Court Opinion

ID: 9659671
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 21:52:04.202169+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:10.614631
License: Public Domain

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
By his motion for rehearing Mr. Knigh-ton raises one issue that requires attention *723by the Court. He contends the reversal, if there must be one, should be limited to that portion of the trial court’s judgment decreeing conservatorship of the minor children, because that was the only contested issue brought to this Court. In her response, Mrs. Knighton agrees. We also agree and amend our opinion as specified below.
It is clear that a trial court cannot divide a divorce case into various segments and enter separate, appealable, judgments for each piece. Marriage of Johnson, 595 S.W.2d 900, 902-03 (Tex.Civ.App.—Amarillo 1980, writ ref’d n.r.e.). On appeal, however, the appellate court may affirm the divorce decree, and sever and order a retrial of property issues, McKnight v. McKnight, 543 S.W.2d 863, 864, 868 (Tex.1976); Roach v. Roach, 672 S.W.2d 524, 532 (Tex.App.—Amarillo 1984, no writ), or conservatorship issues. Lipshy v. Lipshy, 525 S.W.2d 222, 223-24 (Tex.Civ.App.—Dallas 1975, writ dism’d).
Accordingly, Mr. Knighton's motion for rehearing is granted to the extent that the portion of the trial court’s judgment granting the divorce and dividing the marital property of the parties is affirmed. The portion of the trial court’s judgment determining conservatorship of the minor children of the parties is reversed and the case is remanded for retrial of all issues pertinent to conservatorship, possession and support of the children. In all other respects, Mr. Knighton’s motion for rehearing is overruled.