Houston Legal Blog

When it comes to criminal charges, many Texas laws pertain to how the cases involving state-level criminal allegations should be handled. There are also federal laws, which could lead to more severe punishments. Because laws are often being reconsidered and changed, it is possible for certain state-level crimes to also involve federal felony charges that could apply.

It was recently reported that federal lawmakers have reintroduced legislation that pertains to animal cruelty charges. Currently, crimes of animal abuse are charged and prosecuted at a state level as either misdemeanor or felony charges, but the revived bill would make certain acts of animal cruelty a federal felony. The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act would work to close the loophole in current laws that do not make certain acts of animal cruelty illegal under federal law.

Completing the divorce process means going over almost every detail of a marriage. This tactic may seem tedious, but it can help make sure that the best outcomes are reached. In particular, paying attention to as many details as possible can be immensely useful when addressing property division in Texas.

One place to look for details is in financial records. These documents can play a major role in making sure that all assets are accounted for during the division process and could also help concerned parties understand what type of outcome they could hope to reach. Records relating to financial accounts, payments for significant assets, Social Security statements and other similar documents can all provide beneficial information regarding individual and marital finances.

When authorities suspect that drug-related activities are taking place at certain locations, they often work to gather evidence against potential suspects. Often, these investigations lead to raids that can result in parties being taken into custody on charges for possession, distribution or trafficking of substances like cocaine or other accusations. When this happens, accused parties typically want to avoid negative consequences if possible.

It was recently reported that two individuals were taken into custody as the result of separate raids in Texas. Apparently, authorities first carried out a search warrant at a home, and they purportedly uncovered marijuana and cocaine at the residence. As a result, a 24-year-old woman was taken into custody on charges for possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance, both felony charges.

When a Texas marriage ends on rocky terms, a divorce can easily become heated and complicated. In some cases, a person may even make false accusations of domestic violence in hopes of seeking revenge and obtaining a desired outcome, which is often one that hurts the other parent. Even if accusations are false, an accused party will still have a difficult time ahead.

In some cases, a seemingly innocent action taken during an argument could be blown out of proportion during divorce proceedings. As a result, if a person blocked a door during an argument or grabbed a spouse in efforts to get his or her attention, that person's action could be presented as domestic violence in court. This scenario could even lead to a protective order being issued by the court.