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​The Harris County Domestic Relations Office provides services to families with cases in the Harris County Family District Courts.  All services are offered with a focus on the child's best interest.  The Office seeks to ensure that:

  • Parents discover that mediation is a preferred alternative to litigation.
  • Parents understand and keep children out of parental conflict
  • Parents are aware of the consequences of failing to follow court orders.
  • Children receive both emotional and financial support from each parent.
  • Children are afforded quality time, in a safe environment with both parents.
  • Children timely receive the financial support needed to grow up and thrive in life.


The Domestic Relations Office is a domestic violence-informed agency.  If you are a victim or survivor of domestic violence, we have information to help you. Please click on our "links" pages or contact us for assistance. 

NOTICE:  The office has suspended all in-person services to the public.  This measure is in keeping with larger county efforts to slow the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and will help to protect our customers and our staff. The closure will remain in effect until further notice. 

Mediations and parent conferences are being provided through remote services, i.e. zoom.com.  Other services are provided by phone.  Services can be applied for online or via telephone at the main number listed to the right of this notice.  Please contact us for assistance.  Please visit the tab with your specific service for additional information.​

For information on child support as it relates to the coronavirus, access  https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/child-support/covid19.  Continue to contact our office for child support case information.  For employment assistance you may contact Texas Workforce Solutions at www.wrksolutions.com or at 888-469-5627.  If you need to apply for unemployment benefits, contact Texas Workforce at www.ui.texasworkforce.org or call 800-939-6631. 

The Texas Supreme Court has issued orders that apply to possession schedules in Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship due to the COVID19 pandemic.  See attached link: https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1446251/209050.pdf

Seven Guidelines for Parents Who Are Divorce/Separated and Sharing Custody of Children During the COVID19 Pandemic

1. BE HEALTHY.

Comply with all CDC and local and state guidelines and model good behavior for your children with intensive hand washing, wiping down surfaces and other objects that are frequently touched, and maintaining social distancing. This also means BE INFORMED. Stay in touch with the most reliable media sources and avoid the rumor mill on social media.

2. BE MINDFUL.

Be honest about the seriousness of the pandemic but maintain a calm attitude and convey to your children your belief that everything will return to normal in time. Avoid making careless comments in front of the children and exposing them to endless media coverage intended for adults. Don't leave the news on 24/7, for instance. But, at the same time, encourage your children to ask questions and express their concerns and answer them truthfully at a level that is age-appropriate. 

3. BE COMPLIANT with court orders and custody agreements.

As much as possible, try to avoid reinventing the wheel despite the unusual circumstances. The custody agreement or court order exists to prevent endless haggling over the details of timesharing. In some jurisdictions there are even standing orders mandating that, if schools are closed, custody agreements should remain in force as though school were still in session.

4. BE CREATIVE.

At the same time, it would be foolish to expect that nothing will change when people are being advised not to fly and vacation attractions such as amusement parks, museums and entertainment venues are closing all over the US and the world. In addition, some parents will have to work extra hours to help deal with the crisis and other parents may be out of work or working reduced hours for a time. Plans will inevitably have to change. Encourage closeness with the parent who is not going to see the child through shared books, movies, games and FaceTime or Skype.

5. BE TRANSPARENT.

Provide honest information to your co-parent about any suspected or confirmed exposure to the virus, and try to agree on what steps each of you will take to protect the child from exposure. Certainly both parents should be informed at once if the child is exhibiting any possible symptoms of the virus.

6. BE GENEROUS.

Try to provide makeup time to the parent who missed out, if at all possible. Family law judges expect reasonable accommodations when they can be made and will take seriously concerns raised in later filings about parents who are inflexible in highly unusual circumstances.

7. BE UNDERSTANDING.

There is no doubt that the pandemic will pose an economic hardship and lead to lost earnings for many, many parents, both those who are paying child support and those who are receiving child support. The parent who is paying should try to provide something, even if it can't be the full amount. The parent who is receiving payments should try to be accommodating under these challenging and temporary circumstances.

Adversity can become an opportunity for parents to come together and focus on what is best for the child. For many children, the strange days of the pandemic will leave vivid memories. It's important for every child to know and remember that both parents did everything they could to explain what was happening and to keep their child safe.

From the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and AFCC.

 



  Location:


   Phone:

    713-274-7300 (Main)
    713-437-5800 (Fax)


   E-mail:

      DROinquiries@hctx.net