Tag: marriage

Houston Matters

Underage Marriage Laws in Texas Change Starting Sept. 1

Posted on · (Above: Frankie Ortega’s mother was forced to get married when she was 14. Photo Courtesy: Frankie Ortega) In Texas, a child — no matter what age — can get married as long as a judge approves it. And 16- and 17-year-olds can marry as long as they have parental consent. But all that changes Sept.1, […]

Houston Matters

Bringing Baby Home: Advice for Couples Becoming Parents

Posted on · We learn about Bringing Baby Home, a workshop to help couples adjust to being new parents — from adjusting to new schedules, to new relationship dynamics, to changes in a couple’s sex life. BrandI Tarver, a marriage counselor in the Friendswood area, tells us more. The next workshop is being held at the University of […]

Houston Matters

Underage Marriage: Closer to Home and More Common Than You’d Think

Posted on · When you hear the term "child bride," you're likely to think of something happening a long time ago and somewhere far away, writes the Houston Chronicle's Frankie Ortega. But for her, it happened much closer to home. In the 1970s, her own mother was forced – by her mother – to get married at the […]

Houston Matters

Bringing Baby Home: Advice for Couples Becoming Parents

Posted on · We learn about Bringing Baby Home, a workshop to help couples adjust to being new parents — from adjusting to new schedules, to new relationship dynamics, to changes in a couple’s sex life. BrandI Tarver, a marriage counselor in the Friendswood area, tells us more. The next workshop is being held at the University of […]

Houston Matters

The Trickle-Down Effects of Same-Sex Marriage — From the Economy to Corporate Benefits to Estate Planning

Posted on · Two weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state bans on same-sex marriage, effectively declaring it legal in all 50 states. The economic impact of same-sex marriage on families and the community at large goes far beyond the day of "I do," says LGBT scholar Lee Badgett from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and […]

Houston Matters

New Law Looks to Crack Down on ‘Green Card Weddings’

Posted on · Early last month, Louisiana approved legislation designed to crack down on marriage fraud, the practice of marrying a U.S. citizen as a means to becoming a lawful permanent resident in the United States. The law specified that, among other conditions, a birth certificate, valid international ID or a passport would be needed to receive a […]

Houston Matters

How Interracial Marriage in Houston Has Changed Since the 1960s

Posted on · Pew Research Center reported last fall the number of Americans who have never been married is at an historic high. Now, data released from both Pew and the Brookings Institution show that, of the couples who do walk down the aisle these days, 15 percent of new marriages are interracial. Now, 48 years after the […]

Good, Bad and Ugly

Warm Weather, Guns at Airports, and Marrying Yourself: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Houston News

Posted on · From unseasonably mild temperatures in Houston (while the northeast prepared for the blizzard of the century), to a high number of firearms confiscated at Houston airports, to a Houston woman marrying herself: we discuss The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of this week’s Houston news. This week’s panel of non-experts consists of: Houston Chronicle […]

Houston Matters

How to Escape the Gravitational Pull of an Ugly Divorce

Posted on · Going through a divorce is never an easy thing – even if you’re lucky enough not to endure a particularly hostile one. There’s dividing the assets, figuring out when and where the kids will spend their time – and then there’s dealing with all the emotional issues and heartbreak of something that was once – […]

Good, Bad and Ugly

Ride Sharing Debate, One-Bin Recycling & A Candidate’s Twitter Typo: The Good The Bad & The Ugly of Houston News

Posted on · Ride sharing services ruffle the feathers of local cabbies; protesters decry the city’s bringing planned one-bin recycling program; and unfortunate Twitter typos by a local candidate: We discuss “The Good the Bad and the Ugly” in Houston news with our rotating panel of “non-experts.” This week’s panel is comprised of: Russ Capper, Founder and co-host […]

Houston Matters

What Does the Court Ruling Against Texas’ Same-Sex Marriage Ban Mean for the State?

Posted on · A federal judge in San Antonio Wednesday struck down the same sex marriage ban here in Texas. U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ruled the ban unconstitutional, saying it deprives citizens equal protection under the law. But he also elected to delay the effect of his ruling while the state of Texas appeals. We discuss the […]