Harris County Family Court FAQ

Family law is generally considered divorces and matters involving children, like child custody and support. Post-divorce modifications of child arrangements, like support and custody, are also included. Family courts also hear adoptions, CPS cases and domestic violence.

The Texas Family Code contains five Titles and 266 chapters. “Family law” means matters under the Family Code. The titles are:

• Title 1: The Marriage Relationship.
• Title 1-A: Collaborative Family Law.
• Title 2: Child in Relation to the Family.
• Title 3: Juvenile Justice Code.

• • • Title 3-A: Truancy Court Proceedings.

• Title 4: Protective Orders and Family Violence.
• Title 5: The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent- Child Relationship.

In Harris County, TX a total of 18 courts handle matters under the Texas Family Code. Each is numbered by the legislature when it’s established. The number has nothing to do with the floor the court is on or its importance.

The ten Harris County courts that hear general family law matters not involving domestic violence, Attorney General child support, or juvenile justice are:

• The 245^th Family Court: The Hon. Tristan Longino Presiding; The Hon. James Cooper, Associate Judge – 15^th floor, 201 Caroline, Houston, TX.
• The 246^th Family Court: The Hon. Angela L. Graves-Harrington Presiding; The Hon. Yahaira Quezada, Associate Judge – 16^th floor, 201 Caroline, Houston, TX.
• The 247^th Family Court: The Hon. Janice Berg Presiding; The Hon. Bethany Arnold, Associate Judge – 15^th floor, 201 Caroline, Houston, TX.
• The 257^th Family Court: The Hon. Sandra Peake Presiding; The Hon. Deborah Patterson, Associate Judge – 16^th floor, 201 Caroline, Houston, TX.
• The 308^th Family Court: The Hon. Gloria E. Lopez Presiding; The Hon. Ryan Salfiti, Associate Judge – 8^th floor, 201 Caroline, Houston, TX.
• The 309^th Family Court: The Hon. Linda Marie Dunson Presiding; The Hon. Tracy D. Good, Associate Judge – 16th floor, 201 Caroline, Houston, TX.
• The 310^th Family Court: The Hon. Sonya L. Heath Presiding; The Hon. Charles Collins, Associate Judge – 15^th floor, 201 Caroline, Houston, TX.
• The 311^th Family Court: The Hon. Germaine Tanner Presiding: The Hon. Frank Pierce, Associate Judge – 8^th floor, 201 Caroline, Houston, TX.
• The 312^th Family Court: The Hon. Clinton E. Wells, Jr. Presiding; The Hon. Kimberly Baughman, Associate Judge – 16^th floor, 201 Caroline, Houston, TX.
• The 507^th Family Court: The Hon. Julia Maldonado Presiding; The Hon. Jim Evan, Associate Judge – 15^th floor, 201 Caroline, Houston, TX.

Family code matters not handled by another court, like divorces and issues regarding the parent-child relationship, such as custody and support, are handled in ten Family District Courts. These ten courts also hear termination of parental rights and adoptions. These are in the civil courthouse at 201 Caroline St. Houston, TX 77002.

Each Harris county family court has two judges, one elected district court judge and an associate judge chosen by the district judge. They are mostly on the 15^th and 16^th floors. Two are on the 8^th. A case is assigned to a court when it is first filed and, as long as the matter remains in Harris County, it stays in that court; even if a new judge is elected.

In Harris County, the 280^th District Court is dedicated to family violence. All Harris Co. domestic violence protective orders are handled in the 280^th. The 280^th District Court is in the Juvenile Justice Center, 7^th floor, 1200 Congress Ave., Houston, TX 77002. Judge Barbara J. Stalder presides over the 280^th. That court has no associate judge.

The 280^th District Court deals exclusively with domestic violence protective orders. Texas’ protective order statute is broad, and violence does not necessarily require physical contact. It also includes dating and post-divorce relationships.

Matters under the Juvenile Justice Code, Titles 3 and 3a of the Texas Family Code, are heard in:

• The 313^th Juvenile court, The Hon. Natalia Cokinos Oakes Presiding.

The Hon. William Thursland, Associate Judge.

Juvenile Justice Center, 1200 Congress, 5^th Floor, Houston, TX 77002.

• The 37^th Juvenile court, The Hon. Michelle Moore Presiding.

The Hon. Eric Andell, Associate Judge.

Juvenile Justice Center, 1200 Congress, 5^th Floor, Houston, TX 77002.

• The 315^th Juvenile court, The Hon. Leah Shapiro Presiding.

The Hon. Dena Fisher, Associate Judge.

Juvenile Justice Center, 1200 Congress, 7^th Floor, Houston, TX 77002.

These are not custody or child support courts. They are typically matters involving juvenile delinquency arising under Title 3 of The Texas Family Code, The Juvenile Justice Code, and Title 3a, Truancy Court Proceedings.

• Title IV-D Child Support Courts

Special courts hear child support cases brought by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas. They are called IV-D (“four D”) courts because they are created under The Social Security Act of 1975 Title IV-D, which authorizes and partly funds state services to collect child support.

Harris County IV-D courts are in the old Family Law Center in downtown Houston, at 1115 Congress, Houston, Texas. Harris County has four IV-D courts, and each has one judge:

• IV-D Court No. 1 – The Hon. Gregory R. Wettman presiding.
• IV-D Court No. 2 – The Hon. Frank P. Pierce presiding.
• IV-D Court No. 3 – The Hon. Veronica Torrez presiding. And
• IV-D Court No. 4 – The Hon. David Longoria presiding.

IV-D judges are not elected and are actually Associate Judges. Their decisions may be appealed to a referring district court.

Only the Office of the Attorney General may initiate a case in a IV-D court. Those courts are busy and crowded, and resemble traffic court. Typically, the assistant attorneys general try to negotiate each case, and only those with no agreement are heard by the Judge. Agreements are common in IV-D court.

Although it’s common for respondents to be unrepresented, an attorney employed by the Office of the Attorney General will prosecute the case, whether to impose or increase child support; or to seek unpaid child support. It is unwise for respondents to represent themselves. Lawyers who regularly practice in IV-D court charge reasonable fees.

An Associate Judge’s ruling may be appealed to the District Judge, who hears the matter anew from the beginning. It’s as if the Associate Judge never heard it, and all testimony and evidence is presented again. A party may object to the Associate Judge hearing a trial, including child support enforcements, but must do so within 10 days of learning the Associate Judge is assigned to the trial. No objection may be made to an Associate Judge hearing most other matters, but the decision can be appealed to the District Court Judge. Parties may waive their right to appeal the Associate Judge. This must be in writing and can move a case to the front of the line. It’s more efficient to hear a case once, knowing it will not be appealed.

Each of the family courts above has two judges, so two courtrooms. The main courtroom is usually occupied by the elected district court judge. Next to each courtroom is a narrow hallway ending with a door that leads to the associate judge’s court. The door to the associate judge’s courtroom is usually locked and the bailiff allows people in as requested by the associate judge. If your case is assigned to the associate judge, line up in the hallway outside the door and wait to be called by the bailiff.

If your lawyer has not told you to meet at a particular place, go into the main courtroom a few minutes before the time of your hearing.