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Texas Family Code - Section 203.005. Fees And Charges

Legal Research Home > Texas Laws > Family Code > Texas Family Code - Section 203.005. Fees And Charges

§ 203.005. FEES AND CHARGES.  (a) The administering 
entity may authorize a domestic relations office to assess and 
collect:
		(1)  an initial operations fee not to exceed $15 to be 
paid to the domestic relations office on the filing of a suit;
		(2)  in a county that has a child support enforcement 
cooperative agreement with the Title IV-D agency, an initial child 
support service fee not to exceed $36 to be paid to the domestic 
relations office on the filing of a suit;
		(3)  a reasonable application fee to be paid by an 
applicant requesting services from the office;
		(4)  a reasonable attorney's fee and court costs 
incurred or ordered by the court;
		(5)  a monthly service fee not to exceed $3 to be paid 
annually in advance by a managing conservator and possessory 
conservator for whom the domestic relations office provides child 
support services;
		(6)  community supervision fees as provided by Chapter 
157 if community supervision officers are employed by the domestic 
relations office;
		(7)  a reasonable fee for preparation of a 
court-ordered social study;      
		(8)  in a county that provides visitation services 
under Sections 153.014 and 203.004 a reasonable fee to be paid to 
the domestic relations office at the time the visitation services 
are provided;  and
		(9)  a fee to reimburse the domestic relations office 
for a fee required to be paid under Section 158.503(d) for filing an 
administrative writ of withholding.
	(b)  The first payment of a fee under Subsection (a)(4) is 
due on the date that the person required to pay support is ordered 
to begin child support, alimony, or separate maintenance payments.  
Subsequent payments of the fee are due annually and in advance.
	(c)  The director of a domestic relations office shall 
attempt to collect all fees in an efficient manner.
	(d)  The administering entity may provide for an exemption 
from the payment of a fee authorized under this section if payment 
of the fee is not practical or in the interest of justice.  Fees that 
may be exempted under this subsection include fees related to:
		(1)  spousal and child support payments made under an 
interstate pact;      
		(2)  a suit brought by the Texas Department of Human 
Services;              
		(3)  activities performed by the Department of 
Protective and Regulatory Services or another governmental agency, 
a private adoption agency, or a charitable organization;  and
		(4)  services for a person who has applied for or who 
receives public assistance under the laws of this state.
	(e)  A fee authorized by this section for providing child 
support services is part of the child support obligation and may be 
enforced against both an obligor and obligee by any method 
available for the enforcement of child support, including contempt.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, § 1, eff. April 20, 1995.  
Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Family Code § 203.009 and amended by 
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 475, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended 
by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 556, § 48, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  Acts 
2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1023, § 51, eff. Sept. 1, 2001;  Acts 2003, 
78th Leg., ch. 707, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003;  Acts 2003, 78th 
Leg., ch. 1076, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003;  Acts 2005, 79th Leg., 
ch. 199, § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2005.

Last modified: August 11, 2007