Texas Family Code - Section 201.005. Cases That May Be Referred

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§ 201.005. CASES THAT MAY BE REFERRED.  (a) Except as 
provided by this section, a judge of a court may refer to an 
associate judge any aspect of a suit over which the court has 
jurisdiction under this title or Title 1 or 4 including any matter 
ancillary to the suit.
	(b)  Unless a party files a written objection to the 
associate judge hearing a trial on the merits, the judge may refer 
the trial to the associate judge.  A trial on the merits is any final 
adjudication from which an appeal may be taken to a court of 
appeals.
	(c)  A party must file an objection to an associate judge 
hearing a trial on the merits or presiding at a jury trial not later 
than the 10th day after the date the party receives notice that the 
associate judge will hear the trial.  If an objection is filed, the 
referring court shall hear the trial on the merits or preside at a 
jury trial.
	(d)  The requirements of Subsections (b) and (c) shall apply 
whenever a judge has authority to refer the trial of a suit under 
this title, Title 1, or Title 4 to an associate judge, master, or 
other assistant judge regardless of whether the assistant judge is 
appointed under this subchapter.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, § 1, eff. April 20, 1995.  
Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1302, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 
1999.

Last modified: August 10, 2007