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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]