What is due diligence in Texas family law cases?
This question has been addressed in 2 Texas court opinions:
Leslie Parrish v. The State of Texas
COA14 — February 3, 2026
In Parrish v. State, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals addressed whether a seven-year delay in executing an arrest warrant barred the revocation of community supervision. The appellant asserted a "due diligence" defense; however, the court held that this statutory defense is strictly limited to violations for failure to report or failure to remain in a specified location. Because the State proved a separate violation—failure to provide written employment verification—the court affirmed the revocation, noting that a single proven violation is sufficient. Additionally, the court modified the judgment to remove a fine that was included in the written order but never orally pronounced by the judge, confirming that the oral pronouncement controls in the event of a conflict.
Litigation Takeaway
“A single technical violation of court-ordered supervision, such as failing to provide employment paperwork, is enough to support a revocation regardless of "due diligence" defenses on other counts. Always cross-reference the court's oral ruling against the written judgment to ensure no unauthorized fines or conditions were added.”
In Re Marisol Garza
COA13 — January 29, 2026
In a contract dispute that lasted over eleven years, the defendant moved for dismissal for want of prosecution after a 46-month period of total inactivity by the plaintiff. The trial court denied the motion, but the Thirteenth Court of Appeals conditionally granted mandamus relief. The appellate court analyzed Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 165a and the court's inherent power, determining that the burden to prosecute a case rests solely on the plaintiff. The court held that the trial court abused its discretion because the plaintiff failed to show good cause for the extensive delays, and the COVID-19 pandemic did not justify a nearly four-year lapse in activity.
Litigation Takeaway
“Don't let 'zombie' litigation linger; if an opposing party files a suit to secure temporary orders and then abandons the case for years, you can force a dismissal. The duty to move a case forward belongs entirely to the person who filed it, and even significant events like the COVID-19 pandemic do not excuse years of total inactivity.”