TX RO updates

March 2024

On our Texas Restraining Orders page, we revised the following questions based on 2023 legislative changes allowing a judge to order an abuser not to track or monitor the victim or the victim’s motor vehicle:

We revised What is a temporary ex parte order? How long does it last? And How long does a permanent (final) protective order last? based on 2023 legislative changes requiring a judge to include an expiration date on a protective order.

We revised Step 1: Go to the district attorney’s office or the courthouse to file. And Step 2: Fill out the forms. based on 2023 changes requiring that people filing for a protective order use a standardized form that will be developed by the Office of Court Administration.

We revised Step 5: The hearing for a permanent protective order based on 2023 legislative changes removing the requirement that a judge decide whether an abuser is likely to commit family violence in the future, so that the judge is only deciding whether the abuser committed family violence already.

We revised Do I need to tell the court in Texas if I move? based on 2023 legislative changes adding additional parties who may receive a copy of the petitioner’s change of address form if they move.

Finally, we also revised the following questions on our Restraining Orders page to improve accessibility and readability for our users:

All of these changes were made in English; Spanish coming soon!

Grant:

UTILSS

State:

Texas

Whats New:

Updated Question(s)

Summary:

On our Texas Restraining Orders page, we revised 16 questions. All of these changes were made in English; Spanish coming soon!