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View From The Bench

Child Support, Divorce, Family Law, Mediation

2 Jul 2026

How “Sign Here” Became “Click Here”: Electronic Signatures and Texas Mediated Settlement Agreements

How “Sign Here” Became “Click Here”: Electronic Signatures and Texas Mediated Settlement Agreements A few years ago, getting parties and counsel to sign a mediated settlement agreement meant a pen, a printer, and often a fax machine standing by, humming ominously, in case someone left before the ink was dry. Today, in my practice, virtually […]

John Millard

Child Support, Divorce, Family Law, Mediation

26 Apr 2026

The Fable of the Shrinking Pie

Once upon a time in the Kingdom of the Courthouse, a once happy couple found themselves quarreling over a fine golden pie that had long sustained them both. Unable to agree on how to slice it, they each summoned the wisest counselors in the land – learned lawyers, skilled in the ancient arts of argument, […]

John Millard

Child Support, Divorce, Family Law, Mediation

1 Apr 2026

The OAG is Not Accepting Direct Payment Affidavits Anymore… (Or Are They?)

A Rumor, a Reality Check, and What Texas Family Lawyers Actually Need to Know I heard something in mediation last week from a lawyer whose judgment I respect – and it stopped me in my tracks. She told me she had heard that the OAG is no longer accepting Affidavits of Direct Payment. We both […]

John Millard

10 Feb 2026

I’m Still Standing (For Now): Why Nonparent SAPCRs Can Collapse – Even After Mediation

By John Millard & Walter Armatys For years, many Texas family lawyers treated nonparent standing as a front-end issue. If standing survived the initial pleadings or an early hearing, it was assumed to be settled for the remainder of the case. However, recent changes to the Texas Family Code – and two significant appellate opinions […]

John Millard

Arbitration, Custody, Divorce, Education Rights, Family Law, Mediation

6 Dec 2025

School Choice Showdown: How to Allocate Educational Rights in Mediation Under H.B. 2495

If you’ve mediated or tried a custody case in the last few years, you already know that school-choice disputes have turned into one of the biggest sticking points in Texas family law. Parents aren’t just arguing about curriculum anymore. They’re battling over public vs. private, charters, magnets, out-of-district transfers, and everything in between. And because […]

John Millard

Custody, Mediation, Reunification Therapy

2 Aug 2025

New Rules for Reunification Therapy: Navigating HB 3783 In Texas Custody Cases

In the high-stakes world of Texas family law custody disputes, few tools have been as frequently used—and often abused—as court-ordered counseling, particularly in the context of “reunification therapy”. But with the passage of House Bill 3783, effective June 20, 2025, that landscape has shifted significantly. This new legislation amends Section 153.010 of the Texas Family Code, placing […]

John Millard

MediationJudges.com

Family Law, Mediation

30 Jun 2025

Dig Deep: The Foundation for Excellence in Law, Judging, and Mediation

Building On Solid Ground I was reading The Tony Evans Bible Commentary on 2 Thessalonians by Dr. Tony Evans of the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas. As I read, I was struck by the nexus between having a proper Christian foundation and having a successful mediation.  Heck, while we are at it, having […]

Walter Armatys

Appeals, Arbitration, Child Support, Divorce, Family Law, Mediation

24 Jun 2025

Spousal Maintenance Gets Real: Why Mehta Is Your New Go-To Case

The Texas Supreme Court’s June 2025 decision in Mehta v. Mehta (No. 23-0507) is a game-changer for family lawyers and mediators. It grounds spousal maintenance in real-world family realities, not just in spreadsheets. If you’re navigating support for a stay-at-home caregiver or challenging maintenance claims, this case is your new toolkit essential. The Court didn’t rewrite Texas Family […]

John Millard

Divorce, Family Law

24 Feb 2025

Mediation in the Nude: Stripping Down Barriers to Resolution**

Sometimes good, albeit unconventional, ideas emerge from the most unexpected places. Take, for example, a recent suggestion from a highly successful businessman I know – someone well-acquainted with litigation and certainly no stranger to mediation. Over cocktails one evening, completely out of the blue, he floated a rather unorthodox concept for family law mediations: “Mediation in […]

John Millard

Mediation

5 Sep 2024

Drive-By Mediation: Just a Checkbox or a Genuine Resolution Tool?

Introduction When we talk about “drive-by” mediation, let’s be clear—we’re not talking about anything involving a moving vehicle or a crime scene. Instead, we’re referring to a streamlined, often misunderstood process of family law mediation that can be as quick as it sounds. But just because it’s fast, does that mean it’s effective? Can a […]

John Millard

Mediation

19 Aug 2024

Mastering Mediation: Tips from a Former Family Law Judge

Greetings, family law warriors! As a former family law judge and now full-time mediator, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing a wide range of mediation approaches – some that hit the mark beautifully and others that, while well-intentioned, could use a bit of fine-tuning. Through these experiences, I’ve learned a few tricks of the trade […]

John Millard

Child Support

25 Jun 2024

What Are the Rules for Texas Child Support?

Under Texas law, all parents have a legal duty to support their children. In a divorce or custody scenario, a court can order the non-custodial parent to pay money each month to the custodial parent for the support of the children. The court can also order the non-custodial parent to provide additional support in the […]

John Millard

Child Support, Divorce, Family Law

27 May 2024

The Stages of a Texas Divorce or Custody Case

While each divorce or custody case is unique, most cases flow from start to finish according to six distinct “Stages.” Of course, not all cases fit perfectly into each stage. It’s not uncommon for the stages to overlap and run concurrently with others. But in general, the following should provide a good understanding of the […]

John Millard

15 May 2024

From Spy to Bye: Texas Family Code’s Ban on Spousal Surveillance

Introduction In the realm of domestic violence and stalking, abusers often resort to tracking and monitoring their victims’ movements as a means of harassment and intimidation. To address this issue and strengthen existing laws surrounding protective orders and temporary restraining orders in dissolution of marriage suits, the Texas Legislature passed HB 2715. This legislation prohibits […]

John Millard

29 Apr 2024

How Long Does A Divorce Take?

Other than “How much does a divorce cost?” the most common question we’re asked is “How long will my divorce take?” Both questions are important, but as you can imagine, they’re difficult to answer with absolute precision and certainty. Divorce is unpredictable, and you can’t always control a case’s direction. But we’ve been doing this […]

John Millard

26 Feb 2024

What Will Happen to My Property?

All divorces involve at least some division of property. The division can range from each party keeping the personal property in their possession to more complicated estates involving the division of multiple houses, parcels of land, businesses, brokerage and retirement accounts, and even assets like Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. Regardless, clients frequently ask, “What’s going […]

John Millard

Property Division

29 Jan 2024

What Will Happen to My Home?

As the saying goes, there’s no place like home.  Your home is your castle. Your sanctuary. It’s the one place on Earth where you can go to relax, rest, and feel safe. It’s not surprising then how devastated you may feel if facing the prospect of having to move from or sell your home. Yes, […]

John Millard

Family Law

6 Oct 2023

The New Old Discovery Rules

Introduction Just when you finally wrapped your head around the “New Rules,” along come the “New Old Discovery Rules.” Applicable to family law cases filed on or after September 1, 2023, the New Old Rules remove “required” disclosures and production of documents established by the New Rules, reinstating old rule “requests” for disclosure. Undoubtedly, those who loathe required disclosures will cheer, […]

John Millard

Fraud

24 Aug 2023

Preparation of Constructive Fraud and Reimbursement Claims in Mediation

Introduction I conducted a mediation recently that was successful, in my estimation, for one reason and one reason only. Preparation! This case involved various issues, but most prevalent were the issues of: Constructive Fraud Claim Regarding the constructive fraud claim, counsel defending the claim had case law at the ready, which laid out the elements necessary […]

Walter Armatys

Divorce

9 Aug 2023

Cracking the Code: A Guide to Discovering, Valuing, and Dividing Digital Assets in Divorce

In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, the emergence and adoption of digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum have added a layer of complexity to divorce proceedings. Cryptocurrencies and other digital assets present unique challenges in divorce cases, especially when these assets are undisclosed or hidden. In this guide, we will delve into the world of […]

John Millard

Divorce

7 Jul 2023

Can You Be Served with a Lawsuit by Email or Social Media? Unleash the Power of Electronic Service of Process in Texas!

Service of process is the legal procedure whereby one party to a lawsuit (the “Petitioner”) gives legal notice to the other party (the “Respondent”) that they have been sued. Typically, service of process requires that the Respondent be served personally. If you know where to find a party or if they will agree to accept service or […]

John Millard

Divorce, Family Law

30 Jun 2023

I Think My Spouse is Hiding Money. What Can I Do?

Things haven’t been going well. For months, you’ve suspected that your spouse is planning to divorce you. In today’s mail, there’s a statement from a bank you don’t recognize. Your spouse has become secretive with their phone and computer. Lately, your spouse has been fascinated with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. There are unexplained withdrawals […]

John Millard

Mediation

30 May 2023

Keys to a Successful Mediation

During my time as mediator, I’ve learned that a successful mediation is not unlike a successful trial. So, that begs the question: What is essential before you can have a successful trial? Preparation!!!  You would NEVER go into a contested trial if you were unprepared. And you should never go into a mediation unprepared. You […]

Walter Armatys

Mediation

24 May 2023

Can Mediation be Ordered During an Appeal?

Can parties be ordered to mediate during an appeal? Absolutely! In Texas, appellate courts have broad authority to order parties to engage in mediation even during an ongoing appeal. In this blog post, we’ll explore the authority granted to Texas appellate courts to order mediation during an appeal, the procedures and rules involved, and the […]

John Millard

Divorce

8 May 2023

Should I Move Out of Our House?

Should I Stay or Should I Go? It may be the title of a great song, but it’s a tough question you may be forced to answer in a divorce. Ultimately, the answer depends on your goals, resources, and children’s needs. Separating an emotional attachment to a home is difficult, but you have to approach […]

John Millard

Divorce, Family Law, Property Division

3 Apr 2023

What Will Happen to My Children?

Parents going through a divorce or custody dispute often ask, “What will happen to my children”? Of course, we all want what’s best for our children, and hopefully, all strive to minimize the impact a divorce or custody dispute will have on the kids. But often, parents don’t see eye to eye regarding what’s best for the […]

John Millard

Divorce

31 Mar 2023

I Don’t Want a Divorce. Is There Anything I Can Do?

In Texas, the sad reality is that if your spouse wants a divorce, they will get it. Texas is a “no-fault” state, meaning there is no requirement that fault grounds be proven to get a divorce. The only legal ground necessary is to show the marriage has become “insupportable.” In simple terms, if one spouse wants a […]

John Millard

Arbitration, Mediation

3 Mar 2023

Save the Date! Open House & Grand Opening!

Exciting news! Save the Date! We’re thrilled to announce an Open House to celebrate the Grand Opening of our family law mediation practice, Armatys Millard, PLLC. We’d love for you to join us to celebrate this milestone. Come check out our new offices and join your colleagues for some fun outside of court. Bring your […]

John Millard

Divorce

8 Feb 2023

I’ve Been Served with Divorce Papers. What Should I Do Now?

You’ve just been served with divorce papers. Either you’ve been expecting this day, and there is a sense of relief, or you’ve been entirely blindsided and are now in complete shock. Regardless, you must pull yourself together and react, and you must do so quickly. As upset as you may feel, and as frightening as […]

John Millard

Arbitration, Mediation

29 Jan 2023

NEW RULE: TRCP 21d – What You Need to Know About Electronic Court Appearances

Summary The Texas Supreme Court issued a new administrative order on January 27, 2023, finalizing rule changes regarding notice and appearances at court proceedings. Effective February 1, 2023, the order completes implementation of TRCP 21d, a new rule entitled “Appearances at Court Proceedings.” The order also amends TRCP 21(b) regarding service of notice, changing terminology […]

John Millard

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