Public reporting indicates that actress Lori Loughlin sold a luxury Palm Desert property after announcing her intention to divorce Mossimo Giannulli in 2025. There was no public dispute between Loughlin and Giannulli over the sale of their home, which is notable because our attorneys often see disputes over high-value real…
Articles Posted by Francesca Blackard
Appeals Court Affirms Conservatorship Ruling after Parent Leaves Courtroom During Proceedings
Texas trial courts have broad discretion in conservatorship decisions, particularly when the record reflects that the ongoing conflict between parents isn’t in the best interests of the involved children. In a recent case, the Third Court of Appeals reaffirmed that discretion by upholding a conservatorship ruling despite one parent’s objections…
Texas Supreme Court Reverses Default Divorce Decree
Sometimes, a spouse may fail to take appropriate action when their spouse has filed for divorce. If the spouse fails to participate in the proceedings, the petitioning spouse may seek a default divorce decree. Texas law disfavors default judgments, and in some cases, a default judgment may be set aside. …
Texas Appeals Court Determines Divorce Judgment Was Rendered Before Death of Husband
Generally, if a spouse dies while a Texas divorce case is pending but before the divorce is finalized, the case is dismissed and the marriage is considered to have ended upon death of the spouse. This can have a significant impact on the rights of the surviving spouse regarding children…
Texas Appeals Court Affirms 70/30 Property Division
The community estate must be divided in a “just and right” manner in a Texas divorce, but that does not always mean an equal division. In a recent case, a former husband challenged a property division that awarded the wife about 70% of the community estate, along with a money…
Texas Court Improperly Granted Summary Judgment that Separate Property Was Converted to Community Property
Characterization of property can be a significant issue in a Texas divorce. The Texas Family Code includes a presumption that property owned by a spouse at the time of divorce is community property, but this presumption can be overcome by clear and convincing evidence the property is the spouse’s separate…
Texas Court Grants Custody Modification for Child to Spend More Time with New Stepsibling
A court can modify a Texas custody or visitation order if the modification would be in the child’s best interest and there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances since the prior order was rendered. Tex. Fam. Code § 156.101(a)(1)(A). Whether a material and substantial change in circumstances…
Texas Appeals Court Affirms Divorce Decree Awarding Wife Property Conveyed to Her by Husband
Spouses sometimes convey property to each other during the marriage for various reasons. In some cases, those conveyances may become an issue if the couple divorces. In a recent case, a former husband challenged the property division awarding the former wife two pieces of property, even though he had executed…
Texas Appeals Court Concludes Agreement for Business Distributions Was Not Ambiguous in High Net Worth Divorce
Parties in a Texas high net worth divorce with complex assets may desire to reach an agreement regarding the property division. While an agreement is often intended to avoid further litigation, in some cases three may be ongoing disputes. A former wife recently challenged several declarations made by the trial…
Texas Appeals Court Dismisses Appeal of Order Requiring Ex-Husband to Pay $100,000
While ideally, parties to a Texas divorce can resolve matters amicably, some high net worth divorces can lead to years of ongoing litigation. In a recent case, a former husband appealed an order requiring him to pay the former wife $100,000. This appeal was the third appeal arising from the…