A Travis County judge’s decision to grant his county’s first same-sex divorce may have paved the way for same-sex marriage in Texas.

Judge Scott Jenkins ruled in February that Angelique Naylor and Sabina Daly, who were married in 2004 in Massachusetts, had the legal right to divorce in Texas. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott attempted to intervene in the case, stating that that the gay couple could not be legally granted a divorce because Texas’ constitutional amendment passed in 2005, defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

For children, especially younger ones, divorce can be confusing, painful and a cause for guilty feelings. Many children are under the impression that the divorce is because of them. Not only is their routine disrupted, but also the support they felt with both parents around is now gone.

In some cases, especially those where the parents live a significant distance apart, the child can find him or herself spending a majority of time with one parent. At some point, the child may choose or express a desire to live with the other parent, presenting both the child and the custodial parent with additional challenges.

For parents facing a situation where a child asks to live with a former spouse, Stephanie Burchell, a marriage and family therapist, suggests that parents keep the following points in mind.

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In divorce and family law matters, emotions run high and you are worried about everything. You have to face difficult decisions.  You need an attorney you can trust; an attorney who will listen to you, fully explain the divorce process, and effectively handle your case.