Texas Family Law Insiders

Every divorce filed in Texas has to state grounds for the divorce, but should it be a fault ground or the standard no-fault option? In this episode, Holly Draper is joined by her partner at the Draper Law Firm, Carrie Tapia, to break down the grounds for divorce available under the Texas Family Code and the strategy behind choosing which one to plead. Holly and Carrie start with the default: insup...

Episode 142: Texas Family Law Insiders Podcast- Five Years of Advice from the Best in the Business Five years. 140+ episodes. One question asked of every single guest: "What is one piece of advice you would give to young family lawyers?"  In this milestone episode, host Holly Draper does something different. Instead of sitting down with a new guest, she opens up the archive and pulls the best answ...

Episode 141: Updates in Parent Versus Non-Parent Custody Litigation When sweeping changes to Texas family law took effect on September 1, 2025, family law practitioners across the state began encountering real-world consequences that no statute could fully anticipate. In this solo episode, Holly Draper shares what Texas family lawyers are actually seeing in courtrooms — and what those on-the-groun...

When a marriage ends, the family home is often the most valuable — and most complicated — asset on the table. But what happens after the ink dries on the divorce decree? In this episode, Holly Draper sits down with Harvard Law graduate and real estate attorney Carey Worrell of Simple Law Texas to unpack the critical real estate concepts that can make or break your clients' financial futures long a...

In this episode, Holly Draper sits down with Denise Capurso, a licensed clinical social worker with nearly 30 years of experience helping women heal from narcissistic abuse, coercive control, and complex relational trauma. Denise, who is based in Frisco, Texas and sees clients statewide, brings an essential clinical perspective to issues that family law attorneys encounter in their practices every...

Texas Family Law Insiders: Episode 138 Guest: Rachael Kelly, Founder of Hive Enterprises In this episode, host Holly Draper sits down with Rachael Kelly to explore the intersection of mental health, trauma, and family law. Rachael shares her journey from corporate executive to founding Hive Enterprises, a platform that supports individuals and organizations through high-stakes life transitions. Th...

Divorce clients often arrive overwhelmed, reactive, and unsure of what they actually want their post-divorce life to look like. In this episode of the Texas Family Law Insiders Podcast , host Carrie Tapia speaks with Bryann Owen , founder of Rebuild with Bryann , about the growing role of divorce coaching and how it can support both clients and their attorneys during high-conflict or emotionally c...

What you do—or fail to do—during trial can determine whether your client has any meaningful right to appeal. In this solo episode of the Texas Family Law Insiders Podcast , family law appellate attorney Holly Draper shares practical guidance for trial lawyers on one of the most commonly misunderstood areas of litigation: preserving error for appeal . Drawing on years of reviewing trial transcripts...

For many family law cases, the marital residence is the largest asset at stake—and one of the most difficult to resolve. In this episode of the Texas Family Law Insiders Podcast, host Carrie Tapia sits down with Michelle Appling, a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert (CDRE) based in North Texas, to discuss the unique challenges that arise when selling or dividing real estate in divorce. From buyo...

Who can you send parents to when they need help figuring out how to co-parent in a healthy manner? What do you do when you and your client are struggling to work out a co-parenting plan with their ex?  Are there resources out there to help parent navigate the minefield of working with someone with whom they have struggled to work with for years?  In this episode of the Texas Family Law Insiders Po...

In today's legal landscape, operating a brick-and-mortar office might not be the best choice for your business, especially as you scale it.  In this episode, Holly Draper and Carrie Tapia will discuss the advantages and challenges of operating a thriving virtual law practice.  They will offer advice on how to start and grow your virtual firm and share their insights gained over years operating in...

In this episode of the Texas Family Law Insiders Podcast, Holly Draper welcomes Sharon Ramage, founder and CEO of the Ramage Law Group in McKinney, Texas. In addition to being a family law attorney, Sharon is one of the few special education attorneys in the state. Sharon brings a unique perspective as both a former social worker and special education hearing officer. She discusses the critical in...

Have you ever noticed that Temporary Orders often become the long-term orders in a divorce proceeding? Temporary orders can influence the ultimate outcome of a divorce or custody proceeding dramatically. In this episode, Holly Draper will provide a list of very important things to make sure you include in your preparation for and in your appearance at a temporary orders hearing.

. Divorces can be complicated enough, but what happens when there is a child with special needs involved?  This episode will help you identify issues that you might never have encountered before and give you practical solutions for approaching these in your negotiations and at trial. In this episode, Monica Peters, partner at Neal Peters Law, shares insights from her years of experience dealing wi...

AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s changing the legal landscape right now. But what does that mean for solos, small firms, and the future of legal practice? If you’re a family lawyer (or any lawyer who wants to thrive in the age of AI), this episode will surprise you with practical, actionable insights. In this episode, Carolyn Elefant, founder of the Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant and myshingle.com, r...

It’s one of the biggest headaches for family lawyers—but ignoring it won’t make it go away. What do you really need to know about handling cases with pro se litigants in Texas family courts? In this episode, Amy Rod, Board Certified Family Law Attorney at Paul Webb, PC, unpacks the surprising rise of self-represented parties and reveals battle-tested strategies for navigating the ethical and pract...

Most lawyers don’t realize there’s a hidden pitfall that could instantly doom their appeal after trial… Missing a single post-judgment deadline could cost your client everything—and it’s more common than you think. In this episode, Holly Draper takes you behind the scenes on the nitty-gritty of findings of fact and conclusions of law in Texas family law—revealing the overlooked rules that can make...

Every Texas family lawyer dreads the moment when critical evidence gets tossed out—often with little warning. But what if you could master the rule that makes or breaks your courtroom strategy? Get ready to discover the overlooked details and hidden pitfalls of Rule 193.6. In this episode, Holly Draper and Emily Doron from The Draper Law Firm unveil the real-world intricacies of evidentiary exclus...

Most mediations are doomed before they even start—not because of conflict, but because of a lack of preparation. Ever wonder why some family law mediations go smoothly while others spiral into chaos and confusion? In this episode, Holly Draper and Carrie Tapia, Board Certified Family Lawyers and Partners at the Draper Law Firm, pull back the curtain on the art of mediation prep for family law case...

When family law meets cultural and generational traditions, divorce gets far more complicated than you might expect… Uncover the unique challenges, complexities, and cultural dynamics at play when South Asian families navigate divorce in Texas. In this episode, Yasmin Kutty, Founding Partner of Kutty Guajardo Khoury Family Law, PLLC, and Shailey Gupta-Brietzke, Principal Owner of Shailey Gupta-Bri...

Dealing with difficult personalities isn't just a challenge in family law—it’s an art form. What if you could master communication strategies that turn chaos into progress, even in the most high-conflict cases? Unlock powerful tools to transform your approach, your client relationships, and your peace of mind. In this episode, Christina Hollwarth, founding attorney at Hollwarth Law Firm, dives dee...

Five years after the Texas Supreme Court’s landmark decision in In re C.J.C. , the Texas legislature has made some big changes when it comes to parent vs. non-parent cases. Find out what every family law practitioner and parent needs to know about the changes to the law that took effect on September 1, 2025. In this episode, Holly Draper, CEO and Managing Partner of The Draper Law Firm, unpacks sw...

Ever wondered how high-stakes family law cases can sidestep the chaos and scrutiny of the public courtroom? What if the oldest form of alternative dispute resolution in Texas offered a hidden path to both privacy and faster justice? In this episode, Judge Roy Ferguson, retired Texas District Judge and current private judge and arbitrator, sits down with attorney Holly Draper to unravel the world o...

Sometimes, a courtroom decision quietly rewrites the rules for thousands of Texas families—until a landmark case rips the lid off the status quo. What does it mean for parental rights and protective orders when the Texas Supreme Court steps in? In this episode, Holly Draper dives deep into Stary v. Ethridge—her recent Texas Supreme Court case that shakes up the standards for long-term protective o...

Going through a divorce or separation is never easy, especially when it comes to co-parenting. Imagine an app that can streamline communication, reduce conflicts, and serve as a reliable record in court. In this episode, Rebecca Perra, Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator and Judicial and Legal Education Coordinator for OurFamilyWizard, delves into the ways this innovative tool can transform c...