Bill > HB2524

This bill comprehensively amends multiple sections of the Texas Family Code to standardize language and provisions related to attorney's fees, court costs, and expenses in various family law proceedings. The key changes involve consistently adding language specifying that attorney's fees, court costs, and expenses must be "reasonable and necessary" across different types of family law cases, including divorce, child support enforcement, parentage determinations, and protective orders. The bill also introduces a new provision allowing courts to order these fees, costs, and expenses to be paid directly to the attorney, who can then enforce the order in their own name using standard debt collection methods. Additionally, the bill broadens the contexts in which such fees can be awarded, such as when a party fails to comply with court orders, files a frivolous suit, or is found to have violated certain provisions. The modifications apply to suits filed on or after September 1, 2025, and aim to provide more clarity and consistency in how legal expenses are handled in family law proceedings, potentially making legal recourse more accessible and predictable for parties involved in such cases.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2524