Appealing a Court’s Ruling on the Division of Property in a Divorce Case
Upon granting a divorce, a trial court must order the division of the parties’ community property and determine any claims for reimbursement by any of the martial estates in a manner it deems “just and right.” TEX. FAM. CODE ANN §§ 7.001, 7.007; see also Vallone v. Vallone, 644 S.W.2d 455, 459 (Tex. 1982). The party claiming the right of reimbursement bears the burden of pleading and providing the expenditures were made and are reimbursable. Chavez v. Chavez, 269 S.W3d 763, 768 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.). For purposes of the division of the parties’ community estate, community property consists of property, other than separate property, acquired by either spouse during marriage. TEX. FAM. CODE 3.002. Separate property consists of property owned or claimed by either spouse before marriage.
In the case below, I go over what the law is for the division of property challenges on appeals and why the court affirmed the trial court’s decision.