Texas Family Law Practice for Paralegals
DISCLAIMER
Before undertaking any on-demand effort, you should review the rules of your licensing/certifying entity.
It’s your responsibility to determine whether this on-demand course meets your continuing education requirements.
You must take and pass a quiz to receive credit. You can take the quiz as many times as needed and there is no time limit on the quiz.
Once the quiz is completed, you will be asked to download your certificate.
**Any on-demand programs that qualify for AIA or LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
**AIA credit is not available in USB format.
Streamable MP4/PDF
You will receive an automated email letting you know when your On-Demand package is available approximately 3 business days after the date of the live event or the date of your order, whichever is later. This email will contain links to the video recording, materials, and program quiz.
To track your purchase, you will need to create an account on the website using the email address used for your registration.
For AIA requirements only, the on-demand recording will have occasional question prompts that will not allow the video to progress unless they are answered, and you will not be able to skip forward while watching the video.
Please note, if you attempt to resume watching the video on a separate device, your progress will not be saved.
Click the link which appears at the end of the video to be taken to the course quiz.
You will have unlimited access to the on-demand video recording, and it will never expire.
**Any streamable on-demand programs that qualify for AIA or LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
USB MP4/PDF
HalfMoon will mail these materials via USPS.
USB orders ship approximately 3 business days after the program takes place or after the order is placed, whichever date is later. Please allow an additional 7-10 business days for shipping.
The link to the quiz will be available in a PDF in your USB drive marked QUIZ.
HalfMoon will contact you and issue a full refund if the product you ordered is not available. However, refunds will not be issued if completion certificates are requested.
Please contact HalfMoon Education if you have any questions during the process of taking this course. (715) 835-5900 or qchapman@halfmoonseminars.org
**Any USB on-demand programs that qualify for LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
**AIA credit is not available in USB format.
Agenda
Webinar instructions will be emailed before the date of the webinar.
Log into Webinar
8:00 – 8:30 am CST
Morning Session
8:30 am – 12:00 pm CST
Break
12:00 – 12:30 pm CST
Afternoon Session
12:30 – 4:00 pm CST
L. Canales
Obtaining and Evaluating Financial Information
Identifying relevant information on assets, debts, income and expenses
Obtaining financial information
• Using financial information questionnaires
• Using interrogatories, requests for production, deposition testimony,
private investigators
• Valuing assets
Evaluating the information you have obtained
Working with accountants and financial experts
Preparing financial statements
Practice E. Ross
Preparing Pleadings and Assisting with Motion
Preparing initial pleadings Requesting temporary relief
Preparing for the temporary orders hearing Preparing the temporary orders
L. Melhart
Assisting with Alternative Dispute Resolution
Assisting in family law mediation
Understanding and assisting in divorce arbitration
Assisting in the collaborative divorce process
M. Wise
Assisting with Child Custody and Visitation Issues
Current status of custody law in Texas
Obtaining relevant information
• Client interview, custody questionnaires, authorizations for disclosure,
using formal discovery
Working with guardian-ad-litem Working with experts
Drafting and reviewing parenting plans
Enforcing and Modifying Family Law Orders and Decrees
M. Wise
Implementing divorce decrees and orders
• Preparing and filing the decree
• Preparing other necessary documents
• Enforcing judgments and orders
Modifying decrees and orders
• Determining which parts of a decree or order are subject to modification, deciding when to seek modification
Assisting in modification actions
H. Rampy Baird
Handling Ethical Issues in Family Law Practice
Complying with rules of professional responsibility and ethics guidelines for attorneys and paralegals
Ethical considerations in negotiations and communications with opposing counsel and your client
• Review of mandates from the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct
• Principles from the Texas Lawyer’s Creed
• Working with the secretive or dishonest client
• Zealous (vs. over-zealous) representation
Avoiding conflicts of interest
Maintaining client confidentiality
Avoiding the unauthorized practice of law
Webinar Instructions
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.
Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.
GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 7 – 10 or Mac OSX Mavericks (10.9) – macOS Catalina (10.15)
Web Browser:
The two most recent version of the following browsers:
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge
Internet Explorer v11 (or later) with Flash enabled
Internet connection: Minimum of 1Mbps Hardware: 2GB RAM or more
For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com
Credits
Texas Certified Paralegals
6.5 Family Law CLE Hours
Speakers
Loren Canales
Schlanger Silver LLPAssociate attorney at Schlanger Silver LLP in Houston
A native Houstonian, Ms. Canales earned her B.A. degree in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin in December 2012. After graduating, she attended South Texas College of Law while also working for a small family law firm in Pearland, Texas. During law school, Ms. Canales gained practice-ready skills in both the Family Law Advanced Clinic and Domestic Violence Clinic. She is a second-generation family law attorney and grew up wanting to help people navigate what is often the most difficult time of their lives. After being admitted to practice law in November 2016, Ms. Canales began her legal career at Burgower Law, LLP in January 2017 and remained there until joining Schlanger Silver LLP in January 2020. She handles a variety of family law matters including adoptions, divorces, child custody disputes, enforcements, marital agreements, and modification actions.
Lauren Melhart
Attorney with Kinser & Bates, LLP, Dallas, TX
Ms. Melhart has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 2007 and earned board certification in family law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2014. Ms. Melhart has extensive experience within the family law field, including several years as a prosecutor representing the Department of Family and Protective Services. As a CPS prosecutor, Ms. Melhart received the award for excellence in serving children from Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Trinity Valley. She has also been named by Super Lawyers as a Texas Rising Star each year since 2013 and is on the faculty for the NITA/American Bar Association Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute held in Boulder, Colorado, every July.
Holly Rampy
Orsinger, Nelson, Downing and Anderson, LLPOrsinger, Nelson, Downing and Anderson, LLP
Ms. Baird’s practice is limited solely to family law. She graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2006 and earned her undergraduate degree from Hardin-Simmons University in 2002, where she graduated with a double major in Finance and Economics. Ms. Baird’s background in finance laid the groundwork for her practice which is focused on cases involving complex property divisions. She also handles cases involving difficult child custody matters in divorces, modifications, paternity suits, and enforcements. Ms. Baird was licensed to practice law in Texas in November 2010, and she is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She was selected as a Rising Star by Thomas Reuters each year from 2014 to 2018, and she was named as one of the top 50 up-and-coming Women and top 100 up-and-coming Attorneys in Texas in 2017, as published in Texas Monthly magazine. She was also selected to D Magazine’s list of Best Lawyers Under 40 in 2018. Ms. Baird is a member of the Family Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association, the Texas Family Law Foundation, the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers and its foundation, and the Annette Stewart American Inn of Court.
Emily T. Ross
Yusuf Ross Law, PLLC, San Antonio, TX
Ms. Ross is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has extensive litigation experience in both civil and family law. Her current practice covers all areas of family law litigation, including divorce, child custody, visitation and child support, modification and enforcement of court orders, and property division. Ms. Ross serves on the Board of Directors of the Texas Family Law Foundation and is a member of the Texas Family Law Foundation’s Bill Review Committee, reviewing and advising on legislation that impacts family lawyers and families throughout Texas. She has also been named by Super Lawyers as a Texas Rising Star. Ms. Ross earned her B.S. degree in Psychology and Criminology from Florida State University and her J.D. degree from Baylor University School of Law.
Mari Wise
Board Certified Family Law Attorney at The Wise Law FirmMs. Wise is a Board Certified Family Law Attorney at The Wise Law Firm. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin with honors, majoring in Psychology, and she earned her J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. Ms. Wise was admitted to practice in Texas on February 8, 2001, and has been Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2011. Ms. Wise is a member of the State Bar of Texas, its Family Law Section, its Texas Technology Section, and then the College of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association and its Family Law Section, the Fort Bend County Bar Association, and Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists.