Montgomery County Family Law Attorney for Four Counties
Jessica Fritz is a Montgomery County family law attorney whose office sits across the street from the courthouse in Conroe. She also represents families in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties. Which county hears a family case depends on where the spouses or the children live, and this page explains how that works.
What decides which county hears a Texas family case?
Venue in Texas is the rule that decides which county's court hears a case, and in family cases it turns on residence. A divorce follows where the spouses have lived. A case about a child follows where the child lives. Once a court signs a final order about a child, that court usually keeps every later case about that child.
Each rule comes from a different part of the Texas Family Code, explained below. Getting venue right matters: a divorce filed where neither spouse qualifies can be dismissed.
Where a Texas divorce is filed: six months of Texas domicile, then 90 days of county residence
A Texas divorce can be filed only where either spouse has been domiciled in Texas for the preceding six months and has lived in the filing county for the preceding 90 days. Texas Family Code § 6.301 requires both periods to be satisfied as of the filing date.
Domicile means the place a person treats as a permanent home. When one spouse has moved out of state, § 6.302 lets the out-of-state spouse file in the county where the Texas spouse lives, as long as the Texas spouse has been domiciled here for at least six months. The rest of the divorce process is on the divorce page.
Where is a case about a child filed in Texas?
The first case about a child normally belongs in the child's home county, according to Texas Family Code § 103.001(a). The exceptions: a court that already has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction keeps the case, and a children's case joined to a divorce follows the divorce. If the parents reside in separate counties and no court has named a managing conservator, § 103.001(c) generally points to the county of the parent who has actual care, control and possession of the child.
Does the first court keep a child's case forever?
Usually, but not always. Under Texas Family Code § 155.001, the court that signs a final order about a child gains continuing, exclusive jurisdiction, which means later cases about that child generally go back to the same court. Section 155.201 sets out when the case must move:
- If the parents later file for divorce in a different court, the earlier court must transfer the children's case to the divorce court once a party files a motion asking for it (§ 155.201(a)).
- If a suit to modify or a motion to enforce is filed and the child has lived in another Texas county for six months or longer, the court must transfer the case to that county on a timely motion (§ 155.201(b)).
- In counting those six months, the court looks at the child's principal residence and does not require the time to be continuous (§ 155.203).
| Situation | Usually filed in | Texas Family Code |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce | A county where a spouse has lived 90 days, with six months of Texas domicile | § 6.301 |
| Divorce, one spouse living out of state | The county where the Texas spouse lives | § 6.302 |
| First case about a child | The county where the child lives | § 103.001 |
| Later case after a final order | The court that signed the final order | §§ 155.001, 155.002 |
| Modification or enforcement after a move | The child's new county, on timely motion, after six months there | § 155.201(b) |
Montgomery County family law attorney across from the Conroe courthouse
Montgomery County is where most Fritz Law Firm, PLLC cases are filed. The office at 220 1/2 W Davis St is directly across the street from the Montgomery County Courthouse at 301 N Main St in Conroe, the county seat, where the county's family cases are heard.
Montgomery County family cases go to courts that include the 410th District Court, the 418th District Court and County Court at Law No. 3. The Montgomery County family courts page explains how a case is assigned among them and what the county's standing order requires. Spring sits on the line between Montgomery and Harris Counties, so a Spring family's street address decides which county's courts hear the case.
Harris County family cases are heard in downtown Houston
In Harris County, family matters go to a group of district courts that hear only family cases, located in downtown Houston. The Harris County District Clerk lists the family courts in the Harris County Civil Courthouse at 201 Caroline St.
Jessica Fritz lives in Cypress, in northwest Harris County, and represents Harris County families from the Conroe office. Tomball sits on the Montgomery County line, and Kingwood lies near New Caney, so a family that has moved across the county line should check which court holds any existing order.
Fort Bend County family cases go to the Justice Center in Richmond
Fort Bend County's district courts sit in the Fort Bend County Justice Center at 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle in Richmond, the county seat, according to the county's district courts directory. The county's family district courts, the 328th, 387th, 501st and 505th, hold court there.
Rosenberg families are covered on the Richmond page. Katy spans Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties, so which courthouse a Katy family uses depends on which side of the county lines it lives on; the Katy page walks through it.
Waller County family cases are filed in Hempstead
Hempstead is the county seat of Waller County, and Waller County family cases are handled there. Family matters are heard by Waller County Court at Law No. 1, which has held court on the third floor of the new Waller County Courthouse at 836 Austin St. since July 27, 2026. Family case filings go to the Waller County District Clerk at the Waller County Justice Center.
Waller County is the ranchland side of the firm's service area, west of Harris and Montgomery Counties, and part of Katy reaches into it. Fritz Law Firm, PLLC handles family cases in these four counties: Montgomery, Harris, Fort Bend and Waller.
Montgomery County family law attorney: common questions
Is there a minimum stay in Montgomery County before a divorce can be filed here?
Yes: at least 90 days, counted for either spouse. Texas Family Code section 6.301 requires that, when the divorce is filed, either spouse has lived in the filing county for the preceding 90 days and has been domiciled in Texas for the preceding six months. Until then, the divorce can be filed only in a county where a spouse already meets both periods.
My custody order is from Harris County, but we live in Montgomery County now. Where do I file a modification?
A modification is filed in the court with continuing, exclusive jurisdiction, which is usually the court that signed the order. If the child has lived in Montgomery County for six months or longer, a party can file a timely motion asking that court to transfer the case to Montgomery County under Texas Family Code section 155.201(b).
Will a Montgomery County family law attorney based in Conroe take on a Harris County matter?
Yes. Jessica Fritz works as a Montgomery County family law attorney out of Conroe and also takes Harris County family matters, which are decided in downtown Houston. She lives in Cypress, in northwest Harris County. Fritz Law Firm, PLLC also handles cases in Fort Bend and Waller Counties.
Which county do I file in if my child lives with me and the other parent lives in another county?
Generally, a first case about a child belongs in the child's home county. If the parents reside in separate counties and no court has named a managing conservator, Texas Family Code section 103.001(c) points to the county of the parent who has actual care, control and possession of the child. If a court has already signed a final order about the child, the case usually goes back to that court.
Last reviewed: November 8, 2026. This page describes Texas law in general terms; for guidance on your own situation, speak with an attorney.
Speak with a Montgomery County family law attorney
Unsure where your case should be filed? Call or send a message, and staff will set up a time to meet with Jessica Fritz in 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.