Source: https://www.dallastxdivorce.com/2018/07/articles/children-and-parenting/modification/significant-impairment-standard-applies-when-the-primary-conservator-seeks-to-vacate-a-geographic-restriction-within-one-year/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 04:08:58+00:00

Document:
“If a suit seeking to modify the designation of the person having the exclusive right to designate the primary residence of a child is filed not later than one year after the earlier of the date of the rendition of the order or the date of the signing of a mediated or collaborative law settlement agreement on which the order is based, the person filing the suit shall execute and attach an affidavit as provided by Subsection (b).
What if a primary conservator files suit within one year to vacate a geographic restriction? Must she file allege a significant impairment by affidavit per (b)(1) above? Or can she consent to the suit without meeting the elevated standard per (b)(2)?
The Fort Worth Court of Appeals conclusively addressed this argument and held that where a parent who has the exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child within a defined geographic area seeks to vacate that geographic restriction within one year of the prior order, that parent must allege significant impairment under §156.102(b)(1). In re A.S.M., 172 S.W.3d 710, 713–14 (Tex. App. – 2005, no pet.).
In A.S.M., the Mother was appointed as the parent with the exclusive right to establish the child’s primary residence within Tarrant and continuous counties. Id. at 712. One month following the entry of the divorce decree, Mother sought to modify the order by vacating the geographic restriction. Id. She argued that she was excused from complying with 156.102(b)(1)’s significant impairment standard because she was the primary conservator filing suit under 156.102(b)(2). Id. Father sought dismissal of her cause of action and sanctions for frivolous filing. Id. The trial court agreed with Father, dismissed Mother’s suit for modification filed within one year of the prior order, and awarded sanctions against Mother. Id. at 713. Mother appealed.
Id. at 716, hn 6, citing Tex. Fam. Code. §153.001; R.C.S., 167 S.W.3d at 148; Burkhart v. Burkhart, 960 S.W.2d 321, 323 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, pet. denied); Mobley v. Mobley, 684 S.W.2d 226, 229 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1985, writ dism’d).
The Fort Worth Court of Appeals conclusively held that a suit to modify and vacate a geographic restriction brought by the person having the right to determine the child’s primary residence falls within §156.102(a), requiring an affidavit and initial showing of significant impairment to proceed and subject to dismissal without such.
Id. at 716. Therefore, the Mother was required to file an affidavit alleging significant impairment with her petition/amended petition. Id. The trial court acted properly in dismissing Mother’s suit where no significant impairment was alleged to support vacating a geographic restriction.
Plus, attorney’s fees are mandatory where the modification is dismissed. Where a suit for modification is brought for the sole purpose of harassment, the trial court has authority to award attorney’s fees to the responding party. Tex. Fam. Code §156.005. Specifically, where a party fails to meet the initial pleading requirements of §156.102 showing a significant impairment which results in dismissal of the suit for modification, attorney’s fees are warranted. The Houston 14th Court of Appeals applied §156.005’s mandate to award of attorney’s fees to a dismissal for failure to file a §156.102 affidavit in a modification suit. Stashak v. Stashak, 2003 WL 21230406, at *3 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, no pet.). Further, such attorney fee award must be taxed as court costs and subject to collection as such. Tex. Fam. Code §156.005.

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