The Texas Court of Appeals has upheld a divorce decree in the case of Austin Paris v. Alexandra Paris, affirming restrictions on parental access and awarding attorney's fees to the wife. The ruling, issued on June 25, 2026, affects Austin Paris, who represented himself in the appeal, and his ex-wife Alexandra Paris, who is now known as Alexandra Wood. The case highlights the court's focus on the best interests of the children involved.
The dispute arose after the couple, who married in May 2019, separated in October 2023. Alexandra filed for divorce and sought a protective order, alleging a history of family violence and substance abuse by Austin. The trial court's decision included limiting Austin's access to their three children, awarding Alexandra significant attorney's fees, and granting her a judgment for damages to a community vehicle. These decisions were challenged by Austin in the appeal.
In the appeal, Austin Paris raised three main issues. First, he argued that the trial court abused its discretion by restricting his access to the children, claiming there was no evidence of family violence against them. Second, he contested the award of $37,738.59 in attorney's fees to Alexandra. Finally, he challenged the $10,000 judgment for damages to a community-owned vehicle awarded to Alexandra. The court, however, found that the trial court acted within its discretion in all matters.
The court ruled that the trial court had sufficient evidence to restrict Austin's access to the children based on findings of family violence and substance abuse. The ruling emphasized that the best interests of the children are paramount in custody matters. The court stated, "The trial court determined that it was in the Children’s best interests to prohibit Husband from having any in-person contact with them until the protective order expired." This decision was based on testimony from a psychological evaluator and evidence of past abusive behavior.
Regarding the attorney's fees, the court found that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in awarding Alexandra the fees, as the evidence presented supported the reasonableness of the amount. The court noted that the trial court had the discretion to award attorney's fees in divorce proceedings, and the evidence provided by Alexandra's counsel was sufficient to support the award.
In addressing the judgment for damages to the Toyota Tundra, the court ruled that there was adequate evidence to support the $10,000 judgment despite Austin's claims that the repair costs were lower. The court highlighted that Alexandra's testimony regarding the vehicle's diminished value and additional damages was credible and supported the trial court's decision.
This ruling sets a precedent for similar divorce cases, particularly those involving allegations of family violence and substance abuse. It underscores the importance of protecting children's welfare in custody disputes and affirms the trial court's discretion in awarding attorney's fees and determining property division.
Looking ahead, Austin Paris has the option to appeal this decision to the Texas Supreme Court, although it is unclear if he will pursue that route. There are no related cases pending that would affect this ruling directly.