In Re Nas, 100 S.W.3d 670 (Tex. App. 2003). · Go Syfert
In Re Nas, 100 S.W.3d 670 (Tex. App. 2003). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
32 citation events (32 in the last 25 years) across 1 distinct court.
Strongest positive: Sarah Elise Keeney Schneider v. Stephen Earl Schneider (texapp, 2024-07-09)
Treatment trajectory · 2003 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2003 2014 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 24 distinct citers.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Sarah Elise Keeney Schneider v. Stephen Earl Schneider
Tex. App. · 2024 · confidence medium
See Worford, 801 S.W.2d at 109 ; In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.) (trial court’s determination of best interest of child will not be reversed unless trial court abused its discretion).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matthew Monroe Miller v. Jenny Miller
Tex. App. · 2023 · confidence medium
Consequently, trial courts are “‘in the best situation to observe the demeanor and personalities of the witnesses and can feel the forces, powers, and influences that cannot be discerned by merely reading the record.’” In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.) (quoting In re T., 715 S.W.2d 416, 418 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1986, no writ)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) in the Interest of T.E.H., C.R.H., and J.C.H., Children
Tex. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.).
cited Cited as authority (rule) in the Interest of B.R., a Minor Child
Tex. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) J.A.S. v. A.R.D.
Tex. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
When reviewing a trial court’s decision regarding conservatorship of a child, we recognize that the trial court “is in the best situation to observe the demeanor and personalities of the witnesses and can ‘feel the forces, powers, and influences that 8 cannot be discerned merely by reading the record.’” In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.) (quoting In the Interest of T., 715 S.W.2d 416, 418 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1986, no writ)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) in the Interest Of: C.E.C.
Tex. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
A trial court’s determination of the best interest of the child will –9– only be reversed upon a determination of an abuse of discretion because a trial court “is in the best situation to observe the demeanor and personalities of the witnesses and can ‘feel the forces, powers, and influences that cannot be discerned by merely reading the record.’” In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.) (quoting In re T., 715 S.W.2d 416, 418 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1986, no writ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Serge Dasque v. Fabiola Aidee Dasque
Tex. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
Though it is true that a trial court “is in the best situation to observe the demeanor and personalities of the witnesses and can ‘feel the forces, powers, and influences that cannot be discerned by merely reading the record,’” In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex. App.— Dallas 2003, no pet.), it cannot disregard unrebutted testimony that is clear, direct and positive.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) in the Interest of R.A., a Child
Tex. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
Viewing the entire record before the trial court, and being mindful that the trial court was in the best position to observe the demeanor and personalities of the witnesses that cannot be discerned by mere reference to the record, In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.), we find that the trial court’s determination that the parental presumption was rebutted was not outside of the zone of reasonable disagreement.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) in the Interest of S.A.H, a Minor Child
Tex. App. · 2014 · confidence medium
The Family Code does not specify the factors to be used in determining best interest, but courts in numerous contexts involving a “best interest” analysis have looked to the factors set forth in Holley , a parental rights termination case in which the supreme court set out a non-exhaustive list of factors for determining a child’s best interest. 544 S.W.2d at 371-72 ; see also In re Doe 2, 19 S.W.3d 278, 282 (Tex.2000) (applying Holley factors in judicial bypass case); Zeifman v. Michels, 212 S.W.3d 582, 595 (Tex.App.-Austin 2006, no pet.) (applying Holley factors in suit involving modif…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) in Re Walter Lee Hall, Jr.
Tex. App. · 2010 · confidence medium
In a custody determination, “[s]o long as certain minimum requirements of child care are met, the interests of the child may be 4 The family code does not define the factors to apply in determining whether a modification is in the child’s best interest, but in other contexts involving “best interest” analyses, courts look to Holley v. Adams, a termination case in which the supreme court set out a non-exhaustive list of factors for determining a child’s best interest. 544 S.W.2d 367, 371-72 (Tex. 1976); see In re Doe 2, 19 S.W.3d 278, 282 (Tex. 2000) (applying Holley factors in judici…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jonathan Fish v. Celeste Torres Lebrie
Tex. App. · 2010 · confidence medium
The family code does not define the factors to apply in determining whether a modification is in the child's best interest, but in other contexts involving "best interest" analyses, courts look to Holley v. Adams , a termination case in which the supreme court set out a non-exhaustive list of factors for determining a child's best interest. 544 S.W.2d 367, 371-72 (Tex. 1976); see In re Doe 2 , 19 S.W.3d 278, 282 (Tex. 2000) (applying Holley factors in judicial bypass case); Zeifman v. Michels , 212 S.W.3d 582, 595 (Tex. App.--Austin 2006, no pet.) (applying Holley factors in suit involving mod…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) In Re MAH
Tex. App. · 2007 · confidence medium
J.R.D., 169 S.W.3d at 743 ; see Garza v. Garza, 217 S.W.3d 538, 552 (Tex.App.-San Antonio, 2006, no pet.) (released for publication Apr. 17, 2007) ("[T]he trial judge is in the best situation to observe the demeanor and personalities of the witnesses and can feel the forces, powers, and influences that cannot be discerned by merely reading the record."); In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2003, no pet.).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) in the Matter of M.A.H. and S.J.B., Children
Tex. App. · 2007 · confidence medium
J.R.D., 169 S.W.3d at 743 ; see Garza v. Garza, 217 S.W.3d 538, 552 (Tex.App.-San Antonio, 2006, no pet.) (released for publication Apr. 17, 2007) (“[T]he trial judge is in the best situation to observe the demeanor and personalities of the witnesses and can feel the forces, powers, and influences that cannot be discerned by merely reading the record.”); In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2003, no pet.).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Durham Transportation Co. v. Beettner
Tex. App. · 2006 · confidence medium
See, e.g., In re B.R.S., 166 S.W.3d 373, 374 (Tex.App.-Waco 2005, no pet.); In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 671 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2003, no pet.); Willard v. Davis, 881 S.W.2d 907, 910 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 1994, orig. proceeding).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Judy Howze v. William Howze
Tex. App. · 2006 · confidence medium
The finder of fact is charged with making a decision based upon the testimony, but also based upon its experience and understanding of the individuals involved and their circumstances because it is in the best position to observe the demeanor and personality of the witness and to "feel the forces, powers, and influences that cannot be discerned by merely reading the record." Peck , 172 S.W.3d at 35 (quoting In re N.A.S. , 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex. App.--Dallas 2003, no pet.).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Judy Howze v. William Howze
Tex. App. · 2006 · confidence medium
The finder of fact is charged with making a decision based upon the testimony, but also based upon its experience and understanding of the individuals involved and their circumstances because it is in the best position to observe the demeanor and personality of the witness and to “feel the forces, powers, and influences that cannot be discerned by merely reading the record.” Peck, 172 S.W.3d at 35 (quoting In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.).
cited Cited as authority (rule) in the Interest of W.M. and A.S., Children
Tex. App. · 2005 · confidence medium
In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2003, no pet.) (citations omitted). 25 .
cited Cited "see" Katy Shuk Chi Lau Messier v. Luc J. Messier
Tex. App. · 2012 · signal: see · confidence high
See In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 678 (Tex.App.Dallas 2003, no pet.).
cited Cited "see" Katy Shuk Chi Lau Messier v. Luc J. Messier
Tex. App. · 2012 · signal: see · confidence high
See In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670 , 673 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.).
discussed Cited "see" Garza v. Garza
Tex. App. · 2006 · signal: see · confidence high
In re J.R.D., 169 S.W.3d at 743 ; see In re N.A.S, 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2003, no pet.) (“[T]he trial judge is in the best situation to observe the demeanor and personalities of the witnesses and can feel the forces, powers, and influences that cannot be discerned by merely reading the record.”) (quotation omitted).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." J. Stephen Spencer and Kippling L. Spencer v. Noel Douglas Vaughn, Catherine Gay Vaughn and Scott Alan Yeats
Tex. App. · 2008 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g. , In re N.A.S. , 100 S.W.3d 670, 671 (Tex. App.--Dallas 2003, no pet.); Sailor v. Phillips , No. 03-00-00725-CV, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 7492 , *2-3 (Tex. App.--Austin Nov. 8, 2001, no pet.) (not designated for publication); Goolsbee v. Heft , 549 S.W.2d 34, 34-35 (Tex. Civ.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Melissa Bennett v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Tex. App. · 2008 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g., In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 671 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.); Sailor v. Phillips, No. 03-00-00725- CV, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 7492 , *2-3 (Tex. App.—Austin Nov. 8, 2001, no pet.) (not designated for publication); Goolsbee v. Heft, 549 S.W.2d 34, 34-35 (Tex. Civ.
cited Cited "see, e.g." Naguib v. Naguib
Tex. App. · 2004 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See also In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 673 (Tex.App.Dallas 2003, no pet.); Jacobs v. Dobrei, 991 S.W.2d 462, 463 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1999, no pet.).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Niskar v. Niskar (2×)
Tex. App. · 2004 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See also In re N.A.S., 100 S.W.3d 670, 672 (TexApp.-Dallas 2003, no pet.); Jacobs v. Dobrei, 991 S.W.2d 462, 463 (TexApp.-Dallas 1999, no pet.).
In the Interest of N.A.S. and A.D.S.
05-02-01268-CV.
Court of Appeals of Texas.
Mar 28, 2003.
100 S.W.3d 670
Justices Morris, Whittington, and Francis.
Published

[*671] Jeffrey Owen Anderson, Dallas, for Appellant.

Lance S. Baxter, McKinney, for Appellee.

Before Justices MORRIS, WHITTINGTON, and FRANCIS.

OPINION

Opinion by Justice WHITTINGTON.

Jeanna D. Stelljes ("Mother") appeals the trial court's judgment granting Ruth and Lloyd Stelljes ("Grandmother" and "Grandfather," collectively "Grandparents") access to their grandchildren, N.A.S. and A.D.S. In two issues, Mother contends the Texas grandparent access statute infringed on her fundamental constitutional rights, see Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 153.433 (Vernon 2002), and the trial judge abused her discretion in granting Grandparents access to their grandchildren because the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support such a determination. We affirm the trial court's judgment.

Mother was married to Grandparents' son, Doug Stelljes ("Father"). N.A.S. and A.D.S. were born during the marriage. Mother and Father divorced in February 1999, and Father died in May 2001. Grandparents attempted to see their grandsons on several occasions after Father's funeral but were prevented from doing so. On October 11, 2001, Grandparents filed suit, requesting reasonable access to their grandsons. Following trial, the judge granted Grandparents one weekend of visitation in the months of March, October, and December and one full week of visitation during the month of July. Mother requested findings of fact and conclusions of law. The trial judge made the following relevant findings: (i) access to the children by the paternal grandparents is in the best interest of the children; (ii) Mother is acting contrary to the best interest of the children, in spite of her own admission that access by the paternal grandparents is in the best interest of the children; (iii) Mother had denied Grandparents access to the children; and (iv) without a court order, Mother will continue to deny Grandparents access to the grandchildren. The trial judge concluded: (i) the statute is constitutional; (ii) it is presumed that a fit parent acts in the best interest of her children in granting or denying access; (iii) the presumption may be overcome, and (iv) in this case, Grandparents have overcome the presumption. Mother appeals.

In her first issue, Mother claims the grandparent access statute, as applied to the facts of this case, violates her constitutional rights to due process under the[*672] Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In an "as applied" challenge, the complaining party claims a statute, even though generally constitutional, operates unconstitutionally as to her because of her particular circumstances. Tex. Workers' Comp. Comm'n v. Garcia, 893 S.W.2d 504, 518 n. 16 (Tex.1995); (citing Nelson v. Krusen, 678 S.W.2d 918, 922 (Tex.1984) (holding two-year medical limitations statute unconstitutional as applied to plaintiff who could not discover injury during two-year period)); Neagle v. Nelson, 685 S.W.2d 11, 12 (Tex.1985) (same). To do so, the challenger must show either that (i) the circumstances complained of exist under the facts of the particular case or (ii) such circumstances necessarily exist in every case, so that the statute always acts unconstitutionally when applied to the challenger. Tex. Workers' Comp. Com'n v. Tex. Mun. League Intergovernmental Risk Pool, 38 S.W.3d 591, 600 (Tex.App.-Austin 2000), aff'd, 74 S.W.3d 377 (Tex. 2002). It is not sufficient to show that the statute may operate unconstitutionally against the challenger or someone in a similar position in another case. Tex. Workers' Comp. Com'n, 38 S.W.3d at 600.

Here, Mother does not explain how her particular circumstances or the particular facts of this case make the application of the statute unconstitutional as applied to her. Although she cites case law in her argument, she fails to explain how the statute operates in practice to violate her rights or how it affects her differently from other parents similarly situated. See Tex. Workers' Comp. Comm'n, 893 S.W.2d at 518 n. 16. Rather, she complains the statute lacks a "standard of deference to be afforded the parent in determining a child's best interest," leaving the determination of the best interest of the child solely to the trial court's discretion. This complaint challenges the facial constitutionality of the statute; it is not an "as applied" challenge. Courts have previously held the grandparent access statute is not unconstitutional on its face. Lilley v. Lilley, 43 S.W.3d 703, 713 (Tex.App.-Austin 2001, no pet.); Dolman v. Dolman, 586 S.W.2d 606, 608 (Tex.Civ.App.-Austin 1979, writ dism'd); Deweese v. Crawford, 520 S.W.2d 522, 526 (Tex.Civ.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1975, writ ref'd n.r.e.), overruled on other grounds by Cherne Indus., Inc. v. Magallanes, 763 S.W.2d 768 (Tex. 1989). Because Mother has not briefed this Court on how the statute is unconstitutional as applied to her, we conclude she has failed to preserve this issue for review. See Keever v. Finlan, 988 S.W.2d 300, 314 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1999, pet dism'd); TEX. R.App. P. 38.1(h). We overrule Mother's first issue.

In her second issue, Mother contends the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the trial court's judgment. Specifically, Mother claims there is no evidence, or alternatively, factually insufficient evidence to support the trial judge's findings that she acted contrary to the children's best interest and that grandparent access was in the children's best interest.

The trial judge is given wide latitude in determining the best interests of a minor child. Gillespie v. Gillespie, 644 S.W.2d 449, 451 (Tex.1982); Leithold v. Plass, 413 S.W.2d 698, 701 (Tex. 1967). The family code does not define or set out the relevant factors to be considered when determining whether an action is in the best interest of a child. Rather, the trial judge considers a nonexhaustive list of considerations for determining a child's best interest. See Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 371-72 (Tex.1976) (enumerating list of factors to ascertain best interest of child in parental termination context); In re Doe 2, 19 S.W.3d 278, 282 (Tex.2000)[*673] (applying factors for best interest determination in judicial bypass provision of parental notification act); Turner v. Turner, 47 S.W.3d 761, 767 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, no pet.) (applying best interest analysis to determine whether modification would be a positive improvement for child). The trial court's judgment regarding what serves the best interest of the children with regard to visitation is a discretionary function and will only be reversed upon a determination that the trial judge has abused her discretion. MacCallum v. MacCallum, 801 S.W.2d 579, 582 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi 1990, writ denied). This is because the trial judge "is in the best situation to observe the demeanor and personalities of the witnesses and can `feel the forces, powers, and influences that cannot be discerned by merely reading the record.'" In the Interest of T., 715 S.W.2d 416, 418 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1986, no writ).

During trial, Mother testified it was in the children's best interest to have a relationship with their grandparents. When asked whether she believed it was in their best interest that they have no contact with their grandparents, Mother replied, "No." Mother also testified she did not want to "totally deny visitation" and had not objected to the Grandparents seeing the boys before Father's funeral. Nevertheless, she conceded she (i) had not made any attempts to get the boys together with Grandparents, (ii) changed her address and home phone number without telling Grandparents, and (iii) received and ignored a letter from Grandparents regarding visitation with the grandchildren. On cross-examination, she stated she did not want any kind of court-ordered visitation but said she would encourage the children to see Grandparents if it was going to be in their best interest.

In light of Mother's testimony, we cannot conclude the trial judge abused her discretion in finding that grandparent access was in the children's best interest and Mother acted contrary to the children's best interest by refusing to allow Grandparents' visitation. We overrule Mother's second issue.

We affirm the trial court's judgment.