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