

09/17/2026

Military families face divorce complications that civilian couples never have to think about. Deployment schedules, frequent moves between duty stations, and federal protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act can all affect how and when a case proceeds, from pausing certain deadlines to addressing lease obligations and interest rates on existing debt.

Add in questions about dividing military retirement benefits, and it's easy to see why generic advice falls short here. Beal Law Firm's founding attorney served as a Marine Corps legal officer, so he's worked inside the systems these families are up against, not just around them.

If you or your spouse are active duty, guard, or reserve, learn more about how we approach military family law at dfwdivorce.com/military-family-law.

09/10/2026

School routines are back, and for a lot of divorced or separated parents, so are the disagreements over homeschooling, private school, or switching campuses. In Texas, the answer usually lives inside the custody order itself, specifically the section covering who holds the right to make educational choices, sometimes grouped with medical and psychological decision-making as "Med, Head, and Ed."

That right can be assigned exclusively to one parent, jointly to both, or independently to each, and the difference changes everything about who gets the final say. Even an exclusive right sometimes comes with a requirement to consult the other parent first. If your order is unclear or your co-parent disagrees with a school choice, reach out to Beal Law Firm before the semester gets more complicated: dfwdivorce.com

09/04/2026

We wish each of you a wonderful Labor Day! During this annual celebration of hard work, may you enjoy a well-deserved, restful break.

Please note that our office will be closed on Monday, September 7th, in observance of the holiday, and will reopen on Tuesday, September 8th.

08/27/2026

Everything you own does not automatically becomes "ours" the day you get married in Texas. Community property law surprises a lot of people, starting with this: it doesn't mean a 50/50 split. Courts divide the community estate in whatever proportion they consider fair, not necessarily down the middle.

Whose name is on the title doesn't settle the question either. Property acquired before the marriage, or received later by gift or inheritance, generally stays separate, while income earned from separate property during the marriage is usually treated as community. The rules have plenty of exceptions, and getting the characterization wrong can be costly in a divorce.

Curious how this applies to your situation? Visit our website to connect with our team: dfwdivorce.com

08/20/2026

Divorce doesn't have to mean a courtroom battle. Collaborative divorce is a solution-focused approach built around negotiation instead of adversarial litigation, and it can offer a level of privacy that a courtroom simply can't. Both spouses and their attorneys commit to working through property division, custody, and support outside of open court, aiming for a resolution that accounts for the family's future rather than just who wins today.

It isn't automatically faster or cheaper than a traditional divorce, and if the process breaks down, both attorneys have to withdraw from the case. Still, for couples who can maintain some trust and want more control over how things turn out, it's an option we encourage clients to consider. Learn more about how it works at dfwdivorce.com/collaborative-divorce.

Beal Law Firm has a Team of attorneys and the experience you need to get you through any Texas

08/19/2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another wonderful review for Robert Hight and Beal Law Firm!

Divorce is rarely easy, but having an experienced attorney who knows how to move a case toward resolution while providing steady guidance and support can make all the difference.

We’re proud to have Robert on our team — and grateful to this client for trusting us during such an important time in their life.

Congratulations, Robert, on another 5-star review!