Tarrant County Family Law Center Guide

Many divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, and other family law matters in Tarrant County are handled through courts and offices located at the Tarrant County Family Law Center in downtown Fort Worth. If you have a hearing coming up or need to request court records, knowing the building’s layout, the courts it houses, and where filings are handled can make the visit far less stressful.

Court assignments, fees, hearing procedures, filing requirements, and local rules can change, so always confirm current information with your assigned court or the Tarrant County District Clerk before you rely on it for a filing or hearing date.

Location and Hours

The Tarrant County Family Law Center is located at 200 East Weatherford Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76196. The District Clerk’s Family Law Center office, located on the third floor, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. County offices may close for holidays or on other scheduled dates, so confirm hours before making a special trip. The District Clerk’s Family Law Division can be reached at 817-884-1265.

The Family Law Center is a separate building from the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center and the Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building, so double-check which courthouse your hearing notice lists. The six Tarrant County family district courts discussed below are located in the Family Law Center, but not every matter involving children or families is necessarily heard there. Your hearing notice and assigned court should control where you appear.

The Family District Courts and Other Courts

Six family district courts hear general family law matters inside the Family Law Center: the 231st, 233rd, 322nd, 324th, 325th, and 360th District Courts. These courts handle family law cases that can include divorce, child custody, and property division. The 231st, 233rd, and 325th District Courts are currently located on the fifth floor, while the 322nd, 324th, and 360th District Courts are on the fourth floor.

When a family case is filed, it is assigned to a particular district court. An associate judge may conduct certain hearings or other proceedings for that court. Judges, associate judges, court personnel, schedules, and floor assignments can change, so do not assume in advance which judge will hear your matter or which floor to go to. Confirm the assigned court, hearing location, and any court-specific instructions through your case documents, official county court information, or your attorney before a hearing.

Other family-related courts also operate in the building, including Tarrant County IV-D Courts No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3. These courts hear child support cases under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, the part of federal law that governs child support enforcement services. Child Protection Courts No. 1 and No. 2, currently located on the fifth floor, handle child-protection matters involving the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

The Role of the District Clerk

The Tarrant County District Clerk’s office maintains district court records, including family law case files containing documents such as petitions, orders, and judgments. The District Clerk receives and maintains court filings, but the method required for submitting a particular document can depend on the filer, document, and applicable court rules. Confirm current e-filing or other filing requirements before submitting documents.

The district clerk is administrative staff, not a judge. The office cannot give legal advice or decide how a case should be resolved. District Clerk staff can provide access to records and copies, accept filings that comply with applicable requirements, and provide administrative information about the court file. Questions about hearing settings, courtroom procedures, or what a judge requires should generally be directed to the assigned court rather than the clerk.

Requesting Court Records

Tarrant County provides several ways to view or request family-court records. The best option to use can depend on whether you simply want to inspect a file, need a paper or electronic copy, or require a certified copy.

Public-access terminals at the Family Law Center provide free self-service document lookup. Tarrant County also offers paid web-based access from home or office. The county currently lists a $120 initiation fee and $35 monthly fee for that service, but subscription terms and charges can change. Confirm the current requirements before opening an account.

For a records request through the Family Law Division, having the case number avoids the county’s current $5 records research fee. Current published copy charges are $1 per page for non-certified paper copies; electronic copies are $1 for the first 1 to 10 pages and 10 cents per page beginning with page 11. Certified copies carry an additional $5 certification or seal fee. Because these fees are administrative and may be updated, check the District Clerk’s current fee information before submitting a request or payment.

Family-record requests can be submitted in person or by mail to the Family Law Division or by email to [email protected]. You should include party names in an email request. Mailed requests for certified copies should include a self-addressed stamped envelope, while requests for non-certified electronic copies should include a valid email address. The District Clerk currently states that personal checks are not accepted.

If a matter involves Title IV-D child support services, the Texas Attorney General or Tarrant County Domestic Relations Office may also have information related to those services. That does not necessarily replace the District Clerk as the custodian of the court’s filed records.

Preparing for a Hearing

Family district courts can have their own policies and procedures, so first identify your assigned court and review its current rules, local family-court rules, and hearing instructions. Do not assume that a procedure used in one Tarrant County family court applies in another.

Arrive with time to spare. Everyone entering the Family Law Center must pass through security, and lines or other courthouse activity can add time before you reach the courtroom. Bring government-issued photo identification, and bring or submit any documents your attorney or the court has asked you to have in the manner required by the assigned court.

Dress for a courtroom, not a waiting room. Tarrant County’s published family-court conduct guidance tells visitors to dress as they would for a professional job interview and identifies clothing such as shorts and tank tops as inappropriate. Individual court requirements may vary, so review the instructions for your assigned court before appearing.

Remote or telephone appearances are not governed by one universal procedure across every family district court. Individual courts may authorize them in particular matters and may impose their own requirements for scheduling, exhibits, technology, and advance approval. If you believe your hearing will be remote, follow the instructions in your setting notice and confirm the procedure with the assigned court’s coordinator.

If your case involves a protective order or a family violence concern, contact your attorney or the appropriate court office before the hearing if you have a courthouse safety concern. Ask what procedures or accommodations may be available rather than assuming a particular arrangement can be made.

Parking

There is no free parking at the Family Law Center. Currently, the parking garage at Weatherford and Calhoun is the most convenient nearby option. County guidance lists a charge of $2.50 for the first 30 minutes, up to a $10 maximum, and states that the garage accepts cash rather than credit or debit cards.

Metered street parking surrounds the courthouse as well, but many meters have a two-hour limit that is strictly enforced. County guidance also states that vehicles displaying qualifying disabled plates or placards may park at meters without paying, although posted time limits still apply. Parking rates, payment methods, and garage availability can change, so check the current Tarrant County parking information before you go.

Security

Like other Tarrant County courthouses, the Family Law Center uses a security screening checkpoint at the entrance. Visitors must pass through a metal detector; bags and large jewelry or accessories may need to go through a scanner; and weapons of any kind, including pocket knives, should not be brought into the courthouse.

Courtroom rules can also govern usage of phones and other electronic devices. For example, published family-court conduct guidance requires phones to be turned off in the courtroom. Because building-security procedures and individual courtroom rules are not necessarily the same thing, check the instructions for your assigned court if you need to bring equipment or have questions about electronic devices.

If you need to bring medical equipment, accessibility equipment, or another item that could raise a screening question, contact the county or appropriate court office in advance to confirm how it will be handled.

When to Involve an Attorney

Some of what happens at the Family Law Center, such as finding the right courtroom or requesting a copy of an order, is administrative and can be handled without a lawyer. Deciding how to respond to a hearing notice, what to file, or how to handle a contested issue like child custody, child support, or an adoption is a different matter. The filings, evidence, deadlines, and hearing procedures that apply can depend on the type of case and the court handling it.

Since 1982, Bailey & Galyen has served clients across Texas with large-firm resources and personal attention.

Call Bailey & Galyen to discuss an upcoming Tarrant County family court hearing and learn what options may be available. The firm offers free consultations for family law matters, and someone is available 24/7 to help you get started.