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 Podcast, Holly visits with Bradley Craig, a licensed social worker, certified family life educator, an expert in the field of parenting facilitation, and author of Between Two Homes, a Co-Parenting Handbook for Parents and Attorneys.

In this episode you will discover:

• The difference between Cooperative and Parallel Co-Parenting
• The importance of avoiding and/or addressing Conflicted Co-Parenting
• The characteristics of High Conflict relationships in terms of parenting
• The benefit of involving  a parenting facilitator
• Resources available to you and your clients to help with the co-parenting process
• The financial benefit to your clients for investing in healthy co-parenting practices

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 this format.

In this episode you will discover:
-The advantages and challenges that operating a virtual firm presents
-How to maintain office culture when there is no office
-The necessity of process development and training to ensure efficient and effective representation.
-Practical advice for starting and growing your practice

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 intersection of family law and special education, explaining why family lawyers must understand IDEA, IEPs, and 504 plans when representing families with special needs children. Sharon shares practical advice on drafting orders, avoiding common pitfalls like appointing tiebreakers, and knowing when to bring in a special education attorney. 

In this episode you’ll discover:

• The basics of Special Education law and the differences between IDEA and Section 504 
• The necessity of assigning educational rights to one parent and the potential pitfalls when they are not 
• How to advocate properly with the judge when there are special education issues at hand 
• Who should and should not be making Special Education-related decisions 

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.

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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 with these difficult issues both professionally as a family lawyer and personally as the parent of a child with special needs.

You’ll discover…

• How every situation is unique and why they need to be approached without a one-size fits all mentality
• Things that you will need to consider which will help you identify the specific needs of the child or children involved.
• How the special needs may necessitate creative solutions and impact the final orders
• How to admit pertinent expert input and testimony, even when there are strict time limits in the court
• Important financial considerations for care beyond childhood that must be taken into consideration

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, reveals how solo and small firm lawyers can harness AI to transform their law practices, streamline operations, and stay competitive—without needing to code or become a tech guru.

You’ll discover…

• The single mindset shift that makes AI adoption easy for even the most tech-averse attorneys
• A clever method to “train” AI so it actually understands your firm’s language and processes
• Why AI might help you escape the billable hour grind—and what that means for your revenue model
• The #1 mistake lawyers make with AI (and why it could land you in hot water)
• Simple automations you can set up to finally take control of email overload and daily busywork

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 practical challenges these cases bring.

You’ll discover…

• Why up to 85% of divorces in some Texas courts now feature at least one unrepresented party
• The rule all attorneys must know before talking to a pro se litigant—and the most common mistake lawyers make
• Which resources you can share without crossing ethical lines, and where most lawyers slip up
• Communication tips that will safeguard you (and your client) against future headaches
• How empathy and professionalism can actually speed up settlements—even when the process gets frustrating

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 or break your case (and your reputation).

You’ll discover…

• Why filing proposed findings before trial won’t shield you from critical post-judgment deadlines.
• The little-known mistakes that sabotage even seasoned trial lawyers on appeal.
• What happens behind the bench when judges delegate drafting findings—and how it could impact your client.
• The counterintuitive strategy for drafting findings when you’re on the losing side of the case.
• How missing a single day can doom your appeal—no matter how strong your arguments are.

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 exclusion under Rule 193.6 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, revealing common traps, key exceptions, and judgment calls that could change the outcome of your case.

You’ll discover…

• The surprising ways evidence can be excluded—even if you think you’re playing by the rules
• The overlooked “exceptions” that judges scrutinize before letting excluded evidence back in
• How minor mistakes in deadlines or disclosures can snowball into appellate nightmares
• The practical tactics attorneys use to protect their record—and their clients—when things go sideways
• Why relying on the statute alone can land you in trouble, and what seasoned trial lawyers do differently

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 cases—and reveal why thoughtful groundwork (not luck) is the real secret to successful settlements.

You’ll discover…

• The surprising (and expensive) mistake lawyers make that can derail a mediation before it begins
• Why timing your mediation could make or break your client’s outcome—and what factors you should really consider
• How to use inventories, spreadsheets, and checklists for maximum negotiation power
• Which simple mindset shift can help set client expectations (and protect morale) before mediation day
• The behind-the-scenes strategies top attorneys use to ensure mediators arrive fully briefed and ready for action