Low-income and immigrant families frequently rely on informal caregiving arrangements when parents face medical emergencies, immigration issues, or economic instability. Without written authority, caregivers may be unable to enroll children in school, consent to medical care, or access services that support the child’s wellbeing. This session will introduce delegations of parental authority under Chapters 34 and 35 of the Texas Family Code and explore how these tools can help families create more stable caregiving arrangements. Presenters will also discuss how Community Justice Workers, non-lawyer advocates, can collaborate with legal teams to work closely with families and help identify when these tools are appropriate, support families in understanding their options, and connect caregiver households with public benefits and other resources that support children.
This session will delve into the intricacies of representing nonparents caring for children. The two common topics discussed will be Nonparent Authorization Agreements (NPAAs) and Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCRs). Legal aid attorneys commonly receive requests from grandparents, aunts and uncles, adult siblings, and other relatives requesting legal assistance after they experience roadblocks while caring for a child. NPAAs are a common “kincare” (kinship care) tool used in Texas, but SAPCRs may also be an option. Knowing the differences between and the requirements of both allows attorneys to better evaluate their nonparent clients’ cases.
Family Clinic Staff Attorney, St. Mary's Center for Legal and Social Justice
Stephanie Medellin is the staff attorney for the Family Law Clinic at the Center for Legal and Social Justice at St. Mary’s University School of Law. Stephanie represents clients in divorce, adoption, name change, and probate cases in court. She also co-teaches clinic seminar... Read More →
This session will focus on both mandatory and permissive venue selection for family law filings in the State of Texas with a specific focus on strategies to improve success. The session will also include consideration and tips when representing survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. It will also include recent updates and changes to venue law from new statutes and case law. Participants will be given real world examples where they will select which outcome they think is preferable followed by group discussion regarding their choice.
I manage a few of the folks who work with LASSA (Legal Aid for Survivors of Sexual Assault) funding. I have been with LANWT for about 12 years and prior to that I was an elementary school teacher.
Thursday September 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am CDT Grand Salons DE
Legal Aid attorneys often encounter child support, possession/access, or property order enforcement issues, even when grant restrictions prevent them from handling the enforcement itself. Understanding the basics is essential for giving sound legal advice. This session provides a streamlined overview of enforcement and contempt from the perspectives of the movant, respondent, and judge. Topics include drafting clear orders, pleading willful violations, proper service, and knowing when clarification is required. The panel will also cover key defensive strategies—service defects, affirmative defenses, verified denials, special exceptions, directed verdicts, and double jeopardy issues. Judges will conclude with practical guidance on presenting and defending enforcement actions and discuss alternatives when an order cannot be enforced.
Protective Orders (POs) in Texas never seem to stop evolving, and legal aid practitioners can quickly become PO experts, as they are the ones commonly filing these cases and assisting survivors of violence and trauma. This session will provide any new legal aid attorney with the tools and knowledge to see a PO case from start to finish. Seasoned PO practitioners may find that the session offers much-needed reminders, updates on new cases and legislation, and helpful tips and tricks.
Family Clinic Staff Attorney, St. Mary's Center for Legal and Social Justice
Stephanie Medellin is the staff attorney for the Family Law Clinic at the Center for Legal and Social Justice at St. Mary’s University School of Law. Stephanie represents clients in divorce, adoption, name change, and probate cases in court. She also co-teaches clinic seminar... Read More →
You may not think of yourself as an international family law attorney, but you may already be handling cross-border custody disputes. Domestic violence survivors and immigrant families frequently encounter situations where international borders complicate custody, visitation, and safety planning. Parents may flee another country seeking protection in Texas, while others may face allegations of wrongful removal or retention under international law.
This session, presented by attorneys from the Binational Project on Family Violence at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, will provide an overview of two of the most important legal frameworks governing international child custody disputes: the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA).
Attendees will learn how Hague Convention proceedings operate in both incoming and outgoing cases, including available remedies, defenses frequently raised in domestic violence contexts, and issue spotting in potential international abduction cases. The presentation will also cover the registration and enforcement of foreign custody orders in Texas courts under the UCCJEA, including practical guidance for drafting pleadings, preparing evidence and navigating common challenges in enforcement litigation.
This session aims to demystify international custody litigation and equip advocates with practical tools they can use in representing a parent involved in cross-border custody litigation.
This session offers a deep dive into the real-world collaboration between social workers, advocates, attorneys, and families. We will share direct experiences from the field, illustrating how social work intervention acts as a vital "gateway" to services that run alongside and beyond the legal process.
Our discussion focuses on the tactical side of partnership: how we can effectively back each other up both in the courtroom and during day-to-day advocacy. We will tackle the essential challenge of setting boundaries, ensuring every professional has a clear lane and a defined role as the case unfolds.
