Family courts—also known as domestic relations courts—are usually trial courts with the authority to hear only matters relating to family or domestic matters—such as divorce, child custody, and child support—and modification of related orders—as well as dating and domestic violence matters. Courts dedicated to family or domestic relations matters are usually located in populous counties and are said to have exclusive jurisdiction of domestic relations matters within the county.
In Texas, family courts, often referred to as domestic relations courts, are specialized trial courts that focus exclusively on issues pertaining to family law. These courts handle a variety of cases including divorce, child custody, child support, and modifications of existing family law orders. Additionally, they address issues related to dating and domestic violence. Family courts in Texas typically operate within the larger county court systems, especially in more populous counties, and are vested with exclusive jurisdiction over domestic relations matters within their respective counties. This means that all cases involving family law within the county must be filed and heard in the family court. The structure and jurisdiction of family courts in Texas are governed by state statutes and rules of civil procedure specific to family law cases.
