San Antonio Law Blog | Brown and Brown Law Offices

What is the Castle Doctrine in Texas?

On behalf of Brown and Brown Law Offices posted in violent crime on Friday, October 4, 2019.

The concept of justifiable homicide as an act of self-defense has been in the news lately, mostly due to the trial of a Dallas police officer who killed a man when she mistook his apartment for her own.

The police officer's defense rested on the concept of the "Castle Doctrine," which gives someone who is threatened in their own home the right to use lethal force to protect themselves. This is similar to the broader "Stand Your Ground" laws in many other states -- with a few important differences. If you live in Texas, it's wise to understand exactly how self-defense claims involving a homicide can work.

Are you worried your addicted spouse will get custody?

On behalf of Brown and Brown Law Offices on Monday, September 30, 2019.

You may have spent much of your marriage parenting alone. Have you been dealing with little crises, like scraped knees and lost pets, without the help of your spouse? Do you make excuses to your children about why their other parent is not there to watch their baseball games, dance recitals and award ceremonies? Is this because your spouse is addicted to drugs or alcohol?

Living with an addict is stressful and frustrating. It may even be frightening at times when you worry about the wellbeing of your spouse or fear for the safety of your children. If you have reached your limit and are preparing to divorce your spouse, you should seek the solid legal advice that will help you make wise decisions about the custody of your children.

Getting a divorce? Don't try to skirt the notification procedure

On behalf of Brown and Brown Law Offices posted in divorce on Friday, September 20, 2019.

Nobody looks forward to telling their spouse that they want a divorce -- but one Texas husband took a rather extreme route of avoidance altogether that's now landed him in serious legal trouble.

Instead of notifying his wife that he wanted out of the marriage, the 51-year-old Houston resident decided to simply forge her signature (and forge the signature of a notary) on paperwork agreeing to the split.

Murder and manslaughter: What's the difference?

On behalf of Brown and Brown Law Offices posted in violent crime on Friday, September 6, 2019.

There are several differences between the types of charges that can result from a homicide -- and it's in your best interest to understand the shades of meaning as well as you can if you've been accused.

Let's discuss the legal distinctions between murder and manslaughter.

Understanding resources for ex-convicts in Texas

On behalf of Brown and Brown Law Offices on Friday, August 30, 2019.

It’s tough being an ex-convict in America.

The U.S. Department of Justice reported that, of prisoners released in 2005, 86% went on to get rearrested at least once within the next nine years. Most of those arrests occurred within the first year of release. What that roughly means is that most of the prisoners released went back into the system.

Texas justice and the poor: Inequality in action

On behalf of Brown and Brown Law Offices posted in criminal defense on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.

Since 1963, anyone accused of a felony is guaranteed the right to an attorney -- even if they can't afford to pay for one privately. That law was designed to create access to equal justice for all, regardless of their income.

Yet, somehow, that isn't how things have worked out. Each state gets to figure out how to provide indigent defendants with an attorney. In Texas, that system is further broken down by county.

Don't let National Child Support Awareness Month slip by you

On behalf of Brown and Brown Law Offices posted in family law on Monday, August 5, 2019.

Every year, August is National Child Support Awareness Month. The aim of having the month-long focus on child support is to reinforce the importance of financial support for children -- whether or not the paying parent chooses to take an active role in that child's life.

Children aren't cheap. It's expensive to raise a child because there's always a need for new clothes, medical care, dental care, vision care, school supplies, school fees and more -- and those are just the expenses directly related to the child. There are also household expenses like groceries, utilities and rent that are necessary to keep a child in a stable home.

Justice isn't blind when it comes to race

On behalf of Brown and Brown Law Offices posted in violent crime on Thursday, July 25, 2019.

Everyone in America is promised equal treatment under the law.

If you're black, however, you probably already believe that's a myth. Now, there's evidence to back up what you may have always known: Race sometimes matters more than the truth and innocence won't necessarily ensure your acquittal at a trial when you're black -- particularly where violent crimes are concerned.

Love doesn't conquer all: Divorcing the spouse you love

On behalf of Brown and Brown Law Offices posted in divorce on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

One of the most toxic messages that people often hear (or are shown) in movies, books, television shows and more is that "love conquers all."

It doesn't. You can love someone and not like them. You can love someone, and they may not love you back. You can love someone and be so fundamentally different that you simply can't live together.

How to parent with a particularly difficult ex-spouse

On behalf of Brown and Brown Law Offices on Tuesday, July 9, 2019.

Your marriage may be over, but you and your ex are parents for life. This means that as much as you might want to eliminate your ex from your life, you may be stuck working together to parent your children at least until they turn 18.

If your ex is particularly difficult to get along with, co-parenting effectively can be a huge challenge. However, an unsuccessful or high-conflict parenting experience will ultimately hurt your children, who probably want to maintain positive relationships with both parents. Although your ex may make the parenting experience more challenging than it needs to be, there are still actions you can take to facilitate the best possible experience for your children.

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