Texas Family Code - Section 6.505. Counseling

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§ 6.505. COUNSELING.  (a) While a divorce suit is 
pending, the court may direct the parties to counsel with a person 
named by the court.
	(b)  The person named by the court to counsel the parties 
shall submit a written report to the court and to the parties before 
the final hearing.  In the report, the counselor shall give only an 
opinion as to whether there exists a reasonable expectation of 
reconciliation of the parties and, if so, whether further 
counseling would be beneficial.  The sole purpose of the report is 
to aid the court in determining whether the suit for divorce should 
be continued pending further counseling.
	(c)  A copy of the report shall be furnished to each party.                    
	(d)  If the court believes that there is a reasonable 
expectation of the parties' reconciliation, the court may by 
written order continue the proceedings and direct the parties to a 
person named by the court for further counseling for a period fixed 
by the court not to exceed 60 days, subject to any terms, 
conditions, and limitations the court considers desirable.  In 
ordering counseling, the court shall consider the circumstances of 
the parties, including the needs of the parties' family and the 
availability of counseling services.  At the expiration of the 
period specified by the court, the counselor to whom the parties 
were directed shall report to the court whether the parties have 
complied with the court's order.  Thereafter, the court shall 
proceed as in a divorce suit generally.
	(e)  If the court orders counseling under this section and 
the parties to the marriage are the parents of a child under 18 
years of age born or adopted during the marriage, the counseling 
shall include counseling on issues that confront children who are 
the subject of a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 7, § 1, eff. April 17, 1997.  
Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1325, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 
1997.

Last modified: August 10, 2007