Texas family law has long recognized that individuals other than biological parents sometimes serve as primary caregivers for a child. In limited circumstances, those individuals could seek court intervention by filing a Suit Affecting the Parent–Child Relationship (SAPCR). However, recent statutory reforms significantly narrow that pathway, particularly for stepparents.

Texas law presumes that property possessed during marriage is community property, but that presumption becomes more complicated when compensation is paid after the divorce is finalized. The Texas Supreme Court recently addressed this issue, assessing how courts should analyze deferred compensation and property characterization in divorce proceedings. The decision in

In Texas, court-ordered possession and access provisions are not advisory. They are binding orders, and repeated violations can carry significant legal consequences. A recent legislative change strengthens those consequences. House Bill 3181 creates a sta...