A Texas marriage may end by either death of a spouse or a court order. Generally, it is clear how a marriage ended, but in some cases, there can be a dispute. In a recent case, the Texas Supreme Court considered whether a divorce filed by the husband’s guardian resulted…
In Texas, a court may grant a “no-fault” divorce if the marriage has become insupportable due to “discord or conflict of personalities. . .” Tex. Fam. Code § 6.001. The court may also grant divorce in favor of a spouse, if the other spouse committed adultery. Tex. Fam. Code §…
All property possessed by either spouse at the time of a Texas divorce is presumed to be community property, but this presumption can be rebutted with clear and convincing evidence. Property’s characterization is determined by the inception of title. Separate property retains its separate character if the spouse can rebut…
Parental rights of same-sex couples can be complex. A Texas appeals court recently considered a case in which the mother’s spouse who had been named as a parent on the child’s birth certificate challenged a court order for genetic testing and a subsequent order adjudicating the child’s biological father as…
A party must establish standing to maintain a lawsuit. If the party does not have standing, the court does not have subject-matter jurisdiction. The parties cannot waive subject matter jurisdiction. The Texas Family Code sets forth when a non-parent has standing to pursue access or pursue to a child. A…
In some Texas custody cases, parents may not agree on the best medical treatment for a child, especially a child with complex special needs. Courts sometimes give each parent the authority to make decisions regarding medical treatment during their periods of possession, but this can become complicated when the parents…
The Fourteenth Court of Appeals recently reversed a trial court’s order imposing restrictions on international travel for a child whose mother had ties to Russia. In another recent case, however, the Third District Court of Appeals determined there was no error in a trial court’s imposition of travel restrictions for…
A trial court may modify a Texas conservatorship if modification is in the child’s best interest and the child is at least 12 years old and has told the court in chambers which parent they prefer to have the exclusive right to designate their primary residence. Tex . Fam .…
Division of a business in a Texas divorce can complicate a Texas divorce. As with other property, a business interest possessed during the marriage is presumed to be community property, but that presumption can be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence that it is separate property. In a recent case,…
A court may award Texas spousal maintenance in a divorce case if the spouse seeking maintenance meets the statutory requirements. Generally, a spouse seeking maintenance must show that they lack sufficient property to provide for their own minimum reasonable needs and meet one of the other statutory conditions, including being…