Posted on August 19, 2025 in Divorce

For professionals who own their own business, divorce presents some unique complications. Doctors, dentists, lawyers, therapists, accountants, and other private practitioners in Bexar County may worry about whether they will lose control of the business they have spent years building. Texas law has clear rules for dividing property, but how those rules apply to a private practice can be complex.

As of August 2025, Texas follows a community property system under Tex. Fam. Code § 3.002. This means that most property acquired during a marriage is jointly owned by both spouses. In a divorce, community property must be divided in a "just and right" manner. For business owners, this does not necessarily mean selling the practice and splitting the proceeds, but it does mean that the value of the practice may be part of the division process. If you are a licensed professional working in a private practice, our San Antonio, TX divorce attorneys can help you fight for a divorce settlement that reflects your hard work. 

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 Posted on August 10, 2025 in Child Custody

For parents of a child with special needs, the divorce process presents significant additional considerations. Routine decisions about custody, child support, and visitation must be made while thinking about a child’s long-term medical, developmental, educational, and financial needs. For families in Bexar County and throughout the San Antonio area, it is an excellent idea to work with a family law attorney who understands how to protect the well-being of a child with special needs, both at the time of the divorce and well into the future.

The Bexar County, TX divorce attorneys at our firm practice family law exclusively, and we have particular experience advocating for parents of children with autism, intellectual disabilities, mobility impairments, and other lifelong challenges. The legal system offers tools to help families craft lasting support systems, but only if those tools are properly applied during the divorce process.

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 Posted on July 22, 2025 in Divorce

Child support is one of the most important financial issues parents face during and after a divorce. Understandably, many people want to know whether they can negotiate for more child support, either during the initial court process or later as circumstances change.

Parents can request an increase in child support in some cases and, with the help of a knowledgeable lawyer, may be able to aggressively negotiate for higher payments. However, Texas law sets guidelines and limits on when this is possible and what the court will approve. At Brandon Wong & Associates, our San Antonio child support lawyers exclusively practice family law. We have both the breadth and depth of knowledge families need to tackle whatever issues they are having and we are ready to help you. 

How Does Child Support Get Calculated in Texas? 

Texas uses statutory guidelines to calculate child support based on the paying parent’s net income and the number of children. Under the Texas Family Code § 154, the law usually requires 20 percent of a parent’s net monthly income for one child, 25 percent for two children, and higher percentages for additional children. These guidelines apply to the first $9,200 of net income per month (adjusted periodically for inflation).

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 Posted on July 09, 2025 in Divorce

Thoughtful parents going through divorce often wonder how they can help their children adjust and minimize emotional harm that can sometimes happen during and after a divorce. The good news is that children can be very resilient and bounce back when their parents take careful steps to protect them from conflict and provide a sense of stability. Our Bexar County, TX divorce attorneys can help you plan your divorce in ways that take your children’s needs into careful consideration. 

Why Divorce Is So Hard on Children

When a family separates, a child’s sense of security can be shaken. Their routines, living arrangements, and even their relationships with extended family may suddenly change. Some children may feel responsible for the divorce or worry that they will lose the love of one parent. As a parent, you cannot take away all of the pain, but you can create an environment where your child feels safe and supported.

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 Posted on June 20, 2025 in Divorce

For Texas couples going through divorce, one particularly difficult decision is often what to do with their marital home. While it may seem like keeping the house is the best option, it is not always the most practical or financially sound decision. If you are headed toward a divorce, seek guidance from a qualified San Antonio, TX family law attorney who can help you think through the full picture to help you understand what best serves your interests.

What Are the Risks of Keeping the House After Divorce?

The idea of staying in your home can be comforting, but divorce changes both your financial situation and your legal obligations. In Texas, property acquired during the marriage is considered community property, which generally means it is subject to a 50/50 division under Texas Family Code Section 3.002. Keeping the house might mean buying out your spouse’s share, refinancing the mortgage, or accepting less of other marital assets.

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 Posted on June 09, 2025 in Family Law

For high-earning men in Texas, a false or mistaken claim of paternity is more than a personal headache. It can have serious financial and reputational consequences. A child support order, once entered, can be difficult to undo, even if DNA later proves you are not the father. As of June 2025, Texas law continues to allow men to challenge mistaken paternity, but the window for doing so is limited, and the process requires careful legal steps.

If you have been named in a paternity case and believe the claim is false or made in bad faith, do not wait. A strategic and discreet response with the help of a San Antonio, TX paternity lawyer can protect your money, your name, and your future.

Can You Be Ordered to Pay Child Support Without DNA Proof?

Yes. In Texas, a man can be presumed the legal father under several circumstances, including if he was married to the mother when the child was born, signed an acknowledgment of paternity, or failed to respond to a paternity petition in time. In many of these cases, the court may order child support even without genetic testing.

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 Posted on May 23, 2025 in Divorce

Understanding how the allocation of debt works in a Texas divorce is essential to protecting your financial future. Debt can come in many forms, and the types require different approaches. Considering that divorce is already a highly emotional process, adding heavy financial concerns only causes undue stress. Work with a San Antonio, TX divorce lawyer to learn more about how debt is allocated under state law and what you can do to optimize your chances of avoiding a heavy debt burden.

What Does Texas Law Say About Dividing Debt in a Divorce?

The chapter entitled Marital Property Rights and Liabilities from the Texas Family Code addresses the distribution of assets and debts characterized as community property. Community debt refers to debts incurred during the marriage. The law presumes those debts are shared, and it does not matter if your name is not affiliated with the account. On the other hand, some debts can be characterized as separate liabilities, making them the sole responsibility of the spouse who owns them.

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 Posted on May 08, 2025 in Divorce

For many couples, pets are not just animals; they are family. Whether it is a dog, cat, or more exotic companion, deciding what happens to a pet in a divorce can be one of the most emotionally difficult parts of the process. Yet in most states, including Texas, pets are still considered property under the law.

If you are going through a divorce and you and your spouse cannot agree on who will keep your pets, the court will treat them as part of the marital estate. That means the outcome may not reflect emotional attachments or caregiving roles unless your San Antonio, TX divorce attorney knows how to present those facts effectively.

How Texas Courts Handle Pet Ownership in Divorce

Texas law does not currently provide for pet custody arrangements like those used for children. The court does not consider what is best for the animal or whether both spouses should share time. Instead, pets are categorized as property, and the judge must determine which spouse gets to keep the animal.

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 Posted on April 23, 2025 in Divorce

 Divorce is a stressful and emotional journey, full of decisions that will have lasting effects on you and your children. If you are considering divorce, understanding the common mistakes others have made can empower you to avoid them. Our experienced Texas divorce attorney at Brandon Wong & Associates is here to guide you, helping you sidestep these errors and making the divorce process smoother.

Taking Divorce Advice From Friends and Family 

Your friend or family member may have gone through a divorce, so they may want to offer advice based on their experience. However, proceed carefully when taking divorce-related legal advice from people you know. Loved ones usually mean well, but every divorce is unique and what worked in someone else’s case might not suit your situation.

Not Providing Your Attorney with Full Disclosure About Your Marriage

When you speak to your attorney, they must know everything about the marriage. Many people are embarrassed to share any skeletons in the closet, such as infidelity. However, these darker aspects of the marriage will always come out, and you do not want your lawyer to find out about these secrets during a divorce trial. Always provide your divorce lawyer with full disclosure about your marriage.

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 Posted on April 08, 2025 in Divorce

Texas law encourages couples who file for divorce to attempt mediation before the judge hears the case, and it may be court-ordered. You might be sure that you want a divorce and prefer to skip the mediation. However, mediation offers useful benefits that many people considering divorce may benefit from.

An experienced Texas divorce attorney at Brandon Wong & Associates is available to guide you through the divorce and mediation process. Attorney Brandon Wong offers mediation services and has assisted many clients in mediation and litigation in San Antonio and Central Texas.

What is Court-Ordered Mediation in Texas? 

Court-ordered mediation in Texas is a legal process where the court orders the parties to attempt to resolve the divorce or family law dispute. A neutral third party, called a mediator, oversees the mediation process and attempts to bring the sides together in an agreement without going to litigation. Mediation is commonly used in divorces and family law disputes, such as child custody or child support matters.

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