Schooley 
Getting served with a protective order application is stressful, and the legal process that follows moves fast. If this just happened to you, here’s a grounded look at what’s actually in front of you and how to start preparing. I’m a pro se coach, not an attorney. This is general information about how the process … Read more
If your ex keeps filing modification after modification and nothing ever actually changes except your legal bills, I want you to know there is a real tool in the Texas Family Code for that, and most pro se litigants have no idea it exists. Section 156.005 of the Family Code says that if the court … Read more
If your Texas divorce involves any meaningful property, expect the court to require a Sworn Inventory and Appraisement — often just called “the inventory.” It’s one of the most important documents in a divorce case, and it’s also one that trips up a lot of pro se litigants simply because they don’t realize it’s signed … Read more
Nothing rattles a pro se litigant like being hit with an allegation they know isn’t true. I’ve watched people fall apart on the stand, get defensive, raise their voice, start arguing with opposing counsel, and it’s the worst possible reaction because it does the other side’s job for them. I want to walk through why, … Read more
If you have a custody case in Texas and the parents can’t agree on a schedule, the court will almost always default to the Texas Standard Possession Order (SPO). It’s laid out in Texas Family Code Chapter 153, and knowing how it works — before you walk into a hearing — makes a real difference … Read more
If you’re trying to modify custody or possession in Texas, there’s one phrase you need to understand before you ever file anything: material and substantial change in circumstances. That’s the standard under Texas Family Code Section 156.101, and it’s a much higher bar than most people expect. The Case That Explains Why “Things Are Different … Read more
Deciding to file for divorce pro se in Texas — meaning without a lawyer — is a big step, and it’s one more Texans are taking every year. If you’re doing this on your own, the process is manageable when you break it into stages. Here’s what that looks like from the first form to … Read more
I get asked all the time by people going through custody fights, what do I do when the other side just makes stuff up. Somebody claims you were drunk, claims you screamed at the kids, claims you missed pickups you never missed. Your gut reaction is to get on the stand and say that’s a … Read more
Retirement accounts are often the most valuable — and most mishandled — assets in a Texas divorce. Learn how 401ks, IRAs, and pensions are divided, why QDROs matter, and the costly mistakes couples make when they skip this step.
When your co-parent moves the children without permission, every hour counts. Learn whether your order was violated, how to file for a Writ of Habeas Corpus, and what emergency remedies Texas courts can grant immediately.