TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION
(TBLS ||questions and answers with rationales/graded
A+/2026 update/100% correct /instant download
Question 1
In federal court, where a hearsay statement is admitted, the credibility of the
declarant may be attacked by:
A. Prior convictions, subject to Rule 609
B. Opinion and reputation testimony concerning the declarant's truthfulness
C. Prior inconsistent statements
D. All of the above except specific instances of conduct not involving convictions
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Federal Rule of Evidence 806 provides that when a hearsay statement
is admitted, the declarant's credibility may be attacked by any evidence that would
be admissible if the declarant had testified as a witness. This includes prior
convictions under Rule 609, opinion and reputation testimony under Rule 608(a),
and prior inconsistent statements under Rule 613. However, specific instances of
conduct (other than criminal convictions) under Rule 608(b) are generally not
admissible to attack credibility unless the declarant is called as a witness and cross-
examined.
Question 2
According to the Texas Supreme Court in Eby, the convincing rationale for the
economic loss rule is that it performs a critical boundary line function separating:
,A. Contract law from economic damages
B. Contract law and tort law
C. Tort law from economic damages
D. Damages civil and criminal law
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The economic loss rule serves as a vital boundary between contract law
and tort law. Contract law governs agreements between parties with defined
obligations, while tort law deals with civil wrongs resulting from harm or injury.
When economic loss occurs, the economic loss rule determines whether the injured
party can seek recovery solely through contract remedies or if tort remedies are
also applicable, preventing parties from circumventing contract terms to pursue
additional tort damages.
TEXAS BAR EXAMINATION QUESTIONS (ESSAY FORMAT
CONVERTED TO MULTIPLE CHOICE)
Note: The Texas Bar Examination primarily uses essay questions. I have converted
the legal issues into multiple-choice format based on the fact patterns from official
exams.
Question 3
In Question 7 from the July 2007 Texas Bar Exam, Karen and Scott were married
in 1997 and lived in Texas until 2005. Prior to marriage, Scott owned a 20-acre
tract called The Little Ranch. In 1999, they tore down the existing home and built a
new home, executing a 30-year $500,000 mortgage together. At divorce, Karen
claimed an interest in the new home. Under Texas family law, the new home on
The Little Ranch is properly characterized as:
,A. Community property because it was built during the marriage
B. Scott's separate property because it replaced a separate property asset
C. Jointly owned property requiring partition
D. Community property because Karen contributed separate funds to the mortgage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under Texas law, the character of property is determined at the time of
acquisition. The new home was built on land that was Scott's separate property.
Replacement of a separate property asset with a new structure generally maintains
separate property character, even if built during marriage, unless there is clear
evidence of a gift to the community or an agreement to change character.
Question 4
In the same fact pattern, Karen made substantial disbursements from her separate
accounts but failed to present specific evidence that any disbursements were made
to benefit Scott's separate estate. To establish a claim for economic contribution,
Karen should have presented evidence of:
A. The total amount of mortgage payments made from community funds
B. The fair market value of the home at the time of divorce
C. The amount of her separate funds contributed and that the contributions
enhanced the value of Scott's separate estate
D. Scott's income at the time the mortgage was executed
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under Texas Family Code, a claim for economic contribution requires
proof that separate funds were contributed to another spouse's separate property
and that those contributions enhanced the value of that property. Without specific
, evidence tracing the separate funds to improvements on Scott's separate estate, the
court cannot calculate the value of the contribution or grant recovery.
Question 5
In Question 8 from the July 2007 Texas Bar Exam, Bob was found to be the
biological father of Cindy's 10-year-old son. The trial court ordered prospective
child support of $500 per month and retroactive child support of $60,000. The
court included in Bob's net resources rental income from a building in Kim's name
and income from a child care business operated by Kim, both characterized as
community property subject to Kim's sole management. Under Texas Family
Code, may income from a spouse's separate management community property be
included in the other spouse's net resources for child support?
A. Yes, because all community income is available for child support regardless of
management
B. Yes, if the parent ordered to pay support has an ownership interest in the
property
C. No, because income from property under the sole management of the other
spouse is not included
D. No, unless the other spouse consents in writing
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under Texas Family Code §154.062, net resources for child support
include income from community property in which the parent has an ownership
interest. However, when property is subject to a spouse's sole management and
control, the other spouse may not have sufficient legal authority to access that
income for child support obligations.
(TBLS ||questions and answers with rationales/graded
A+/2026 update/100% correct /instant download
Question 1
In federal court, where a hearsay statement is admitted, the credibility of the
declarant may be attacked by:
A. Prior convictions, subject to Rule 609
B. Opinion and reputation testimony concerning the declarant's truthfulness
C. Prior inconsistent statements
D. All of the above except specific instances of conduct not involving convictions
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Federal Rule of Evidence 806 provides that when a hearsay statement
is admitted, the declarant's credibility may be attacked by any evidence that would
be admissible if the declarant had testified as a witness. This includes prior
convictions under Rule 609, opinion and reputation testimony under Rule 608(a),
and prior inconsistent statements under Rule 613. However, specific instances of
conduct (other than criminal convictions) under Rule 608(b) are generally not
admissible to attack credibility unless the declarant is called as a witness and cross-
examined.
Question 2
According to the Texas Supreme Court in Eby, the convincing rationale for the
economic loss rule is that it performs a critical boundary line function separating:
,A. Contract law from economic damages
B. Contract law and tort law
C. Tort law from economic damages
D. Damages civil and criminal law
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The economic loss rule serves as a vital boundary between contract law
and tort law. Contract law governs agreements between parties with defined
obligations, while tort law deals with civil wrongs resulting from harm or injury.
When economic loss occurs, the economic loss rule determines whether the injured
party can seek recovery solely through contract remedies or if tort remedies are
also applicable, preventing parties from circumventing contract terms to pursue
additional tort damages.
TEXAS BAR EXAMINATION QUESTIONS (ESSAY FORMAT
CONVERTED TO MULTIPLE CHOICE)
Note: The Texas Bar Examination primarily uses essay questions. I have converted
the legal issues into multiple-choice format based on the fact patterns from official
exams.
Question 3
In Question 7 from the July 2007 Texas Bar Exam, Karen and Scott were married
in 1997 and lived in Texas until 2005. Prior to marriage, Scott owned a 20-acre
tract called The Little Ranch. In 1999, they tore down the existing home and built a
new home, executing a 30-year $500,000 mortgage together. At divorce, Karen
claimed an interest in the new home. Under Texas family law, the new home on
The Little Ranch is properly characterized as:
,A. Community property because it was built during the marriage
B. Scott's separate property because it replaced a separate property asset
C. Jointly owned property requiring partition
D. Community property because Karen contributed separate funds to the mortgage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under Texas law, the character of property is determined at the time of
acquisition. The new home was built on land that was Scott's separate property.
Replacement of a separate property asset with a new structure generally maintains
separate property character, even if built during marriage, unless there is clear
evidence of a gift to the community or an agreement to change character.
Question 4
In the same fact pattern, Karen made substantial disbursements from her separate
accounts but failed to present specific evidence that any disbursements were made
to benefit Scott's separate estate. To establish a claim for economic contribution,
Karen should have presented evidence of:
A. The total amount of mortgage payments made from community funds
B. The fair market value of the home at the time of divorce
C. The amount of her separate funds contributed and that the contributions
enhanced the value of Scott's separate estate
D. Scott's income at the time the mortgage was executed
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under Texas Family Code, a claim for economic contribution requires
proof that separate funds were contributed to another spouse's separate property
and that those contributions enhanced the value of that property. Without specific
, evidence tracing the separate funds to improvements on Scott's separate estate, the
court cannot calculate the value of the contribution or grant recovery.
Question 5
In Question 8 from the July 2007 Texas Bar Exam, Bob was found to be the
biological father of Cindy's 10-year-old son. The trial court ordered prospective
child support of $500 per month and retroactive child support of $60,000. The
court included in Bob's net resources rental income from a building in Kim's name
and income from a child care business operated by Kim, both characterized as
community property subject to Kim's sole management. Under Texas Family
Code, may income from a spouse's separate management community property be
included in the other spouse's net resources for child support?
A. Yes, because all community income is available for child support regardless of
management
B. Yes, if the parent ordered to pay support has an ownership interest in the
property
C. No, because income from property under the sole management of the other
spouse is not included
D. No, unless the other spouse consents in writing
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under Texas Family Code §154.062, net resources for child support
include income from community property in which the parent has an ownership
interest. However, when property is subject to a spouse's sole management and
control, the other spouse may not have sufficient legal authority to access that
income for child support obligations.
