Texas family law,explained.
Statute-anchored articles on divorce, custody, support, and the procedures that move them. Written for North Texas families, cited to the Texas Family Code.
Divorce
Same-Sex Marriage in Texas
Same-sex marriage is legal in Texas. How the license, out-of-state recognition, divorce, parentage and adoption work under Texas and federal law.
How Your Past Is Evaluated in Texas Family Court During Divorce
Texas family courts evaluate a spouse’s personal history primarily through the lens of fault-based divorce grounds codified in Texas Family Code §§…
What No One Tells You About Divorce Regret
You didn’t expect to feel this way. Maybe you were the one who filed. Maybe you spent years working up the courage to leave, and now that the divorce…
How Does Pet Custody Work in a Texas Divorce?
Texas law classifies pets as personal property, not as family members entitled to custody arrangements. Under Texas Family Code §§ 3.001–3.003, a family…
What Legal Options Are Available for High-Conflict Divorce in Texas?
High-conflict divorce cases are characterized by intense disputes and disagreements that often extend beyond typical disagreements seen in most…
Uncontested Divorce in Texas: The 'Sign and Walk Away' Myth (Why It Doesn't Mean Unrepresented)
There's a version of divorce that sounds almost easy. Both spouses agree on everything, someone files the paperwork, a judge signs off, and it's done.…
How to Document Everything for Your Texas Family Law Case
Proper documentation can make or break a Texas family law case. Whether facing a divorce, child custody dispute, modification proceeding, or…
How to File for Divorce in Texas Without a Lawyer: An Honest Pro Se Guide
Yes, a Texas spouse may represent themselves in a divorce (pro se). The Texas Office of Court Administration publishes standardized forms for…
How Does Adultery Affect Divorce in Texas? A Statute-Anchored Guide
Texas treats adultery as one of seven fault grounds for divorce under Tex. Fam. Code § 6.003, but a Texas spouse may also seek a no-fault divorce on…
Temporary Orders Texas Divorce: Why the First 30 Days Matter
When you’re served with divorce papers, or when you file them, the instinct is to think about the end: the final decree, the settlement, the day it’s…
Common Law Divorce Texas: The High Cost of 'Playing House' in a Common Law Marriage
A lot of couples in Texas assume that because they never had a wedding, they never got married. No marriage license, no ceremony, no officiant. Just…
Uncontested Divorce in Texas: How an Agreed Divorce Works Under Tex. Fam. Code Title 1
An “uncontested divorce” in Texas is not a separate statutory procedure. It is a Texas divorce filed under the standard Tex. Fam. Code Title 1…
Texas No-Fault Divorce: Insupportability Under Tex. Fam. Code § 6.001
Texas is a no-fault divorce state. Under Tex. Fam. Code § 6.001, a Texas court may grant a divorce based on “insupportability”: meaning the marriage…
How to File for Divorce in Texas: A Statute-Anchored Walkthrough Under Tex. Fam. Code Title 1
A Texas divorce begins when a spouse who meets the Tex. Fam. Code § 6.301 residency requirements (six months in Texas plus 90 days in the filing…
Texas Divorce Laws: A Statute-Anchored Overview Under Tex. Fam. Code Title 1
Texas divorce law lives primarily in Texas Family Code Title 1 (Marriage), with related provisions in Chapters 3 (community vs. separate property), 7…
Child Custody
Signs of a Bad Custody Evaluation in Texas: What Parents Should Watch For
A child custody evaluation can shape the course of your family’s future. In Texas, these evaluations are governed by Texas Family Code Chapter 107 and…
How Do Courts Evaluate Your Past in Texas Custody Cases?
Texas courts conduct a thorough examination of each parent’s personal and behavioral history when making conservatorship and possession decisions.…
Marijuana Custody Texas: How Courts Handle Substance Use in Custody Cases
If you’re worried that your past drug use means you’ll lose your kids, take a breath. Texas courts don’t evaluate your entire history. They evaluate…
Electronic Communication Custody Order: The Paragraph You Didn't Know You Needed
Most parents spend hours negotiating custody schedules, holiday divisions, and child support. Almost no one thinks carefully about electronic…
The Custody Evaluation: What the Evaluator Is Really Looking For in a Home Study
When a child custody evaluator gets involved in your case, anxiety spikes. A child custody evaluator is a licensed professional, often a mental health…
Infant Custody Texas: Why the 'Under 3' Rule Changes Everything
If you're navigating infant custody in Texas and expecting the court to hand down the same standard schedule it uses for older children, you're going…
How Does the Texas Holiday Possession Schedule Work Under the Standard Possession Order?
The Texas holiday possession schedule is a structured, rotating visitation framework dictated by Texas Family Code Section 153.314. Under the Standard…
What is the 100-Mile Rule in Texas Custody and How Does It Change Possession Schedules?
The 100-mile rule is a specific provision within the Texas Standard Possession Order that automatically modifies possession schedules when the…
Custody Modification
Geographic Restrictions Child Custody Texas: How School District Ratings Can Cost You Primary Custody
In North Texas, school district quality varies dramatically. Frisco ISD and Prosper ISD consistently earn high marks. Some Dallas ISD campuses do not.
Can Unstable Housing Support a Custody Modification in Texas?
Unstable housing can constitute a “material and substantial change in circumstances” under Texas Family Code § 156.101 when it undermines a child’s…
How to Modify 50/50 Custody to Primary Possession in Texas Under Tex. Fam. Code Chapter 156
In Texas, a parent in a 50/50 (joint managing conservatorship with equal possession) arrangement may seek to modify the order to one parent having…
When Your Child Wants to Live with the Noncustodial Parent: Texas Age 12 Preference
One of the most emotionally charged moments in a Texas custody case is when a child says they want to live with the other parent. Or when your child…
Grounds for Modification of Custody in Texas: When to Modify an Existing Custody Order
You just got served. There are court papers in your hands, the other parent is asking to change your custody arrangement, and you don't know what to do…
Preparing for Custody Modification in Texas: A Statute-Grounded Preparation Guide
Preparing for custody modification in Texas means (a) confirming a “material and substantial change in circumstances” exists under Tex. Fam. Code §…
Child Support
Does Paying Health Insurance Reduce Child Support in Texas?
Health insurance premiums for a child can directly affect child support calculations in Texas, but the impact depends on which parent provides coverage…
Can a Parent Withhold Visitation Over Unpaid Child Support in Texas?
Texas law prohibits custodial parents from withholding court-ordered visitation because the other parent has not paid child support. This article…
What Is a Medical Support Order in Texas and How Does It Work?
A medical support order in Texas is a court mandate under Texas Family Code § 154.181 requiring parents to provide health insurance coverage and share…
When Will a Texas Court Impute Income for Child Support Calculations?
When a parent in a Texas child support case earns significantly less than their capacity would suggest, or reports no income at all, the court may assign…
Property Division
QDROs in Texas Divorce: Dividing Retirement Accounts Under ERISA and Tex. Fam. Code §§ 7.003 and 9.101–.105
A QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) is a federal order under ERISA (29 U.S.C. § 1056(d)(3)) and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC § 414(p)) that…
How to Find Hidden Assets in a Texas Divorce: A Complete Guide
Texas spouses who suspect asset concealment can discover hidden community property through legal discovery tools, forensic accounting, and court orders…
Who Gets the House in a Texas Divorce? A Statute-Anchored Walkthrough of Property Classification and Just-and-Right Division
In a Texas divorce, who keeps the marital house depends first on whether the house is one spouse’s separate property under Tex. Fam. Code § 3.001 or…
Prenuptial Agreements
How to Review a Texas Prenup You Didn’t Draft: A Step-by-Step Guide Under Tex. Fam. Code Chapter 4
When a partner hands you a Texas prenuptial agreement to sign, the most important steps are to (1) slow down: never sign the same day, (2) retain your…
How to Bring Up a Prenup: A Conversational Guide (with Texas Legal Context)
Bringing up a prenup works best 3–6 months before the wedding, in a private setting, framed as mutual financial planning rather than distrust. In…
Enforcement
How Do I Enforce a Texas Family Court Order When My Ex Won’t Comply?
When a former spouse ignores a Texas family court order, whether by withholding child support payments, blocking scheduled visitation, or refusing to…
What Is Contempt of Court in Texas Family Law Cases?
Contempt of court in Texas family law cases refers to the legal mechanism courts use to enforce compliance with family court orders, including those…
Grandparent Rights
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