Lawrence Batton v. Linda Batton

In The

Court of Appeals

Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont

__________________

NO. 09-22-00312-CV
__________________

LAWRENCE BATTON, Appellant

V.

LINDA BATTON, Appellee

__________________________________________________________________

On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 3
Montgomery County, Texas
Trial Cause No. 19-02-01828-CV
__________________________________________________________________

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Pro se Appellant Lawrence Batton (“Lawrence” or “Batton”) appeals the trial

court’s post-divorce enforcement order requiring him to vacate his marital residence

and ordering a receiver to sell the residence and split the proceeds according to the

trial court’s prior orders. Batton complains about the trial court’s failure to: (1)

consider his motion to enforce and follow the original settlement agreement in the

Agreed Final Decree of Divorce; (2) consider the substance of his pro se motions;

and (3) consider the cumulative nature of remedies provided by the Texas Family

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Code and allow his reimbursement claim to reach an equitable resolution. Batton

also complains the trial court erred by appointing a receiver, entering an enforcement

order that modified, altered, or changed the original settlement agreement

incorporated into the Agreed Final Decree of Divorce, and entering an order

disposing of real property without a correct street address and complete legal

description. For the reasons explained below, we affirm the trial court’s order in part

and reverse and remand in part.

BACKGROUND

In 2019, after Appellee Linda Batton (“Linda”) filed an Original Petition of

Divorce, Linda and Lawrence reached an Agreed Final Decree of Divorce (“the

Decree”), which included a mediated settlement agreement that awarded Lawrence

the parties’ marital residence located at 122 W. Elm Crescent (“the Property”).

Under the mediated settlement agreement, the parties agreed the Property would be

sold “no earlier than August 1, 2020, for the best agreed price” and they agreed that

the “parties [would] split the net proceeds after all expenses and or off-setting values

have been deducted.” The Decree authorized Lawrence to sell the Property and to

recover his fair and reasonable expenses for maintaining the residence until the date

the Property was sold or the existing mortgage to the Property was assumed, and

made Linda “responsible for one-half of expenses to maintain the marital residence.”

Under the Decree, each party was entitled to “one-half (50%) of net value after the

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deduction of all reasonable and or necessary expenses” that Lawrence incurred in

maintaining the Property. To the extent there were differences between the terms in

the mediated settlement agreement and the Decree, the trial court’s Decree provides

that “this Final Decree of Divorce shall control in all instances.”

The Decree also addressed who was required to pay the mortgage and taxes

on the Property in 2017 and 2018, as it required Lawrence to pay those. The terms

of the Decree also required Lawrence to pay “all recurring utilities and or expenses

associated” with the Property. The Decree imposed a duty on Linda to participate in

paying the debt due on the mortgage and the cost and expenses on the Property “from

May 1, 2019.” An indemnity clause in the Decree required the party that assumed a

new debt, obligation, or liability to hold the other party harmless from any damages

that might arise from the liability created by the party that created the new obligation

or debt. The parties had one minor child that under the Decree they were mutually

obligated to support, but the Decree includes a provision that allowed Linda an

"adjustments for the sale proceeds of the real property to recover all associated costs

or expenses" of supporting their minor child. The Decree allows the court “to make

orders necessary to clarify and enforce this decree.”

In August 2020, Linda filed a Petition for Enforcement and Relief Under

Chapter 9 of the Texas Family Code, alleging Lawrence violated the Decree by

failing to pay the Property’s mortgage payments and property taxes. Linda sought a

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money judgment under section 9.010 of the Texas Family Code due to Lawrence’s

alleged breach of the Decree, which she claimed diminished her credit score and

caused late fees and expenses to be applied to the Property’s mortgage balance. In

the alternative, Linda asked the trial court to clarify the Decree by specifying the

time and place for Lawrence to pay the mortgage payment and taxes and to establish

the terms and manner for selling the marital home on a date after August 1, 2020.

Linda alleged that Lawrence refused to list the Property for sale or refinance, and

due to Wells Fargo Mortgage issuing a Notice of Default, she asked the trial court

to appoint a receiver to sell the Property, as required by the Decree and to avoid

foreclosure. Linda attached correspondence from Wells Fargo Home Mortgage,

including the February 11, 2020, Notice of Default, which required $4,466.90 to be

paid by March 19, 2020, and a July 16, 2020, Statement, which noting a total amount

due to bring the payment on the mortgage current of $12,253.90.

On October 5, 2020, Lawrence, acting pro se, filed Defendant’s Answer,

entering a general denial and claiming he paid the principal, interest, and property

taxes in full. He claimed the dispute over the escrow was with Wells Fargo and that

the process for the sale of the Property was supposed to start in August after their

daughter moved out and both parties obtained appraisals. Lawrence filed a Motion

for Continuance and Notice of Hearing, asking for time to obtain legal advice and

mediate the matter, but the record does not show that he set a hearing for his Motion.

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On November 9, 2020, Linda filed a Motion for Appointment of Receiver,

stating it was necessary to appoint a receiver because the parties could not agree on

the terms of sale for the Property, and the Decree did not include a procedure for

selling the Property in the event the parties disagreed. The case was set for

Pretrial/Docket Call on March 23, 2021, and Lawrence filed a second Motion for

Continuance on March 19, 2021, claiming he resolved his issues with Wells Fargo,

but the parties could not mediate due to conflicting schedules. Lawerence did not set

his Motion for hearing. On March 24, 2021, Lawrence filed a Designation of

Attorney in Charge, stating all communication should be sent to his attorney.

On April 1, 2021, the parties reached a Mediated Final Orders Settlement

Agreement (“2021 MSA”). The 2021 MSA specifically provided: (1) Lawrence

shall immediately refinance the house “as is[;]” (2) Linda’s portion of the refinanced

value shall be $126,500; (3) Lawrence shall pay Linda $35,000 as a portion of her

$126,500 payment on or before April 8, 2021; (4) Lawrence shall close on the

refinance by July 1, 2021, or the house shall be listed for sale no later than 5:00 p.m.

July 2, 2021; (5) Larry Rice shall be appointed to manage the sale of the property;

and (6) Linda shall receive $91,500 at closing. Linda filed a Motion to Sign and

Enter Agreed Order on Enforcement and Relief Under Chapter 9 of the Texas Family

Code Based on Mediated Settlement Agreement “so that the terms of the order can

be enforced.” Lawrence did not sign the Agreed Order and complained it did not

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reflect the 2021 MSA, and the trial court agreed, finding there were ambiguities in

the proposed Agreed Order.

On May 7, 2021, the trial court granted Lawrence’s Motion for Withdrawal

of Counsel, in which he stated he wanted to represent himself. On May 19, 2021,

Lawrence filed a third Motion for Continuance, stating he needed to hire a lawyer to

address the trial court’s recommendations and concerns over issues raised by the

2021 MSA, and the Motion was set for a hearing. On June 3, 2021, the trial court

signed an Order Referring Parties to Return to Mediation to resolve drafting disputes

between the Proposed Order on Enforcement and Relief Under Chapter 9 of the

Texas Family Code Based on Mediated Settlement Agreement and the signed 2021

MSA. Lawrence filed a Motion of Opposition to the Order Referring Parties to

Return to Mediation, complaining Linda failed to follow the protocols for resolving

disputes with the mediator who facilitated the settlement. Lawrence also filed a

Motion for Reconsideration, but neither Motion was set for a hearing.

On June 10, 2021, the parties returned to mediation, and the mediator drafted

an Arbitration Decision and Award addressing the issue of the amount of net

proceeds each party should receive from the sale of the marital residence if the net

proceeds exceed or are less than $91,500. After considering the parties’ testimony,

the mediator determined that if the net proceeds from the sale exceeded $91,500,

Lawrence would be awarded the funds exceeding $91,500. In the event the net

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proceeds from the sale were less than $91,500, the mediator awarded Linda 100%

of the net proceeds from the sale.

Linda filed a Motion to Sign and Enter Order on Enforcement and Relief

Under Chapter 9 of the Texas Family Code Based on Mediated Settlement

Agreement and Arbitrator’s Award. Lawrence filed a Motion to Vacate the

Arbitrator’s Award, explaining that disputes arose over financial expenses that the

Decree obligated Linda to pay, but Linda’s attempt to avoid her financial obligations

during mediation resulted in an impasse. Lawrence complained the mediator started

a mediation but attempted to conclude it as an arbitration hearing and presented a

non-binding Arbitration and Decision Award, which was rejected as outside the

mediator’s scope. Lawrence explained he wanted an equitable resolution that met

the contracted issues and divisions in the Decree and welcomed the trial court’s

intervention to resolve the remaining issues on the agreed expenses addressed in the

Decree.

On June 22, 2021, the trial court signed an Order on Enforcement and Relief

Under Chapter 9 of the Texas Family Code (“2021 Enforcement Order”). In the June

2021 Order, the trial court found: (1) the parties entered into a Mediated Settlement

Agreement on April 1, 2021; (2) the terms of the Order on Enforcement and Relief

Under Chapter 9 of the Texas Family Code were reached in mediation and were

merged into the Mediated Settlement Agreement; and (3) the Order of Enforcement

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controlled to the extent there were any differences in the documents. Based on those

findings, the trial court: (1) ordered Lawrence to refinance the residence “as is” no

later than July 1, 2021; (2) awarded Linda $126,500 as her “portion of the refinanced

value” of the Property, and required Lawrence to pay her $35,0000 of that amount

by April 8, 2021, and the rest, $91,500, at closing; (3) declared that should Lawrence

fail to refinance and close on the Property by July 1, 2021, required the parties to list

the house for sale by July 2, 2021 with an agreed realtor at an agreed upon price; (4)

appointed Larry Rice as receiver effective July 2, 2021 to manage the Property’s

sale; (5) awarded Lawrence all net proceeds from the sale to the extent they exceeded

$91,500; and (6) declared that if the net proceeds of the Property’s sale were less

than $91,500, awarded Linda 100% of the sale’s net proceeds.

On July 6, 2021, Lawrence filed Respondent’s Motion to Vacate and or Set

Aside Previous Post Decree Orders, Grant an Evidentiary Hearing and or

Reconsideration of Proceedings, arguing the 2021 MSA “never properly resolved all

disputes, interpretations, or performances contained in the Decree,” including

Linda’s obligations to pay her portion of the payments, taxes, and insurance.

Lawrence complained that Linda refused to accept the final payment of her portion

of the net proceeds and transfer and close on the Property, and he requested an

evidentiary hearing to determine the equitable property rights under the Decree so

he could pay Linda the agreed current value of her fifty percent share subject to their

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agreement to share in payment of expenses for the mortgage, insurance, and taxes.

Lawrence argued that Linda’s claims of continued liability for the Wells Fargo

Mortgage was a material misrepresentation of fact since after closing, her mortgage

obligations would terminate. Lawrence attached an email from Linda’s attorney,

stating Linda was not agreeable to his offer or payment and transfer of the Property

because she would “still be liable on the Wells Fargo mortgage,” and Linda wanted

to sell the Property as required by the 2021 Enforcement Order, which ordered the

Property to be listed for sale before 5:00 pm that day.

The Receiver, Larry Rice, filed Receiver’s Motion for Enforcement and For

Clarification, stating Lawrence had not bought the Property by refinancing and was

unwilling to sell the Property. Rice explained he could not fulfill his duties because

Lawrence refused to sign the listing agreement with the realtor, who could not access

or show the Property because Lawrence still occupied it. Rice requested that the trial

court clarify his authority by ordering Lawrence to vacate the Property. Lawrence

filed Respondent’s Objection and Response to Receiver’s Motion for Enforcement

and for Clarification, arguing the trial court’s 2021 Enforcement Order could not be

enforced without violating the Decree and that the Receiver needed clarification on

Lawrence’s homestead and equity interests. Lawrence argued the Decree required

Linda to reimburse him for half the taxes, mortgage, and insurance he paid, and he

explained he was never afforded any reasonable opportunity to provide the closing

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despite obtaining an alternate payment remedy which mooted the necessity to sale

and only required Linda to relinquish her interests in the Property. Lawrence also

filed a Motion to Enforce the Provisions of the Decree, specifically Linda’s

agreement to pay half of the marital residence’s expenses, and he asked the trial

court to grant him credit for Linda’s half of the expenses. Lawrence filed a Motion

to Terminate the Receiver and Vacate Orders Due to Inherent Conflict and Stay

These Proceedings Pending Resolution of Motion to Enforce Decree, arguing the

receiver lacked neutrality and should be discharged because the trial court’s orders

regarding the receiver were mooted by his ability to pay Linda.

During the December 14, 2021 hearing, the parties testified that with the

Receiver’s assistance, they reached an agreement concerning the Property. Linda

testified that she and Lawrence agreed he would pay her $91,500 by February 15,

2022, or vacate the house in fourteen days and allow Rice to sell it. Linda testified

that if Lawrence paid her, she would sign the deed to him, and he could then sign a

deed of trust and assume the mortgage, which would allow her to make mortgage

payments and seek reimbursement should Lawrence fail to meet his obligations

under the mortgage. Linda explained that if Lawrence failed to timely reimburse her,

she could then by exercising her rights to foreclose on the Property. Linda also

explained that were Lawrence to timely pay her and sign the deed of trust, he would

be required to refinance the house in his name by October 1, 2022, and remove her

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from any obligation on the Property, or the trial court would order the house sold

and allow him to keep all proceeds from the sale. Lawrence testified that he agreed

to those terms.

The trial court discussed whether the agreement should be a clarification or

enforcement order, and when Linda asked whether the agreement could be modified

later, the trial court informed the parties she was unsure that

any of this could have been modified from your final decree but it has
been. So this is a clarification. So what it is doing is it’s just – it’s
clarifying the controlling order. It’s clarifying it but it sounds like
you’re changing it a little bit and – but y’all keep changing it. So I don’t
know. The legal procedure on this is murky at best.

The trial court’s Agreed Order of Enforcement and Clarification of Receiver’s

Obligations incorporated the terms of the parties’ agreement reached in open court

and read into the record, but neither Lawrence nor the trial judge signed the Order.

In May 2022, the trial court issued a Notice of Intent to Dismiss because the

case had been on file more than ninety days without service of citation being

perfected on any respondent and due to the case not being disposed of within the

time standards set by the Texas Supreme Court. Lawrence filed Respondent’s

Objection to the Court’s Notice of Intent to Dismiss and Verified Motion to Retain

this Matter and Request for Hearing Date and or Order Returning Matter to

Mediation. He explained that while acting pro se, he hand-delivered copies of his

filings on the date of filing, personally appeared and filed the current Motion,

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attempted to comply with all court directives about filing and serving motions, and

believed his hand-delivery was sufficient for service upon Linda’s counsel, who did

not object. Lawrence stated he believed in good faith that the matter would be set

once a response was filed or when the clerk was notified of an available court date.

Linda filed a Motion to Retain Case on Docket, Motion to Enter Agreed Order of

Enforcement and Clarification of Receiver’s Obligation, and Notice of Hearing On

Petitioner’s Motion. The trial court set the case for trial and set the Motion to

Remove Receiver for a hearing.

In June 2022, and prior to the hearing, Lawrence filed Respondent’s Objection

to Petitioner’s Motions and Notice of Hearing and to Deem Respondent’s Previous

Motions Confessed and Enter of Enforcement Order for Petitioner’s Obligations to

Pay Expenses and Vacate Any Order Appointing a Receiver. Lawrence alleged

among other things, that Linda refused to pay her half of the expenses for the

Property as she promised in the Decree. Lawrence filed an Order of Enforcement of

Petitioner’s Obligations to Pay Expenses and Calculation of Respondent’s

Obligations to Pay Balance of Equity and Vacation of Order Appointing Receiver,

and he attached a Resolution of Expenses and Payments, claiming an offset based

on Linda’s responsibility under the Decree to pay fifty percent of the expenses he

incurred on the Property to “preserve, maintain, and retain” their right of ownership

to the Property between October 2018 and July 2021. Lawrence claimed the

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reimbursement amount totaled $26,984.53, an amount that included principal and

interest payments, property taxes, insurance, and origination refinance fee.

Lawrence also filed a Motion for Continuance.

In July 2022, Linda filed Objections to Lawrence’s Motion to Vacate and Set

Aside Previous Post Decree Orders, which he filed on July 6, 2021, and she argued

the trial court lacked plenary power to act on his Motion, which was denied by

operation of law, because the trial judge signed the 2021 Enforcement Order on June

22, 2021. Lawrence filed Objections to Petitioner’s Motions, which included a

transcript showing the trial court vacated the arbitration award because it did not

order the parties to arbitration.

In August 2022, the trial court conducted a hearing on the Motion for

Enforcement and Clarification of Larry Rice as appointed Receiver and on Linda’s

and Lawrence’s reply briefs and motions. The trial court noted a final order of

enforcement of the Decree was signed and entered in June 2019, and that in July

2021, Lawrence filed a Motion to Vacate Post Decree Orders, but the Motion to

Vacate was never heard or ruled on. According to the trial court, it no longer had

plenary power over Lawrence’s motion seeking the reimbursement amount from

Linda based on the 50 percent share of the expenses that she was to pay under the

Decree to maintain the Property, so the court did not have jurisdiction to rule on

Lawrence’s July 2021 Motion in which Lawrence had asked the trial court to pay

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her 50 percent share toward the Property’s mortgage, taxes, and insurance. The trial

court denied Lawrence’s Motion to Vacate and/or Set Aside Previous Post Decree

Orders.

Also, in August 2022, the trial court denied Lawrence’s February 2022

Motion to Enforce the Provisions of the Decree, where he asked the trial court to

enforce the Decree’s 50-percent-contribution provision against Linda for the

expenses he incurred in maintaining the Property. During the hearing, the trial court

stated that because the June 2021 Enforcement Order “specifically addresse[d]” and

“governed” the sale of the Property, the trial court did not “have plenary power” to

address whether Linda had failed to comply with the obligations imposed on her by

that Order. Based on that, the trial court denied Lawrence’s Motion to Enforce the

Provisions of the Decree.

Next, during the August 2022 hearing, the trial court considered Lawrence’s

Motion to Terminate the Receiver and Vacate Orders Due to Inherent Conflict and

Stay These Proceedings Pending Resolution of Motion to Enforce Decree. Lawrence

argued that Linda and her attorney violated the 2021 MSA and that Linda rejected

his tender of payment. Linda’s counsel argued that Lawrence failed to meet terms of

the 2021 MSA as stated in the 2021 Enforcement Order because he failed to

refinance the Property, and the tendering of funds was not the complete requirement

to avoid the appointment of a receiver. Lawrence argued that he had paperwork to

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transfer the Property, but Linda refused to sign the origination loan and title. The

trial court denied Lawrence’s Motion to Terminate the Receiver and Vacate Orders.

As for the Motion for Enforcement and Clarification of Larry Rice as

appointed Receiver, during the August 2022 hearing, Rice explained that due to the

filings and contention, he needed the trial court’s intervention to sell the Property.

Rice requested an order requiring Lawrence to vacate the Property so the realtor

could show it. Lawrence claimed Linda rejected his tendered payment under the

2021 MSA and that the trial court would be enforcing a punitive order. The trial

court granted Rice’s Motion, and in its Order of Enforcement to Vacate Premises

and Order of Clarification of Receiver’s Obligations (“2022 Enforcement Order”),

the trial court ordered Lawrence to vacate the Property on or before October 31,

2022, or upon appeal, within thirty days of receiving notice of this Court’s opinion.

The trial court ordered the Receiver to sell the Property and split the proceeds

according to its prior orders. The trial court explained that if Lawrence appealed, its

2022 Enforcement Order would be abated until the appeal was resolved, and if the

appeal was not resolved in Lawrence’s favor, he would have thirty days to vacate.

Lawrence filed an Amended Motion to Reconsider and Motion to Objections

to Petitioner’s Orders, in which he complained the Petitioner’s draft orders failed to

note the trial court’s expiration of plenary power related to the denial of his motions.

On August 30, 2022, the trial court conducted a hearing on Lawrence’s Amended

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Motion to Reconsider, during which Lawrence requested the trial court conduct a

hearing on the Decree to settle the dispute over the offset of expenses. The trial court

denied Lawrence’s Motion to Reconsider. Lawrence appealed the trial court’s 2022

Enforcement Order.

ANALYSIS

In issue one, Lawrence contends the trial court erred by signing the Order On

Enforcement and Relief when the Order modified, altered, or changed the terms of

the parties’ mediated settlement agreement as they were incorporated into the

Decree. Specifically, Lawrence complains that the Order on Enforcement eliminated

Linda’s obligation under the terms of the Decree requiring Linda to reimburse him

for the expenses and costs that he incurred for maintaining the Property “from May

1, 2019.” Lawrence argues that Texas Family Code section 9.007 provides that an

enforcement order may not alter or change the substantive division of property, and

the trial court’s refusal to consider the Decree’s provisions in the enforcement action

that Linda filed materially altered the division of the marital property under the terms

of the Decree. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 9.007. According to Lawrence, the post-

divorce 2021 MSA is not relevant to the provision that requires Linda to share in the

expenses and costs incurred on the Property.

A mediated settlement agreement dissolving a marriage is binding when the

agreement:

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(1) provides, in a prominently displayed statement that is in boldfaced
type or capital letter or underlined, that the agreement is subject to
revocation;
(2) is signed by each party to the agreement, and

(3) is signed by the party’s attorney, if any, who is present at the time
the agreement is signed.

Id. § 6.602(b). A property settlement agreement approved by a divorce court and

incorporated into a final decree of divorce is treated as a contract and its legal force

and meaning are governed by the law of contracts. Allen v. Allen, 717 S.W.2d 311,

313 (Tex. 1986). When construing the parties’ agreement, the court’s primary

concern is to ascertain the parties’ true intent as expressed in the written instrument,

and in doing so the court may consider evidence of circumstances surrounding the

agreement’s execution. Coker v. Coker, 650 S.W.2d 391, 393–94 (Tex. 1983); Karp

v. Karp, No. 14-01-00902-CV, 2002 WL 31487899, at *2 (Tex. App.—Houston

[14th Dist.] Nov. 7, 2002, no pet.) (mem. op.).

A trial court that rendered a final decree of divorce retains power to enforce

the decree’s property division and to render a clarifying order setting forth specific

terms to enforce compliance. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 9.002, 9.006, 9.008;

Hagen v. Hagen, 282 S.W.3d 899, 902 (Tex. 2009); Gomez v. Gomez, 632 S.W.3d

4, 8 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2020, no pet.). We review a trial court’s ruling on a post-

divorce motion for enforcement of a divorce decree for abuse of discretion. See

Welch v. Welch, No. 09-16-00249-CV, 2018 WL 1747351, at *3 (Tex. App.—
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Beaumont Apr. 12, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op.); Gomez, 632 S.W.3d at 8. A trial court

abuses its discretion when it acts unreasonably, arbitrarily, or without reference to

any guiding rules or principles. Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d

238, 241–42 (Tex. 1985); Welch, 2018 WL 1747351, at *3 (citation omitted). When

no findings of fact or conclusions of law are requested or filed, we presume the trial

court made the findings necessary to support its judgment so long as the implied

findings are supported by the record. See Coleman v. Coleman, No. 09-06-171CV,

2007 WL 1793756, at *1 (Tex. App.—Beaumont June 21, 2007, pet. denied) (mem.

op.); Gomez, 632 S.W.3d at 8.

When enforcing a divorce decree, a trial court “may not amend, modify, alter,

or change” the property division in the divorce decree. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §

9.007(a). That said, parties may enter into an agreement after a divorce decree is

entered, and a trial court may enforce that agreement “so long as it ‘touches upon’

the underlying suit.” Dailey v. McAfee, No. 01-21-00106-CV, 2022 WL 3363195, at

*3–4 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 16, 2022, no pet.) (citation omitted)

(enforcing parties’ post-divorce Rule 11 agreement and stating the attempt to enforce

the judgment was a continuation of an aspect of the underlying suit). The parties’

agreement satisfies the Rule 11 requirements if it is (1) in writing, (2) signed, and

(3) filed with the papers as part of the record. Tex. R. Civ. P. 11; Padilla v. LaFrance,

907 S.W.2d 454, 459–60 (Tex. 1995) (explaining a trial court can enforce a

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settlement agreement complying with Rule 11 even though one side no longer

consents to the settlement); Matter of Marriage of Raffaelli, 975 S.W.2d 660, 661–

62 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1998, pet. denied) (enforcing settlement agreement as a

Rule 11 agreement). We review a trial court’s decision on enforcement of a post-

divorce agreement that satisfies Rule 11 for abuse of discretion. See Dailey, 2022

WL 3363195, at *3. The trial court’s jurisdiction to enforce such an agreement does

not hinge on its jurisdiction to modify a divorce decree. See id. (citing Karp, 2002

WL 31487899, at *1 (concluding trial court had jurisdiction to enforce post-divorce

Rule 11 Agreement regarding the sale of the parties’ home)) (other citation omitted).

Once a trial court approves and adopts the parties’ agreement into its

enforcement order, the agreement becomes the judgment of the court and subject to

enforcement. See Karp, 2002 WL 31487899, at *2; Spradley v. Hutchinson, 787

S.W.2d 214, 219 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1990, writ denied) (citations omitted).

Such an agreed judgment has the same binding effect as a judgment resulting from

a judge or jury trial and is only subject to collateral attack if the trial court lacked

jurisdiction to render the judgment. Spradley, 787 S.W.2d at 219–20 (explaining

contractual defenses are impermissible collateral attacks upon the prior agreed

judgment but may be considered in determining measure of damages due to the party

enforcing the agreement) (citation omitted); see also Karp, 2002 WL 31487899, at

*1–2 (affirming enforcement order’s award inclusion of the specific offset amount

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included in the parties’ written agreement to be deducted in determining the value

of the property to be divided but reversing offset award not specifically included in

the agreement and enforcing the agreement as written).

We hold the parties’ 2021 MSA regarding the Property is a valid Rule 11

Agreement because it is in writing, signed by the parties and their attorneys, and

filed in the court’s record. Once adopted into the trial court’s 2021 Enforcement

Order, it became the judgment of the court subject to being enforced and to an

appeal. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 11; Dailey, 2022 WL 3363195, at *4; Karp, 2002 WL

31487899, at *2; Spradley, 787 S.W.2d at 219; see also Tex. R. App. P. 26.1(a)

(requiring notice of appeal to be filed within 30 days after the judgment is signed or

within 90 days if a timely post-judgment motion is filed). Nothing in our appellate

record shows that either of the parties appealed from the trial court’s 2021

Enforcement Order, which incorporated the 2021 MSA and specified the terms of

the Property’s sale and appointed a receiver. Because no one appealed from the trial

court’s Enforcement Order, we cannot consider Lawrence’s complaints to which

they concern the trial court’s Enforcement Order. See Tex. R. App. P. 26.1(a).

Consequently, Lawrence’s first issue complaining that the trial court’s 2021

Enforcement Order modified, altered, or changed the terms of Mediated Settlement

Agreement as it was incorporated into the Decree is overruled.

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Even if Lawrence’s complaints concern his July 6, 2021, Motion to Vacate

and or Set Aside Previous Post Decree Orders, Grant an Evidentiary Hearing and or

Reconsideration of Proceedings, in which he argued the 2021 MSA did not properly

resolve all disputes, interpretations, or performances contained in the Decree,

including Linda’s obligations to pay expenses for her portion of the payments, taxes,

and insurance, we note the record shows Lawrence filed the Motion with the court

clerk and hand delivered it to Linda’s attorney. However, the record shows he never

set his Motion to Vacate and or Set Aside Previous Post Decree Orders, Grant an

Evidentiary Hearing and or Reconsideration of Proceedings for hearing or obtained

a ruling.

A pro se litigant is held to the same standards as a licensed attorney when

representing himself, and he must comply with all applicable laws and rules of

procedure in doing so. See Zavala v. Franco, 622 S.W.3d 612, 617–18 (Tex. App.—

El Paso 2021, pet. denied); see also Matter of Marriage of Martz, No. 09-21-00048-

CV, 2022 WL 2251731, at *9 (Tex. App.—Beaumont June 23, 2022, pet. denied)

(mem. op.) (noting pro se divorce litigant held to same standards as licensed

attorneys). To preserve a complaint for appellate review, the record must show the

complaint was made to the trial court by a timely request, objection, or motion and

that the trial court refused to rule on the request, objection, or motion over the

complaining party’s objection. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a). “Merely filing a motion with

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the trial clerk is insufficient to show that the party brought the motion to the trial

court’s attention or requested a ruling.” Pedroza v. Tenet Healthcare Corp., 555

S.W.3d 608, 612 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2018, no pet.) (citing In re Davidson, 153

S.W.3d 490, 491 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2004, orig. proceeding)). Since there is

nothing in the record showing Lawrence ever presented his Motion to Vacate and or

Set Aside Previous Post Decree Orders, Grant an Evidentiary Hearing and or

Reconsideration of Proceedings to the trial court or requested a ruling, he has

preserved no error concerning this Motion for our review. Pedroza, 555 S.W.3d at

612.

As for Lawrence’s complaint that Linda is liable for half the costs and

expenses to maintain the Property until April 2021, the record shows Lawrence filed

a Motion to Enforce the Provisions of the Decree, specifically Linda’s agreement to

pay half of the expenses of the marital residence, and he asked the trial court to grant

him credit for Linda’s half of the expenses. The trial court denied Lawrence’s

Motion to Enforce the Provisions of the Decree concerning the expenses he paid on

the Property on the grounds that it did not have plenary power to address his issue

because the June 2021 Enforcement Order governs the provisions for the Property’s

sale and the distribution of the proceeds. However, we disagree the trial court lacked

jurisdiction to consider Lawrence’s reimbursement claim.

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The June 2021 Enforcement Order incorporated the parties’ 2021 MSA, and the

MSA provided for the terms and way the Property would be sold, for the distribution

of the proceeds following the sale, and for the appointment of the receiver. While

the trial court correctly found that it did not have plenary power over its 2021

Enforcement Order, which no party appealed, that Order addressed only Linda’s

Petition for Enforcement, in which she requested a clarifying order to determine the

terms and manner of the sale. But those issues had been decided by agreement in the

2021 MSA. Neither the 2021 MSA nor the 2021 Enforcement Order address

Lawrence’s Motion to Enforce the Provisions of the Decree, in which Lawrence

asked the trial court to enforce Linda’s obligation to pay “half of all costs or expenses

relating to [the Property] from May 1, 2019.”

The court that renders a divorce decree retains jurisdiction to enforce the

property division within that decree. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 9.001, 9.002,

9.006; Hagen, 282 S.W.3d at 902; Gomez, 632 S.W.3d at 8. Lawrence filed his

Motion to Enforce the Provisions of the Decree, specifically Linda’s agreement to

pay her half of the Property’s expenses, in the same court that rendered the Decree,

which ordered not only that the Property would be sold but that Lawrence may

recover fair and reasonable expenses for maintaining the Property until the date of

sale and that Linda is responsible for one-half of those expenses. The Decree ordered

the Property to be “sold . . . for the best agreed price and parties will split the net

23
proceeds after all expenses and or off-setting values have been deducted[,]” and that

the parties “shall be entitled to one-half (50%) of net value after the deduction of all

reasonable and or necessary expenses” Lawrence incurred maintaining the Property.

The Decree states the parties “entered into a written agreement as contained in this

decree by virtue of having approved this decree[,]” and that

“[t]o the extent permitted by law, the parties stipulate the agreement is enforceable

as a contract.”

We hold the trial court abused its discretion by denying Lawrence’s Motion

to Enforce the Provisions of the Decree based on its lack of plenary power when the

2021 MSA and 2021 Enforcement Order did not include any agreement regarding

Lawrence’s right to an offset and when it had jurisdiction to enforce the Decree. See

Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 9.001, 9.002, 9.006; Hagen, 282 S.W.3d at 902; Gomez,

632 S.W.3d at 8. By considering and denying Lawrence’s “motions” in its 2022

Enforcement Order, the trial court refused to enforce his contractual rights under the

Decree, which states it “is stipulated to represent a mediated settlement agreement.”

See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 6.602(b); Allen, 717 S.W.2d at 313.

We sustain Lawrence’s issue one complaint on the trial court’s failure to

consider his Motion or Enforce the Provisions of the Decree addressing his offset

claim, reverse the portion of the trial court’s 2022 Enforcement Order denying

24
Lawrence’s “motions,” and remand for further proceedings to consider his offset

claim.

In issue two, Lawrence complains the trial court erred by appointing the

receiver in violation of section 64.001 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies

Code, because the appointment failed to provide for an equitable resolution of the

agreed property division in the Decree or meet the conditions of a forced sale. See

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 64.001. Lawrence argues the trial court should

vacate the receiver’s appointment because the facts of the case did not warrant the

appointment to sell the Property, which need not be preserved or protected.

Lawrence contends that equity requires an alternative method for resolution. See id.

§ 64.004.

A person may appeal from an interlocutory order of a district court that

appoints a receiver or overrules a motion to vacate an order that appoints a receiver.

Id. § 51.014(a)(1), (2); Guardianship of Clarkson, No. 09-23-00029-CV, 2023 WL

6156075, at *1 (Tex. App.—Beaumont Sept. 21, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.). A notice

of appeal must be signed within 20 days of the date on which the trial court signs the

interlocutory order. See Tex. R. App. P. 26.1(b). When allowed by statute, appeals

from interlocutory orders are accelerated, and “[f]iling a motion for new trial, any

other post-trial motion, or a request for findings of fact will not extend the time to

perfect an accelerated appeal.” Id. at 28.1(b).

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Here, the trial court’s June 2021 Enforcement Order appointing Rice as a

receiver effective July 2, 2021, was expressly appealable under section 51.014(a)(1).

See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.014(a)(1). Lawrence failed to prefect

an accelerated appeal from the trial court’s June 2021 Enforcement Order by filing

a notice of appeal within the time permitted by the rule. See Tex. R. App. P. 26.1(b);

26.3; Guardianship of Clarkson, 2023 WL 6156075, at *1. The trial court’s August

22, 2022 Order Denying Respondent’s Motion to Terminate the Receiver and Vacate

Orders Due to Inherent Conflict and Stay These Proceedings Pending Resolution of

Motion to Enforce Decree was also expressly appealable under section 51.014(a)(2).

See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.014(a)(2). Lawrence failed to perfect

an accelerated appeal from the trial court’s August 2022 Order Denying

Respondent’s Motion to Terminate the Receiver and Vacate Orders Due to Inherent

Conflict and Stay These Proceedings Pending Resolution of Motion to Enforce

Decree by filing a notice of appeal within the time permitted by the rule. See Tex.

R. App. P. 26.1(b); 26.3; Guardianship of Clarkson, 2023 WL 6156075, at *1.

Since Lawrence failed to perfect a timely accelerated appeal from the trial

court’s June 2021 Enforcement Order appointing a receiver and the trial court’s

August 2022 Order Denying Respondent’s Motion to Terminate the Receiver and

Vacate Orders Due to Inherent and Stay These Proceedings Pending Resolution of

Motion to Enforce Decree, we lack jurisdiction to consider his issue two complaints.

26
See Guardianship of Clarkson, 2023 WL 6156075, at *1–2 (dismissing for lack of

jurisdiction); Sclafani v. Sclafani, 870 S.W.2d 608, 612–13 (Tex. App.—Houston

[1st Dist.] 1993, writ denied) (dismissing appeal for want of jurisdiction for failing

to timely appeal denial of motion to vacate receivership).

In issue three, Lawrence argues the trial court erred by disregarding the

substance of his pro se motions rather than the motions’ headings to ensure an

equitable and just property division under section 7.001 of the Texas Family Code.

See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 7.001. Lawrence complains the trial court failed to

conduct an evidentiary hearing on his motions and that the issue of plenary powers

does not apply to the Decree. Lawrence also repeats his issue one complaint that the

trial court erred by entering an enforcement order that modified, altered, or changed

the original settlement agreement incorporated into the Decree, which we have

already addressed.

First, we note that section 7.001 does not apply here because it concerns the

general rule of property division in a divorce or annulment, and this involves the

appeal of a post-divorce enforcement order. See id. Second, we have already

determined in issue one that the trial court abused its discretion by denying

Lawrence’s Motion to Enforce the Provisions of the Decree based on its lack of

plenary power and remanded for the trial court to consider Lawrence’s offset claim

in that Motion. Third, the record shows the trial court considered Lawrence’s Motion

27
to Enforce the Provisions of the Decree, Motion to Terminate the Receiver and

Vacate Orders Due to Inherent Conflict and Stay These Proceedings Pending

Resolution of Motion to Enforce Decree, and Motion to Vacate and/or Set Aside

Previous Post Decree Orders, Grant an Evidentiary Hearing and/or Reconsideration

of Proceedings. To the extent Lawrence is complaining about the trial court’s failure

to conduct evidentiary hearings on other motions he filed, he has identified no

specific motions or include record cites to any motions he filed to support his

complaint. Thus, we conclude his complaint is improperly briefed. See Tex. R. App.

P. 38.1(h) (providing that appellant’s brief must contain appropriate citations to the

record). We overrule issue three.

In issue four, Lawrence argues the trial court erred by including the wrong

street address of the Property in the 2022 Enforcement Order and by failing to

include the Property’s complete legal description. Lawrence also argues the trial

court erred by not issuing specific findings of fact and conclusions of law about the

division of the marital estate as required by the Texas Family Code. See Tex. Fam.

Code Ann. §§ 6.711, 153.258, 154.130. Lawrence complains the trial court

disregarded his reimbursement claim and erred by not allowing him to assume

mortgage liabilities without having to incur the expenses of refinancing. See id. §

3.402.

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In his brief, Lawrence merely states the 2022 Enforcement Order includes the

wrong street address, 12 W. Elm Crescent instead of 122 W. Elm Crescent, and he

argues the Order is defective and unenforceable because there is no proper legal

description as required by law. Lawrence included no citations to authority

supporting his argument that the 2022 Enforcement Order is defective and

unenforceable, nor did he ask this Court to correct the clerical error. See Tex. R. Civ.

P. 329b(f); Perez v. Perez, 658 S.W.3d 864, 872 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2022, no pet.)

(Allowing trial court to enter a judgment nunc pro tunc to correct a clerical error).

Thus, we conclude his complaint is improperly briefed. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(h)

(providing that appellant’s brief must contain appropriate citations to authorities).

We also conclude that Lawrence’s complaint that the trial court erred by not

allowing him to assume mortgage liabilities without having to incur the expenses of

refinancing is improperly briefed. See id. As stated earlier, Lawrence agreed to the

2021 MSA, which stated Lawrence “shall refinance” the Property, and the 2021

MSA was incorporated into the 2021 Enforcement Order, which Lawrence failed to

appeal, and which became a final judgment subject to enforcement. See Tex. R. Civ.

P. 11; Dailey, 2022 WL 3363195, at *4; Karp, 2022 WL 31487899, at *2; Spradley,

787 S.W.2d at 219; see also Tex. R. App. P. 26.1.

As for Lawrence’s complaint the trial court erred by not issuing specific

findings of fact and conclusions of law about the division of the marital estate as

29
required by the Texas Family Code, we note that Lawrence’s citations to the Texas

Family Code apply to: (1) a party’s request for findings of fact and conclusions of

law in a suit for dissolution of marriage in which the trial court rendered a judgment

dividing the parties’ estate; (2) a party’s request for findings of fact in all cases in

which possession of a child by a parent is contested and the possession of the child

varies from the standard possession order; (3) a trial court’s findings in a child

support order. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 6.711, 153.258, 154.130. We hold that

none of Lawrence’s citations to the Family Code apply here. The record also shows

Lawrence did not request findings of fact and conclusions of law. In an enforcement

action such as this when no findings of fact or conclusions of law are requested or

filed, we imply all findings supported by the record that support the trial court’s

judgment. See Coleman, 2007 WL 1793756, at *1; Gomez, 632 S.W.3d at 8.

Finally, we note that Lawrence raises his complaint that the trial court

disregarded his reimbursement claim in both issues four and five, and we have

chosen to address his complaint in issue five. We overrule issue four.

In issue five, Lawrence complains the trial court erred by disregarding the

cumulative nature of remedies provided under Texas Family Code section 3.309,

which provides remedies to spouses, and under section 3.402, which concerns

reimbursement claims. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 3.309 (stating the remedies

provided in this subchapter are cumulative of other rights, powers, and remedies

30
afforded spouses by law), 3.402. Lawrence contends the trial court should have

imposed an equitable lien on the Property to secure his reimbursement claim for

paying the utilities, taxes, insurance, and mortgage expenses. See id. § 3.406

(providing for an equitable lien upon dissolution of a marriage).

Chapter 3 of the Texas Family Code, entitled Marital Property Rights and

Liabilities, includes Subchapter D, addresses the Management, Control, and

Disposition of Marital Property Under Unusual Circumstances. See id. §§ 3.001–

.309. Subchapter D includes section 3.309, which states that remedies provided in

subchapter D are cumulative of other rights, powers, and remedies afforded spouses

by law. See id. § 3.309. Chapter 3 also includes Subchapter E, which addresses

claims for reimbursement in a divorce action. See id. §§ 3.401–.411; Vallone v.

Vallone, 644 S.W.2d 455, 458–59 (Tex. 1982) (stating right of reimbursement is an

equitable right which arises upon dissolution of the marriage through divorce).

Section 3.402 addresses the burden of proof for a spouse seeking reimbursement to

a marital estate and for a party seeking an offset to a reimbursement claim. See Tex.

Fam. Code Ann. § 3.402(b), (h). Section 3.406 provides that on dissolution of a

marriage, the trial court may impose an equitable lien on the property of a benefited

estate to secure a reimbursement claim. Id. § 3.406(a); see Heggen v. Pemelton, 836

S.W.2d 145, 146 (Tex. 1992) (explaining trial courts may impose equitable liens on

a spouse’s separate real property when dividing marital property on divorce).

31
The parties were divorced in 2019, and this appeal concerns not the divorce

action but a post-divorce enforcement action under Chapter 9 of the Texas Family

Code, which allows a party affected by a divorce decree providing for the division

of property to request enforcement of that decree by filing a suit to enforce. See Tex.

Fam. Code Ann. § 9.001(a); see also id. § 7.006 (Agreement Incident to Divorce or

Annulment). Since Lawrence’s complaints really address the trial court’s failure to

exercise jurisdiction over his request to enforce Linda’s obligations under the

Decree, we need not consider his other complaints involving the trial court’s 2022

Enforcement Order since he never filed a notice of appeal concerning same. See

Heggen, 836 S.W.2d at 146; Vallone, 644 S.W.2d at 458–59; see also Tex. Fam.

Code Ann. §§ 3.309, 3.402, 3.409.

CONCLUSION

As discussed above, we have addressed Lawrence’s complaints in issues one

through five concerning the trial court’s 2022 Enforcement Order, the only

appealable order here. Accordingly, we affirm the portions of the 2022 Enforcement

Order ordering Lawrence to vacate the Property and remove all personal belongings

therein and ordering the Receiver to sell the Property and split the proceeds

according to its prior orders. Having sustained Lawrence’s issue one complaint on

the trial court’s failure to consider his Motion to Enforce the Provisions of the Decree

and consider his offset claim, we reverse the portion of the trial court’s 2022

32
Enforcement Order denying Lawrence’s Motion to Enforce the Provisions of the

Decree, and remand for further proceedings to consider his offset claim.

AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED AND REMANDED IN PART.

W. SCOTT GOLEMON
Chief Justice

Submitted on September 8, 2023
Opinion Delivered May 2, 2024

Before Golemon, C.J., Horton and Wright, JJ.

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