Beth M. JohnsonMay 105 minSuits to Adjudicate PaternityA “parent-child relationship” in Texas means the legal relationship between a child and the child’s parent as provided under chapter 160...
Beth M. JohnsonApr 195 minUniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)Whether a trial court has jurisdiction under the UCCJEA is a matter of subject-matter jurisdiction. In re Salminen, 492 S.W.3d 31, 38...
Beth M. JohnsonJan 45 minAppellate Attorney’s Fee AwardsAppellate courts generally do not award fees. For an appellee to be awarded fees, the appellee generally must file a cross-appeal because...
Beth M. JohnsonNov 16, 20215 minEnforcing Mediated Settlement AgreementsIn family law, the Texas Legislature has made mediated settlement agreements (“MSAs”) binding on the parties if the MSA provides, in a...
Beth M. JohnsonOct 26, 20216 minWhen Are Findings Useful in Family Law?At the end of the trial, appeal may or may not be foremost on your mind, but questioning whether to request findings of fact and...
Beth M. JohnsonAug 29, 20211 minGeographic Restrictions on a Child's ResidenceSeptember 2021 Dallas Bar Association's Headnotes
Beth M. JohnsonJul 20, 20213 minScope of Judicial Notice Can be Waived Absent an ObjectionJudicial notice can be a time-saving method to get evidence that has been previously presented into the current record. See Tex. R. Evid....
Beth M. JohnsonJul 9, 20213 minContempt and Specificity of OrdersAn order for contempt must be supported by a reasonably specific underlying order. To hold a party in contempt for violating a court...
Beth M. JohnsonMay 4, 20213 minFamily Violence: Conservatorship and Protective OrdersIn a suit for conservatorship, a trial court must consider the best interest of the child and should consider applicable Texas public...
Beth M. JohnsonMar 9, 20212 minDefault Orders Must Be Supported by EvidenceIn a suit for divorce, the petition may not be taken as confessed if the respondent does not file an answer. Tex. Fam. Code § 6.701. So,...
Beth M. JohnsonJan 26, 20212 minDiscovery Issues and Mandamus ReviewThe new discovery rules are on everyone’s minds as we begin 2021. For the most part, discovery rulings are “incidental” rulings not...
Beth M. JohnsonDec 8, 20203 minFocusing on the Details to Establish a Material and Substantial ChangeWhen seeking a modification of an order affecting the parent-child relationship, the base threshold requirement is to establish a...
Beth M. JohnsonOct 20, 20203 minRestricted Appeals Can Be an Effective Tool to Undo Default JudgmentsWe generally think of the 30-day window after a final order as the only time in which a party can appeal. However, if there was clear...
Beth M. JohnsonJul 30, 20205 minTexas Supreme Court Finds in Favor of Biological FatherIn re H.S. appeared to open the door to persons who provided substantial care to a child; however, read with In re C.J.C., do third parties
Beth M. JohnsonDec 16, 20191 minBeth talks about family law appeals on the State Bar of Texas Podcast(Beth is introduced at about 34:00)