When An Ex-Spouse Interferes With Your Employment In Texas

For many individuals, the end of a marriage doesn’t necessarily mean the end of conflicts with an ex-spouse. In some cases, the animosity can escalate to the point where one party actively seeks to harm the other’s professional life. In Texas, just like in many other states, interfering with someone’s employment can have legal consequences. This article delves into the intricacies of Texas law when an ex-spouse interferes with your employment.

Introduction: Divorce can be a tumultuous process, and emotions can run high. While it’s common for ex-spouses to have disagreements, some might go to the extent of interfering with the other’s employment, leading to potential financial and professional repercussions.
Tortious Interference in Texas: In Texas, when someone intentionally disrupts another’s business relations, it’s termed as tortious interference. This civil wrong can lead to remedies, often in the form of damages, for the aggrieved party.
Types of Interference:
- Interference with an Existing Contract: This occurs when a third party, in this case, an ex-spouse, willfully and intentionally interferes with a valid contract, causing damage to the other party.
- Interference with Prospective Business Relations: Even if there isn’t a formal contract, an ex-spouse’s actions that hinder potential economic gains can be considered interference.
Proving Tortious Interference: To successfully claim tortious interference in Texas, one must establish:
- Existence of a valid contract or a prospective business relation.
- The ex-spouse’s knowledge of this relation.
- Intentional act of interference by the ex-spouse.
- Actual damages or loss as a result of this interference.
Truthful Information and Interference: If an ex-spouse provides truthful information to an employer, it might not necessarily be considered interference. However, revealing damaging or defamatory information can lead to legal consequences.
Impact on Alimony and Child Support: In Texas, if an ex-spouse interferes with the other’s employment, it can have implications on alimony and child support payments. A significant change in income can lead to modifications in these payments.
Current Spouse’s Interference: If a current spouse interferes with one’s employment, Texas law might provide remedies under divorce law rather than tort law. Such actions can impact alimony and might be considered a decrease in marital property value.
Conclusion: Navigating the aftermath of a divorce can be challenging, especially when it impacts one’s professional life. In Texas, the law provides protection against malicious interference by an ex-spouse. If you find yourself in such a situation, it’s crucial to consult with an experienced attorney to understand your rights and potential remedies.