Dallas Divorce Law Blog : Dallas Texas Divorce Lawyer & Attorney : O'Neil Anderson Law Firm : TX Child Support & Custody Issues

Dallas Divorce Lawyer Michelle May O'Neil is presently featured with the nationally recognized Featured Legal Guide on www.avvo.com, a directory of lawyers across the country.  Her article on Valentine's Day Tips From A Dallas Texas Divorce Attorney discusses ways to keep a marriage together and avoid divorce, with tidbits from her 18 years experience as a divorce lawyer in the DFW metroplex area of Dallas, Texas.  The article is also featured in the Avvo Advocate electronic newsletter with legal advice for everday life.

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Yesterday was a great day for us here at the Dallas Divorce Law Blog.  We started the day with recognition from the Dallas Morning News Momsblog.  Dallas divorce lawyer Michelle May O'Neil has been honored as a contributor to the DMN Momsblog.  Her post entitled Who Calls the Doctor When a Child Has Two Homes? was featured yesterday. 

The blog was also recognized as the Best in Law Blogs on November 10, 2009 by LexBlog.  The entry entitled Parent Coordinator v. Parent Facilitator -- What's the Diff? received this national attention.

Good work guys!

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Dallas Divorce Attorneys MIchelle May O'Neil and Nathan Anderson were featured today on the national blog Real Lawyers Have Blogs by Kevin O'Keefe on the topic of lawyer blogging.  The post recounted an interview by Lisa Kennelly about O'Neil Anderson's unique take on blogging. 

See the post here:  Michelle May O'Neil of Dallas Divorce Law Blog:  LexBlog Q&A

Or, read the article after the jump.

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Today, channel KDTX featured Michelle May O'Neil on the television show Joy In Our Town to discuss challenges in paying and receiving child support in a down economy.  O'Neil gave pointers to obligors (paying support) who have lost their jobs and find it difficult to make the payments, as well as to obligees (receiving support) who need to collect and enforce the payment.

UPDATE:  Unfortunately, the show's airing has been delayed until November 13, 2009 at noon.  But you can see it below!

To watch the video, click here: www.youtube.com/watch

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Dallas Divorce Lawyer Michelle May O'Neil announces the release of the book All About Texas Law and Kids, a book co-authored by Bobbi Sheahan, Michelle May O'Neil, Claudia Cano, and Sharon Ramage.  Children are relevant to every aspect of the law, and they cannot represent themselves.  From the seizure of the FLDS children to the debates over what is taught in schools, the intersection of kids and the law is front-page news every day in Texas.  This book is a useful resource to practitioners, parents, and non-parents alike.

Can a grandparent sue for visitation?

Can a former love interest sue for visitation?

Who is legally responsible for vandalism committed by a 16-year-old or a 6-year-old child?

Can a 12-year-old child decide where she is going to live?

What is an open adoption and is it the right fit for you or your client?

Where do you start with a special needs student?

Are you advising a client on the employment of minors?

What happens when a child gets hurt?

Written by leading family law experts, Bobbi Reilly Sheahan, Michelle May O'Neil, Claudia Cano, and Sharon Ramage, All About Texas Law and Kids answers all of these questions and many more.  This pocket-size resource includes sections on:

The Rights and Obligations of Parents

Child Protective Services

Custody and Child Support

Adoption

Education:  Homeschooling, Public and Private Schools

Special Education

Children and Criminal Law

Children and Employment

Kids, Sex and Texas Law

Kids and Vehicles

When is a kid not a kid?

Kids and Contracts

All About Texas Law and Kids is published by the Texas Lawyer, an IncisiveMedia publication.  The book retails for $69.95 plus tax ($75.72) and can be ordered at www.lawcatalog.com

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Dallas Divorce Lawyers Michelle May O'Neil and Nathan Anderson hosted an open house celebrating the opening of their new location at Lincoln Centre Two.  The event was well-attended, despite the weather, by clients, lawyers, and judges alike.  O'Neil Anderson was formed in 2009 to provide compassionate yet relentless service to client in need of family law services.  Michelle May O'Neil is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has practiced family law for her entire 17+ year career.  Nathan Anderson joins the firm after practicing with the ligitation division of a civil firm in Houston.

Ms. O'Neil and Mr. Anderson appreciate all of those who braved the weather to attend the open house and welcome their clients, friends, and collegues who were unable to attend to come by and see the new space.

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Dallas Divorce Lawyer Michelle May O'Neil

Teaches Other Lawyers About Winning

Michelle May O'Neil, founding partner of Dallas' O'Neil Anderson family law boutique firm, presented at the Advanced Family Law Conference held in Dallas in August 2009.  O'Neil presented her paper Winning Your Case Before You Go To Trial together with Judge William Harris of the 233rd Family District Court of Tarrant County, Texas.

Here's an excerpt from the paper:

 Dictionary.com defines a “win” as achieving victory or finishing first in a competition. Many times in family law litigation it is hard to define what constitutes a “win” in any particular case. What really is a “victory”? For some clients the simple act of obtaining the divorce will be considered a “victory”. Others set their standard of a “victory” very high, such as when a client will only be happy if he or she has the child 100% of the time.

Much of “winning” is determined by where the bar gets set to define a win. Establishing achievable goals remains one of the most essential aspects of client relations, as well as “winning” the case.

An additional aspect of “winning” might be to cut short what might otherwise be protracted litigation. This paper aims to review methods of “winning” the case prior to an extended trial on the merits of the case. This paper presumes that “winning” is defined as achievement of the client’s reasonable goals in a quick and efficient manner. This paper discusses various aspects of disposition of a case, both on procedural grounds as well as the merits of a claim, prior to trial. Areas such as jurisdiction, special exceptions, default judgments, summary judgments, declaratory judgments, discovery, sanctions, and pretrial appeal are covered.
 

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Dallas Divorce Lawyer Michelle May O'Neil was quoted in the July 2nd, 2009 edition of Dallas Morning News in Emily Ramshaw's article Child Support Suffers As Economy Suffers.  The story lead Thursday's edition with Ms. O'Neil's picture appearing on page 14A.  

Here's the excerpt from the article pertaining to Ms. O'Neil:

Michelle May O'Neil, a family law attorney with clients in Dallas and Collin counties, said Crouse's case is common. She's seen a steady uptick in child support-paying parents who have either lost their jobs or had their hours reduced.

O'Neil said family court judges, who traditionally have issued permanent rulings, are giving these financially strapped parents temporary relief instead.

If someone is unemployed, she said, a judge generally will temporarily reduce child support, and then call a review hearing a few months later.

"A kiddo's expenses don't go away just because the economy is tight," O'Neil said. "Judges are giving people a Band-Aid so they can find another job."

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We moved!  We are on the other side of the move and in the new, pretty office amid boxes and pictures on the floor. The new office is at the intersection of the Dallas North Tollway and LBJ Freeway. Our new address is:  O'Neil Anderson, Two Lincoln Centre, 5420 LBJ Freeway, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75240.  Our phone numbers are the same:  Telephone 972-852-8000 and Facsimile 972-852-8001.

Drop by for a tour if you are in the area.

"Change is inevitable.  Growth is intentional."

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