Denton County Law Library Quarterly
Welcome to "The Q"
June 2014
*** Highlights *** 

The Denton County Defense Bar has installed a copier in the Attorneys Lounge for members to use! (Only for copying --- will not print from the computer.)
In This Issue
Awful Library Books
Strengthening a TX Marriage under the Family Code
What We Have to Offer
Don't Forget!
Congratulations!
Say HELLO 
to William Henry Kilgore, the first born to Sean Kilgore and Tiffani Lohmann Kilgore on March 13, 2014. Congratulations! 
 
Sarah Roland and Josh Smith are proud to announce that their little girl, Ellie, is just over a year and a half old. They grow up so fast!
 
Don't forget... if you would like to include anything in the newsletter send me an email... 
Try the new LibraryWorld app.
 
Looking for a specific title? Check our catalog. We may own it, but someone could have checked it out. No reason to waste a trip! 
Q-tips... Making the best of our e-world
It's a great idea to stay current with new technology. Sign up for monthly newsletters from Law Technology News.
 
Do you like e-books? Try the CALI� eLangdell� Bookstore and download some FREE electronic legal titles. But don't forget to donate so they can remain free for others!
 
FREE electronic legal resources from James Publishing's Attorney Education Center. You do not have to maintain an account with James to take advantage of these resources.
 
Did you know that you can search the Texas Bar Journal archives online back to 1938?
 
The Texas Register - A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.
 
Follow the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States at this blog. SCOTUSblog
Commentary & Editorials: tell us what you think
Check out these links and share your opinion about the subject or write your own editorial. We will only publish with your approval.

  

Legal Loop: 8 handy gadgets for the mobile lawyer office

 

Apple Demands a Court Order to Unlock an Ipad Bequeathed after Death

 

 "I May have a Law Degree, But I Think Like a Criminal." - The Best/Worst Lawyer Ad Ever (YouTube video)

Big Data - Do You Have a Right to Know Your Data?








Awful Library Books

 

  
  

 

 

 

To see more awful library books go here.  
Fun & Games

Do you love Games of Thrones AND old school video games?!?!? (no surprise there) Give this "Get Tyrion Drunk" game a try!

Websites, blogs, and the like
News from the State Bar of Texas!
 
As the saying goes, "Everything's bigger in Texas." That phrase also applies to the State Bar membership benefits. The State Bar of Texas has agreed to addFastcase as a member benefit on top of its already existing Casemaker access. This makes it the first Bar in the country to offer both services. In addition to adding Fastcase, the State Bar of Texas increased the level of subscription to Casemaker to include the premium services of Casecheck+, CiteCheck, and CasemakerDigest to the member benefit. That is a major coup for the Bar.

Fastcase's access will depend upon the size of your firm. For those under 11 attorneys, you will have access to the premium Fastcase database (all states & fed), for those 11+ attorney firms, you will have access to the Texas plan. Everyone will have access to the mobile apps and to the HeinOnline integration for the covered material.

It is a great day for the State Bar of Texas and its members. Read the Fastcase and SBOT press releases below for more information.

To log in to this free benefit, members will visit the State Bar website at http://www.texasbar.comand log in with their bar number and password. The service is also available via the TexasBarCLE website at http://www.texasbarcle.com/. 
 
New from the Texas State Law Library!
 
 
You may find this blog useful... you can filter posts to only Texas related information.  
  
The Power of Positive Peers 3 Geeks and a Law Blog

 

The State Bar offers many downloads for free; some require your Bar Number. 
 
***Anyone else interested in sharing? Let me know...

Strengthening a Texas Marriage under the Family Code

By Arthur Grimaldo, II, Grimaldo Law, PLLC; www.Grimaldolaw.com; agrimaldo@grimaldolaw.com

 

In Texas, what can you do to strengthen a marriage before you marry?  There are several ways that do not even enter the legal arena that even Mom would recommend:

  1. Date the person you want to marry for at least a year to watch them go through the seasons of their life, and
  2. Have both of you attend premarital counseling together whether through a church, or psychologists before marriage so you can learn your strengths, and weaknesses as a couple.   

Can you strengthen a marriage under the Family Code? Will a prenuptial agreement under Family Code � 4.003(8) make it stronger?  There are many people who believe that a prenuptial agreement is just the blue print to ending a marriage because it spells out who gets what, when, how, and if it happens, "it" being a divorce.  However, under Family Code � 4.003(8) allows an agreement that affects personal rights or obligation as long as they do not violate public policy. This includes marital rights like no-fault divorce. 

 

So, what can a prenuptial agreement or a COVENANT MARRIAGE CONTRACT that protects a marriage look like?  One way it may look like is an agreement, that would require a couple to not seek a divorce unless they underwent marriage counseling for one year, or two years if they had minor children except when the spouse seeking the divorce discovers the other spouse:

  1. committed adultery;
  2. received a felony conviction;
  3. committed physical or sexual abuse of the spouse or a child;
  4. The spouses live separate and apart for at least two years;
  5. is addicted to alcohol or drugs, or
  6. commits cruel or severe ill treatment of the spouse or a child.

The couple would need to sign the written agreement to make it enforceable under Family Code � 4.002.  With the written and signed agreement, the Texas marriage would have a means to help keep a marriage together without violating public policy, but supporting the family values to keep a marriage together.

What we have to offer

A reminder of the services available at the Law Library

 DIY Office Services

  • 25� /pg. B/W copies
  • 25� /pg. printing from computers
  • 25� /pg. incoming faxes to 940-349-2131
  • 25� /incoming emails to Kathleen.Bransford@dentoncounty.com AND Stephanie.Bassinger@dentoncounty.com (in case one of us isn't here)
  • $1.00 /pg. color copies & color printing
  • $2.00 /8 pgs. local faxes (25� per pg. after)
  • $2.50 /8 pgs. long distance faxes (25� per pg. after)
  • No-charge auto-feed scanners on 6 public computers and the Attorney's Lounge computer

Research online

  • 2 computers with LexisNexis access
  • 10 computers with WestlawNext access; 5 concurrent users at once
  • all computers have LoisLaw access (ask for password)
  • Online library catalog---www.dentoncounty.com/lawlib -click on Search our Catalog

Electronic Resources: e-books & pdf files on ONE public computer in the library

  • All O'Connor's form books
    • Texas Causes of Actions Pleadings
    • Federal Civil Forms
    • Texas Civil Appeals Forms
    • Texas Civil Forms
    • Texas Real Estate Forms
  • All State Bar Manuals
    • Collections Manual
    • Family Law Practice Manual
    • Foreclosure Manual
    • Guardianship Manual
    • Probate System
    • Real Estate Forms
  • All State Bar Pattern Jury Charges
    • Business
    • Family & Probate
    • General Negligence
    • Malpractice
    • Property Crimes
  • Various helpful publications from James Publishing
    • Discovery Tactics
    • How to Prepare for, Take, and Use a Deposition
    • Personal Injury Trial Notebook
    • Small-Case Litigation Forms
    • Picking Juries in Drug Cases
    • Pleading and Defending RICO Actions
    • Trial Tools for MIST Cases

Currenlty Updated Print Resources

  • American law reports annotated
    • ALR 1 - 6th; ALR federal 1 - 2d
  • American Jurisprudence
    • pleading & practice forms annotated; AmJur legal forms, 2d; AmJur proof of facts, 1 - 3d
  • Restatements 1 - 3d
  • Texas Jurisprudence
    • pleading & practice forms, 2d; proof of facts, 1 - 3d
  • United States code service
  • Vernon's Texas codes annotated
  • State Bar Books

Don't forget...

if you have any suggestions for content we would love to hear them. Do remember, we will not promote your services. We will, however, publish your professional writings or recognize any achievements or big events in your lives.

Edited by Kathleen Bransford, Law Librarian &

Stephanie Bassinger, MLS, Assistant Law Librarian

 Denton County Law Library

940-349-2130

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