File Your Family or Name Change Case in Your Texas County

Choose your Texas county for district clerk information, automated local court rules (standing orders, notary jurats, AI certifications), and free legal help resources.

Why your county matters

Custody (SAPCR): an original custody case is usually filed in the county where the child lives (Tex. Fam. Code § 103.001), and Texas generally must be the child's home state, meaning the child lived in Texas for the six months before filing (§ 152.201).
Divorce: one spouse must have lived in Texas for the past 6 months and in the filing county for the past 90 days (Tex. Fam. Code § 6.301).
Adult Name Change: an adult petition for change of name must be filed in the county where the petitioner resides (Tex. Fam. Code § 45.101).
Local court rules: each county's district clerk and benches set their own local rules—such as standing orders (Travis, Dallas, Collin, Denton, Bell), financial disclosure schedules (Harris Local Rule 4), AI verification declarations (Collin Standing Order No. 3), or sworn notary jurat mandates (Williamson County Court at Law No. 4).

What to ask your district clerk before filing

Which cover sheets and local forms must be filed with your petition.
Whether a county standing order applies automatically to family cases, and whether you must attach it or serve it with your petition.
Whether your court accepts a standard CPRC § 132.001 Unsworn Declaration or requires a sworn Notary Public Jurat.
How to file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs (Tex. R. Civ. P. 145) if you can't pay the filing fees.

Don't see your county?

The Texas Family Code and Texas Rules of Civil Procedure apply statewide, so the steps in our guides apply in every Texas county. Local forms and procedures differ, so check your county district clerk's website or call the clerk's office before filing. Free help may be available from legal aid organizations and TexasLawHelp.org.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I file my family or name change case in any Texas county?

No. An original custody case is usually filed in the county where the child lives (Tex. Fam. Code § 103.001), a divorce requires one spouse to have lived in the filing county for the past 90 days (§ 6.301), and an adult name change must be filed in the county where the adult resides (§ 45.101).

Is there a residency requirement to file for divorce in Texas?

Yes. One spouse must have lived in Texas for the past 6 months and in the county where the case is filed for the past 90 days (Tex. Fam. Code § 6.301).

My county isn't listed. Do the guides still apply?

Yes. The statutes and court rules our guides cite apply statewide. Only local forms and procedures differ, so confirm them with your county's district clerk.

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Last reviewed 2026-10-27. Laws change. Confirm current rules with the court clerk or an attorney.