Updates, News, Court and Office Information

1. DALLAS OFFICE LOCATION

My Dallas office is located at 15950 North Dallas Parkway, Tollway Plaza, Tower II, Suite 400, Dallas, Texas 75248. (See elsewhere for location and direction specifics.)

This location is convenient for residents of Dallas, North Dallas, Far North Dallas, Addison, Richardson, Carrollton and West Plano.

The office telephone number is 972-867-6100 and fax is 972-867-6300.

Direct all mail and deliveries to 15950 North Dallas Parkway, Tower II, Suite 400, Dallas, Texas 75248, my Dallas office address.

2. FRISCO LOCATION

If you live in Frisco, Prosper, Plano, McKinney, The Colony, Little Elm, Denton or surrounding areas, meet me at my Frisco location. My Frisco office is located just east of the Dallas Tollway, about half way between Hwy. 380 on the north and Hwy 121 on the south. Take the Main Street exit, go east to Frisco Square at 6136 Frisco Square Blvd., Suite 400, Frisco, Texas 75034, phone 972-867-6100. This is south of and across from Pizza Hut Soccer Park, and just north of and adjacent to Frisco City Hall. Frisco Square Building is a four story brick building with parking on all sides except the east side of the building.

BOTH OFFICES ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE. The Dallas North Tollway provides easy access to both my offices, especially for clients living in north Dallas county, east Denton County, and west Collin County.

3. DATES OF OFFICE CLOSINGS OR UNAVAILABLIBILITY OF COUNSEL

All Clients, Courts and Opposing Counsel, please note the following dates on which I will be unavailable due to Continued Legal Education Seminars, Holidays, Vacations or other Office Closings:

I will be out for Christmas vacation with my family December 22, 2008 through and including January 2, 2009.

My offices will be closed December 25 and 26, 2008 and January 1 and 2, 2009. Otherwise, my staff will be available to assist you while I am out.

4. COLLIN COUNTY COURTS INFO AND COURTHOUSE LOCATION

In August, 2007, the Collin County Courthouse moved from its old location near old downtown McKinney to its new location at 2100 Bloomdale Rd.

McKinney, TX 75071. This is at the northwest corner of US 75 and Bloomdale Rd. in McKinney. Bloomdale Road is the first road north of Wilmuth Rd., which is itself the first exit north of US 380. From the south, take the Wilmuth exit, then go past Wilmuth to Bloomdale, then left over US 75, to the Courthouse on your right. There is free uncovered parking in front of the building. Please view the Collin County website for other information.

Specific Court Locations:

-The 199th District Court and the Auxilliary Courts are on the first floor.

-The 296th, 401st, 416th and 219th District Courts are on the second floor.

-The 366th, 380th and 417th District Courts are on the third floor.

5. DALLAS COUNTY COURTS INFO AND COURTHOUSE LOCATION

The Dallas courthouse holding the Family Law courts is formally called the George Allen Sr. Courts Building, 600 Commerce St., Dallas, Texas, which is in the western part of downtown Dallas at the southeast corner of East Commerce St. and Houston. It is a ten story white marble building located directly across the street from the Old Red Courthouse, Kennedy Memorial, etc.

The building expanded and was added onto in 2007. The original building remains, now called the west wing or west tower, and the recently added addition is referred to as the east wing or east tower. The wings are connected, but the east wing is situated on a north-south basis and the west wing is situated on an east-west basis, forming a T.

Parking: The best place to park is the underground parking garage below the Old Red Courthouse which connects by tunnel to the George Allen courthouse. Enter this garage either off west bound Elm St at the Records Building, or off east-bound Commerce St. just a few yards east of Houston St. There is also limited metered parking on the surrounding streets; there is a paid covered garage on the south side; and there are several uncovered lots on the east side.

All Family District Courts (except the 302nd -- which did not move and remains in the older, West wing/tower), are in the new East Wing/Tower, as follows:

Dallas and Tarrant Counties have specialized Family District Courts hearing only family law matters, whereas other counties have general jurisdiction district courts, meaning those judges hear not only family, but civil and criminal matters as well.

The location of the Dallas Family Law courts are:

-The 330th, 254th and 301st District Courts are on the Third Floor of the East Tower.

-The 256th, 303rd and 255th District Courts are on the Fourth Floor of the East Tower.

-The 302nd District Court is on the 4th Floor of the West Tower.

-All of the Associate Judges except for the 330th and 255th are now on the Fourth Floor of the Older, Main building.

-The Associate Judges for the 330th and 255th are on the Third Floor of the Old wing.

-The I-V D (Attorney General)Courts are now on the third floor of the old wing.

-The Family Court Services office is on the Second Floor of the new Tower.

-The District Clerk filing desk is now moved into its permanent home on the 1st Floor of the Old, Main Bldg.

-The Child Support (Domestic Relations) Office is on the First floor or the old wing.

6. UPDATES OF FAMILY LAW ISSUES

Can you let your girlfriend spend the night with you and your kids once you're divorced? - the Dallas Court of Appeals recently upheld a Collin County divorce decree which permanently prohibited the husband from having his girlfriend spend the night with him when he had his kids. This has always been true during the pendency of cases, but only now has been upheld to apply after the divorce becomes final.

What if your wife caught you using Porn on your computer? Can she use it against you? While some judges routinely disregard this, case law is clear that it should not be considered unless it occurred in the presence or awareness of the children!

Numerous changes were made to the Texas Family Code and went into effect on September 1, 2007. Two of the most notable were: (1) The 'cap' amount on Child Support went up from $6,000.00 to $7,500.00, meaning the court applies the percentage guideline now to the first $7500 per month of the obligor's net resources, rather than the first $6000.00; and (2) The exchange date during Christmas holiday has changed from December 26th at noon to December 28th at noon. See me for other changes.

Remember, there are two versions of the Standard Possession Order: the regular version and the 'extended' version. The extended version is different on Weeknight and Weekend possession in that the Weeknight goes from after school Thursday until return to school Friday morning instead of just 6-8 pm on Thur. night; and the Weekend goes from Friday after school until Monday return to school instead of Fri 6 pm until Sunday 6 pm. Make sure you ask for Extended SPO in your case.

7. THANK YOU TO ALL MY CLIENTS!

Thanks to all my clients this year. My staff and I appreciate your business and hope everyone has had a good fall so far. We wish you happy holidays and much success and happiness the remainder of 2008.

I am accepting referrals. If you know of a friend or family member in need of assistance, I would appreciate you referring him or her.