The Slavin Rule: Why a Vague Texas Order Can’t Be Enforced
Under Ex parte Slavin, a Texas order must be clear, specific and unambiguous before a judge can enforce it by contempt. Here is how to spot vague language before it costs you.
contempt
Your Decree Is Too Vague to Enforce — How a Motion to Clarify Fixes It
You file your enforcement motion, you’ve documented everything, you show up ready, and the other side’s attorney stands up and says the order isn’t specific enough to be enforced by contempt. And the judge agrees with them. That’s a rough afternoon, and I’ve watched people take it as a loss on the merits when it … Read more
Why Most Pro Se Enforcement Motions Get Denied — And How to Draft One That Doesn’t
I’ve read a lot of enforcement motions written by self-represented parents, and I can usually tell in the first paragraph whether it’s going to survive. Not because the facts are bad. Usually the facts are terrible, in the sense that the other parent has genuinely been doing something outrageous for months. The motions fail on … Read more
What Happens If You Don’t Show Up to Your Texas Family Law Hearing
Missing a Texas family law hearing can result in a default judgment, dismissed case, or contempt charges. Learn what the judge can do when you don’t appear, and exactly what to do if you’ve already missed one.