Texas Family Law Explained
Texas family law decides how a marriage ends, who makes decisions for a child, how much support is paid and how property is split. Most of the time those questions are answered together, in one lawsuit, under the Texas Family Code. This guide shows how the pieces connect and where each one is explained.
Which disputes end up before a Texas family court judge?
Family law in Texas is the branch of state law, written mostly into the Texas Family Code, that controls how a marriage ends, how parents share responsibility for a child, and who keeps or pays what once a household splits. A Texas family court applies those rules when people cannot settle a question themselves, or when an agreement needs a judge's signature to become an order.
- Divorce, and the division of community property and debts.
- Conservatorship, the Texas word for custody, and possession and access, the Texas term for the parenting schedule.
- Child support, including health insurance and dental coverage for the child.
- Spousal maintenance, which is support paid by one former spouse to the other.
- Paternity, adoption, and agreements spouses sign before or during a marriage.
- Modifications, which change a custody, visitation or support order that a court already signed.
Fritz Law Firm, PLLC handles these matters from 220 1/2 W Davis St in downtown Conroe, across the street from the Montgomery County Courthouse, for families in Montgomery, Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties.
Why one Texas family law case answers several questions at once
A Texas divorce between parents is not a divorce case plus a custody case plus a support case. Texas Family Code § 6.406(b) requires a divorce between parents to settle the children's issues too, so the same judge, in the same lawsuit, decides the marriage, the children and the property.
A case about a child's custody, support or parentage carries a formal label in § 6.406(b) and throughout Title 5 of the Family Code: a "suit affecting the parent-child relationship." The one exception: when another Texas court already has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the child from an earlier case, Texas Family Code § 6.407 lets either party ask that court to transfer the children's case to the divorce court, which then combines the two. The rules on which county keeps a child's case are on the Areas We Serve page.
What a final divorce decree between parents usually settles
- That the marriage is over.
- Conservatorship: who holds which decision-making rights and duties for each child.
- Possession and access: the schedule for when each parent has the children.
- Child support, plus health insurance and dental coverage for the children.
- How the community property and debts are divided.
- Spousal maintenance, when one spouse asks for it and qualifies.
Why it matters to see the whole case before signing any part of it
Because the issues travel together, a decision in one area often moves another. Who keeps the family home affects how the rest of the community property is balanced, and where the children live most of the time usually shapes which parent receives child support. That is why it helps to look at the whole case before agreeing to any single piece.
Can a custody or support order be changed after the case ends?
Yes. Chapter 156 of the Texas Family Code gives a court the power to revise a prior order on conservatorship, the parenting schedule or child support. Texas Family Code § 156.002(a) lets anyone affected by the order bring a suit to modify, and that suit goes to the court with continuing, exclusive jurisdiction, which is normally the court that signed the order.
In most modification cases, the parent or party seeking the change has to prove that the family's situation has shifted in a significant way since the judge signed the order. A new custody arrangement or parenting schedule must also serve the child's best interest, as § 156.101 requires, and child support has its own test in § 156.401. The child custody page and the child support page explain each test, and the modifications page walks through how a request to change an existing order moves through court.
What can be done when someone ignores a family court order?
The other party can file a motion for enforcement under Chapter 157 of the Texas Family Code. Texas Family Code § 157.001 allows enforcement of any provision of a temporary or final order, permits the court to enforce it by contempt, and requires the motion to be filed in the court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.
Contempt is a court's finding that a person disobeyed its order. Under § 157.002, a motion for enforcement must identify, in plain language, the part of the order that was violated, explain how the other party failed to comply, and state the relief requested. Collecting unpaid child support has its own deadlines and tools, which the child support page covers.
Ten guides, grouped by the question a family usually starts with
Each guide below explains one part of a Texas family case in depth: what the Family Code says and how the process runs. Start with the group that matches the question in front of you.
Is your marriage ending?
Divorce is the lawsuit that ends a Texas marriage, and it is usually the case that pulls every other issue in with it. Start here when a petition is already on file, or while you are still weighing whether to file one.
- Divorce: grounds, the waiting period, and the steps from petition to final decree.
Is the question about a child?
Questions about children come up inside a divorce, between parents who never married, and years after an order was signed.
- Child Custody: conservatorship, the parenting schedule and where a child may live.
- Child Support: how the amount is figured and how it is collected.
- Paternity: making a father's legal relationship official.
- Grandparents Rights: when a grandparent can ask a court for access.
- Modifications: asking the court to update a custody, visitation or support order when a family's life has changed.
Is the question about money or property?
When a marriage ends, the court divides what the couple acquired and may order one spouse to help support the other for a set time. Couples can also settle those questions in writing ahead of time.
- Property Division: community and separate property, and how the estate is split.
- Spousal Maintenance: who qualifies for support after divorce, and for how long.
- Prenuptial Agreements: agreements signed before or during a marriage.
Are you adding a child to your family?
Adoption creates a permanent legal relationship between a parent and a child.
- Adoption: uncontested Texas adoptions under the Family Code, and how the process works.
Where to go next when you are ready to talk with an attorney
For families in and around Conroe, the Conroe family law attorney page explains how a case runs from the office on W Davis St. Families elsewhere in Montgomery, Harris, Fort Bend or Waller County can find their community on the Areas We Serve page, and the Montgomery County family courts page explains how a new case is assigned to a court.
Texas family law: common questions
Does a Texas divorce with children mean three separate lawsuits?
Usually not. When spouses who are parents divorce, Texas Family Code section 6.406 requires the divorce to include the case about the children, so one judge decides custody, support and property together. The exception is when another court already has an earlier case about the children, and that case can be transferred into the divorce.
If life shifts after the decree, is a custody or support order locked in as written?
No. Chapter 156 of the Texas Family Code lets anyone affected by the order bring a suit to modify it, normally in the same court that signed it. In most cases the person seeking the change has to prove that the family's situation has shifted in a significant way since the judge signed the order.
Is there a remedy when a former spouse keeps breaking the decree?
Yes. Chapter 157 of the Texas Family Code allows a motion for enforcement, filed with the court holding continuing, exclusive jurisdiction, asking that court to make the other person comply. The motion must point to the specific provision that was broken, and the court may use contempt to enforce it.
Why do Texas family law papers say conservatorship instead of custody?
Texas family law swaps the everyday words for statutory terms. Conservatorship covers a parent's decision-making authority and responsibilities toward a child, and possession and access, the replacement for visitation, covers the calendar showing which parent the child stays with and on which days.
Is Texas family law the same in every county?
The Texas Family Code applies statewide, so the same rules on divorce, custody, support and property govern a case in Montgomery, Harris, Fort Bend or Waller County. What changes from county to county is procedure: each county's courts adopt local rules and standing orders that control scheduling, required filings and similar steps.
Last reviewed: November 8, 2026. This page describes Texas law in general terms; for guidance on your own situation, speak with an attorney.
Talk with Jessica Fritz about your family's case
Call Fritz Law Firm, PLLC or send a message, and staff will set up a time for you to meet with Jessica Fritz at the office in downtown Conroe.
What clients have written about Fritz Law Firm, PLLC
The reviews below were posted on Google by people the firm has represented in Texas family law matters. Each one appears here exactly as the client posted it, including spelling and punctuation.
-
I recently went through a long and difficult divorce that involved my son. Jessica and her staff were there for us every step of the way. She and her staff were extremely knowledgeable, and just as important, supportive of me and my son through the entire process. Frankly, I don't know what I would have done without her. She was a Godsend.
If you're looking for a fair, trusting and caring divorce, family law lawyer, I highly recommend contacting Jessica.
Jeff M. Posted on Google -
Jessica, you are amazing. Thank you so much for everything that you did for me and my kiddos. If I ever need anything else, I wouldn't hesitate to call this lawyer She was amazing across the board. If you want somebody that's gonna fight for you. She's the one.
Timothy B. Posted on Google -
The Law Firm of Fritz and Phillips has handled our case with the highest level of professionalism and expertise. Our situation has been both complex and challenging, yet every member of their team has consistently treated us with genuine care, respect, and compassion.
Although we understand that our case is one of many they manage, we have always felt like a priority. Their responsiveness, especially during urgent or emergency situations, has been exceptional and deeply reassuring.
They have guided us through the legal process with clarity and confidence, ensuring we remained informed about applicable laws, expectations, and potential outcomes every step of the way. Their ability to make an otherwise stressful and overwhelming experience feel manageable truly sets them apart.
We are incredibly grateful for their dedication and would highly recommend Fritz and Phillips to anyone seeking knowledgeable, attentive, and client-centered legal representation.
Stacie J. Posted on Google
Every family law case turns on its own facts. One client's experience is not a promise about how another case will turn out.
Meet your attorney
Jessica Fritz, family law attorney in Conroe, Texas
Every case at Fritz Law Firm, PLLC is handled by one lawyer, Jessica Fritz, working with the firm's staff. There are no associates, so your case is not handed off to someone you have never met.
Jessica Fritz gives clients straight answers about Texas family law, a frank view of where their case stands, and a clear next step.
- Texas law license
- Licensed by the State Bar of Texas since 2008
- Cases handled
- Family law, mostly in Montgomery County, with regular cases in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties
- Office
- 220 1/2 W Davis St, Conroe, TX 77301, across the street from the Montgomery County Courthouse
- Roots
- Born in Amarillo; now lives in Cypress, Texas
Ready to talk through your family law case? The office sits across the street from the Montgomery County Courthouse in Conroe. Most of the firm's cases are in Montgomery County, with steady work in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties too.
Fritz Law Firm, PLLC
- Family law office in downtown Conroe
- 220 1/2 W Davis St, Conroe, TX 77301
- 713-887-7500
- info@fritz-law.com
- Mon–Thu 8:30 AM – 5:30 PMFri 8:30 AM – 12:00 PMSat & Sun closed
© 2026 Fritz Law Firm, PLLC, Conroe, Texas
This website is attorney advertising. Fritz Law Firm, PLLC practices family law in Texas from its principal office in Conroe. The pages on this site share general information, not legal advice for your situation. Calling, emailing or messaging the firm does not make you a client; representation starts only after both sides sign a written engagement agreement. Results in past matters do not predict results in future ones, because each case depends on its own facts. Jessica Fritz, a member of the State Bar of Texas, is the attorney responsible for this website.