Texas has adopted the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (“UCCJEA”), which identifies what state has jurisdiction over custody matters. The UCCJEA generally prioritizes the child’s home state for jurisdiction. The child’s home state is where they have lived with a parent for the six months before the custody…
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…
Characterization and valuation of property can be heavily contested issues in Texas divorces, especially in cases involving a high net worth or businesses. A wife recently challenged the court’s characterization of certain property and property division. The husband petitioned for divorce just a year and eight months after the marriage. …
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…
Generally, the date of a marriage is certain, but that is often not the case with an informal marriage. The date of marriage affects the characterization of property and therefore a dispute over the date of marriage can significantly impact the property division. A former husband recently appealed a divorce…
A court may grant a Texas annulment if the other party induced the petitioner into the marriage by fraud, duress or force and the petitioner did not voluntarily cohabit with the other party after learning about the fraud or being released from the force or duress. Tex. Fam. Code §…
The court in a Texas divorce case may appoint a receiver to protect and preserve the property of the parties. TEX. FAM. CODE § 6.502(a)(5). The receiver only has the powers authorized by the court. The receiver’s role is to receive and preserve the property for all interested parties’ benefit. …
Generally, either party in a Texas divorce is entitled to demand a jury trial pursuant to Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 6.703. A party seeking a jury trial must file a timely request. If the jury trial is available to a party as a matter of right, the court generally…
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…