Marriage, while viewed as a civil rights struggle for some, is still a social institution, one that has survived for more than 2,000 years. This notion is one that the author of Making It Legal: A Guide to Same-Sex Marriage, Domestic Partnerships & Civil Unions stresses. The author, a divorce lawyer, wants couples to enter their relationships, and especially their marital unions, with the full knowledge of what the institution of marriage means and what the potential risks and benefits might be for both parties.
Read moreLatest & Greatest – A Legal Guide for Lesbian & Gay Couples
Authors Frederick Hertz and Lina Guillen begin the introduction to their book, A Legal Guide for Lesbian & Gay Couples, with “[t]his is a book about family values, and about the value of family.” It is designed to help couples navigate relationships and the issues that these partnerships or unions may produce or trigger. Because this is a book about family values, it is only fitting that the authors begin with the definition of family and how that definition has evolved into a more inclusive and neutral definition. This is followed by a discussion of practical matters that families may face, including financial issues, renting or buying a home together, healthcare decisions, and estate planning, plus issues dealing with separations and dissolutions.
Read moreHeinOnline: State Constitutions Illustrated
One of HeinOnline’s newer databases is State Constitutions Illustrated, a collection of the constitutional documents of all 50 states as well as other related works and scholarly articles that impart some additional insight on these constitutional materials. Through this database, users have access to not only the current text of the constitutions but also the original and any consolidated texts, including pre-statehood materials for all 50 states. The resources in the database are current through November 6, 2018 and include almost 9,000 historical and current constitutions and related documents.
Read moreStarting This Month: Big Civ Pro Changes Impact Texas Litigants
Anyone dealing with Texas civil suits being filed in 2021 should familiarize themselves with some significant changes to the Texas Code of Civil Procedure that went into effect this week.
Read moreLocked Out: A Texas Legal Guide to Reentry, 4th Edition
Project of Beacon Law, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, and Texas C-Bar (Community Building with Attorney Resources)
KFT 9747 .L63
Originally published by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Texas C-Bar (Community Building with Attorney Resources), Locked Out: A Texas Legal Guide to Reentry addresses some of the most common barriers previously incarcerated individuals face upon their release from prison. The guide is intended to smooth the transition from living in confinement to surviving in mainstream society. The authors address issues that many take for granted, including obtaining identification documents, finding access to transportation, paying offense-related debt, mitigating criminal records through expunction or nondisclosure, finding employment, qualifying for public benefits, locating housing, and regaining the eligibility to vote. Another topic to consider is the collateral consequences of conviction, such as the possession of a firearm and eligibility for benefits. Incarceration also creates barriers in the parent-child relationship. As a result of the incarceration, the newly released parent may have difficulty locating a child or may be responsible for any accrued, unpaid child support. Locked Out: A Texas Legal Guide to Reentry is intended to help in this regard. The appendices are especially helpful, consisting of handy tables, the steps needed to obtain certain records and documents, and sample court forms. The guide doesn’t provide all of the answers, but it does offer much information and many resources to find those answers. An online version of this guide is available on TexasLawHelp.org.
In addition to the Texas Legal Guide to Reentry, there are some additional resources that can be found online:
Federal Trade Commission’s Reentry and Corrections Education page - Helpful information designed to assist reentering and formerly incarcerated consumers learn about managing money, meeting educational goals, earning a living, and knowing what to expect from a background check.
City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Education - Re-Entry Programs - List of community partners that may be able to provide some assistance, including Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, Houston Food Bank, and Goodwill Houston.
Houston Health Department - Community Re-Entry Network Program - Program components include anger management, life skills course, and peer support groups.
