Texas Divorce Attorney Blog

Texas Appeals Court Reverses Order Granting Grandparents Visitation

Published on: July 6, 2023 | by Kate Mataya

The U.S. Supreme Court held in Troxel v. Granville that parents have a fundamental right to make decisions regarding the care custody and control of their children. There is a presumption under Texas family law that being raised by their biological parents is in a child’s best interest. Additionally, Texas law presumes that a fit parent acts in their child’s best interest. Essentially, it is presumed that a fit parent should decide whether a grandparent should have visitation with the child. In addition to other requirements, a grandparent seeking possession or access to a grandchild under Tex. Fam. Code § 153.433(a) must overcome that presumption by showing by a preponderance of the evidence that denying visitation would significantly impair the child’s health or emotional well-being. Tex. Fam. Code § 153.433(a) applies when the grandparent is the parent of the child’s parent who has been incarcerated for the three month period before the petition is filed, has been found incompetent, is deceased, or does not have possession of or access to the child.

A mother recently challenged a trial court’s order granting the paternal grandparents possession of and access to her children, arguing there was no evidence the children’s physical health or emotional wellbeing would be significantly impaired if it was denied.

Grandparents Petition for Visitation

The children’s father sadly died in December 2020. The appeals court’s opinion described a close relationship between the children and their paternal grandparents before their father’s death. In fact, the parents and one of the children had lived with the grandparents for more than four years and then moved next door.

Texas Appeals Court Reverses Children’s Name Change

Published on: June 27, 2023 | by Brandon Joseph

A trial court generally cannot grant relief that was not requested by the parties in a Texas family law matter. Relief must generally conform to the pleadings, though in some cases an issue may be tried by consent of the parties. A mother recently challenged a trial court’s order changing the children’s name to something different from what she had requested when the father had not participated in the proceedings.

Mother Petitions for Name Change

In January 2022, the trial court adjudicated parentage and named the mother sole managing conservator of the children, who were born in 2019 and 2020. The children’s last names were structured as “[father’s last name] [mother’s last name].” The mother then petitioned to remove the father’s last name from the children’s last names, alleging he had not been in their lives or supported them and that the change was in the children’s best interest.

The trial court held two hearings, but the father failed to answer or participate. The mother testified that she wanted to change the children’s name to avoid inconvenience and confusion. She said that she had extended family in the area who shared her last name and that she did not plan to change her name. She also testified the change was in the best interest of the children and that she had not requested it to try to alienate the father. The birth certificates showing the children’s names were admitted as evidence.

Texas Appeals Court Vacates Property Division After Husband Revokes Consent to Agreed Division

Published on: June 26, 2023 | by Kelly McClure

When parties to a Texas divorce can reach an agreement on property division or other issues, they may be able to resolve their case more efficiently and with less hostility than can occur with prolonged litigation. In some cases, however, a party may learn information after initially agreeing to a division that that changes their position. When parties consent to an agreed judgment, their consent must exist when the court renders the judgment. They are able to revoke consent until the judgment is rendered. An agreed judgment cannot be rendered if a party has withdrawn consent. In a recent case, a husband appealed an “agreed” judgment, arguing he had withdrawn his consent before the court rendered the judgment.

According to the opinion of the appeals court, the parties got married in 2005. The wife filed for divorce in early August 2022. She expressed a belief the parties would reach an agreement on the property division, but asked for a just and right division if they did not do so. A couple of months later, she filed an affidavit stating she and the husband had entered an agreement for division of the debts and property. She further stated she had submitted an agreed decree that had been signed by both parties and contained the agreement. She asked the court to approve the agreement.

The husband filed a counterpetition, alleging the wife had breached her fiduciary duty and committed constructive fraud, waste, and conversion. He alleged she conveyed more than her own share of the community estate to enrich herself and defraud him. He alleged damages of about $100,000. He asked the court to set aside the transfer and award him damages.

Legal Description of Property Controls Over Address in Texas Husband’s Quitclaim Deed to Wife

Published on: June 21, 2023 | by Kate Mataya

When one spouse transfers property to the other spouse by deed, there is a rebuttable presumption the property was gifted to the other spouse as separate property. A deed must contain a sufficient description of the property. In some cases, there may be mistakes or conflicting information in the deed. When a court interprets a deed, it must determine the parties’ intent as expressed in the deed. A wife recently challenged a court’s interpretation of a quitclaim deed and the resulting characterization of the property based on a deed that stated the address for one tract of land but the legal description of another.

The husband bought a house and 23 acres and paid off the mortgage before the marriage. He also sold two of those acres and a mobile home before the marriage. The parties lived in the house on the 21-acre lot after the marriage. They subsequently bought back the two-acre tract and the mobile home.

Quitclaim Deed

Before he petitioned for divorce, the husband signed a quitclaim deed that stated the address of the 21-acre tract, but the legal description of the two-acre tract. The quitclaim deed described the property as 2 acres and identified the make, model, and serial number of the mobile home. The wife asked the court to characterize the 21 acres and house as her separate property based on the quitclaim deed. She argued the deed conveyed the house and 21 acres to her, but the husband contended that it referred to the two-acre tract and mobile home.

Texas Presumption of Paternity after Termination of Someone Else’s Parental Rights

Published on: June 13, 2023 | by Kate Mataya

Under Texas family law, there are several ways to establish a parent-child relationship between a man and a child, including an unrebutted presumption, an acknowledgement of paternity, adjudication of paternity, adoption, or the man consenting to assisted reproduction resulting in the birth of a child. A mother recently challenged her former husband’s standing to bring a Suit Affecting the Parent Child Relationship (“SAPCR”) and the trial court’s adjudication of him as the child’s father.

The mother gave birth to the child, identified as “Luke” in the appeals court’s opinion, a month after her marriage to “Justin.” The mother identified another man as the child’s biological father and Justin admitted he was not the child’s biological father.

According to the opinion, the other man’s parental rights were terminated in September 2011 pursuant to an “Order of Termination.”

Justin lived with the child and held himself out to be the child’s father. The mother gave birth to a daughter, identified in the opinion as “Gracie,” in August 2012. Continue Reading ›

Texas Wife Not Awarded Disproportionate Property Division Despite Allegations of Cruelty and Infidelity

Published on: June 6, 2023 | by Kelly McClure

A court’s division of property in a Texas divorce must be just and right. A just and right division does not have to be equal and may be disproportionate in some circumstances, including fault such as adultery or cruelty. A wife recently challenged a property division in which the trial court did not award her a disproportionate share of the community estate in light of her allegations of adultery and cruelty.

Alleged Cruelty and Infidelity

The wife testified the husband had multiple affairs during the marriage, according to the appeals court’s opinion. She also testified he had physically abused her. She said he had beaten her after she had surgery, resulting in her stitches breaking open. She further testified that he started hitting her again when she came home from the doctor and she got a kitchen knife to defend herself. She said she held the knife in front of her and “just the point of the knife” cut the husband when he got in her face, but she did not deliberately stab him. She testified the injury only needed a bandage, but the husband went to the doctor so he could later use it against her.

She testified she did not have any documentation of the husband’s alleged affairs. She also did not offer any documentation of her alleged injuries.

Texas Grandmother Awarded Custody

Published on: May 30, 2023 | by Kelly McClure

Texas family law only allows non-parents to seek custody of children if they meet certain statutory requirements. For example, a grandparent or certain other relatives may petition for managing conservatorship if doing so is necessary because the child’s present circumstances at the time suit was filed would significantly impair their health or emotional development. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 102.004(a)(1).

The parents had an on-and-off relationship for several years, according to the appeals court’s opinion. Both parents and the maternal grandmother had lived in Colorado. The mother, who was pregnant with their second child, moved to Texas in late 2017 with the older child. The grandmother followed in 2018. The father remained in Colorado.

The mother was killed in a car accident in May 2019. The father filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, alleging the grandmother was illegally holding them. His petition was denied.

Texas Court Characterizes Property Conveyed by Husband’s Parents as Community Property

Published on: May 28, 2023 | by Kelly McClure

In a Texas divorce, there is a presumption that property possessed by either party during or on dissolution is community property. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.003(a). Property’s characterization is determined by inception of its title. In a recent case, a husband challenged a trial court’s characterization of property conveyed by his parents.

Conveyance of the Property

According to the appeals court’s opinion, the husband acquired the property from his parents during the marriage. The deed was labeled a warranty deed. It identified the parents as the grantors and the husband, “A MARRIED PERSON,” as the grantee. It stated consideration of $10 and “other good and valuable consideration.” It also stated the grantor “grants, sells, and conveys to Grantee the property.” A corrected deed was filed in 2015 changing the legal description.

The wife testified the husband’s parents were paid $1,750 for the property from a joint bank account. The husband and his father each testified that just $10 was paid as consideration for the property. Both spouses were listed on the construction loan application for building the home on the property. That application indicated the title would be held “Jointly with Spouse.”

Texas Stepfather Has Standing to Seek Custody after Mother’s Death

Published on: May 25, 2023 | by Kelly McClure

iStock-1147846829-300x200 Non-parents have limited rights in seeking Texas custody or visitation. In some circumstances, however, stepparents actively parent their stepchildren. In a recent case, a stepfather challenged a court order awarding custody of his stepchild to the child’s maternal grandparents after the death of the mother.

Relationship with the Mother

According to the appeals court’s opinion, the mother was pregnant when she started dating and eventually moved in with the stepfather in 2006. The stepfather was present for the child’s birth in 2007 and acted as a father figure to the child. The mother filed an Original Petition in Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (“SAPCR”) soon after the birth. The stepfather was not a party to the case.

The mother married stepfather in July 2007. The stepfather treated the child as his son and was the only father figure in the child’s life. The mother and stepfather had a biological child together in 2010.

Texas Appeals Court Upholds Divorce Decree Following Arbitration Award

Published on: May 23, 2023 | by Francesca Blackard

iStock-1287431987-300x200 Parties to a Texas divorce may choose to pursue alternative dispute resolution to avoid litigation. They may resolve part or all of their disputes through mediation. A mediated settlement agreement (“MSA”) is binging on both parties if it prominently states that it is not subject to revocation, is signed by both parties, and is signed by the party’s attorney, if present. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 6.602. In some cases, an MSA may include an arbitration provision, requiring the parties to arbitrate disputes arising from the MSA. A wife recently appealed the divorce decree, arguing it did not comply with the parties’ MSA and that the judgment based on the arbitrator’s award should be overturned.

Mediation and Arbitration

The husband and wife entered into a mediated settlement agreement (“MSA”), agreeing to use a specific realtor to sell their properties. According to the appeals court’s opinion, the husband obtained a new realter after the wife informed him the chosen realtor “declined” to sell their properties. That realtor found errors in the deed and recommended referred them to real estate attorneys.

The parties did not agree on which realtor to use or if they should have the documents corrected by an attorney. Arbitration had been scheduled, with the arbitrator being the same person who had served as the parties’ mediator. The wife obtained new counsel, who objected to the arbitrator due to concerns about impartiality. He also expressed an intention to move for a new trial or set aside the MSA. He alleged the husband’s attorney failed to disclose a working relationship with the mediator before the mediation occurred. However, there were emails showing the husband’s attorney had disclosed to the wife’s previous attorney that she previously had been an intern with the mediator and the wife’s attorney had no objection to the mediator. Additionally, she disclosed the same information to the wife’s second counsel by phone, and the mediator stated before the mediation started that the husband’s attorney had been an intern, and there were no objections.