Author: Amy Gustafson
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What Is an Abstract of Judgment in Texas?
If you have won a lawsuit—or have been sued and a judgment was entered against you—you may hear the term abstract of judgment. For many people, it sounds technical and confusing. In reality, it serves a simple purpose: it can help turn a court judgment into a public lien against certain real property. For non-lawyers, Read more
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Forcible Detainer in Texas: What It Is, When It’s Used, and How the Process Works
If you are dealing with an eviction issue in Texas, you may hear the term forcible detainer. This is the legal process commonly used to remove a tenant or occupant who refuses to leave after their right to stay has ended. Need legal advice? Having trouble finding answers to your legal questions? Amy can help! What Read more
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Texas Squatter Law (SB 38): What Property Owners Need to Know
If you’ve heard about Texas’s new “squatter law,” here’s the simple version: it gives residential property owners a faster way to remove certain unauthorized occupants without going through the normal eviction process. Need legal advice? Having trouble finding answers to your legal questions? Amy can help! In Texas, this law is tied to Chapter 24B Read more
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Unpaid On-Call Time in Texas: What Hourly Employees Need to Know
If your employer expects you to answer calls, texts, emails, or work messages after hours—but does not pay you for that time—you may have legal rights. Need legal advice? Having trouble finding answers to your legal questions? Amy can help! For many hourly employees in Texas, being “always available” can lead to unpaid overtime, off-the-clock work, and Read more
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Special Exceptions in Texas: What They Are, When They Are Used, and Why They Matter
If you are involved in a lawsuit in Texas, you may hear your lawyer mention a special exception. The term sounds technical, but the basic idea is straightforward: it is a formal way to tell the court that the other side’s pleading is too vague, incomplete, or legally defective. In Texas civil litigation, a special exception Read more
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Tenant FAQ: When Can I Sue My Landlord in Texas?
In Texas, tenants can bring several kinds of lawsuits against landlords, including statutory claims for failure to repair dangerous conditions, retaliation, wrongful lockout or utility shutoff, and security-deposit violations, as well as certain common-law claims such as wrongful eviction and, in some situations, premises-liability claims. Tenants may also sue for housing discrimination, including disability-based discrimination Read more
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Texas Moves Closer to Federal Standard on Summary Judgment
In 2026, Texas implemented significant changes to its summary judgment procedures, most notably by imposing strict deadlines for scheduling hearings and issuing rulings on summary judgment motions, as well as introducing new reporting requirements for courts. Additionally, the Texas Supreme Court has further revised Rule 166a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, with a Read more
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Explaining the Texas Civil Courts
Texas has several different trial and appellate courts that can handle civil cases (lawsuits about money, property, contracts, injuries, family matters, and similar non-criminal disputes). Which court your case belongs in depends mainly on: Need legal advice? Having trouble finding answers to your legal questions? Amy can help! The Ladder: Trial courts vs. Appellate courts Read more
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Texas’s Transphobic Law Suffers Key Defeat in Federal Court
Earlier this month, the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Texas granted a preliminary injunction in GSA Network v. Morath, No. 4:25-CV-04090, 2026 WL 483018 (S.D. Tex. Feb. 20, 2026) blocking enforcement of the key provisions of Texas Senate Bill 12 (SB 12) by Houston ISD, Katy ISD, and Plano ISD. Need legal Read more
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What to consider before agreeing to an arbitration clause in a Texas contract
Texas law strongly favors the enforcement of arbitration agreements, treating them as contracts subject to the same principles that govern other contracts. To be enforceable, an arbitration clause must be part of a valid, written agreement that satisfies the elements of contract formation—offer, acceptance, mutual assent, consideration, and, where required, execution and delivery. Once a Read more