Tex. Codes » Family Code · TITLE 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · SUBTITLE B. SUITS AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · CHAPTER 153. CONSERVATORSHIP, POSSESSION, AND ACCESS
Texas Codes

Tex. Fam. Code § 153.001 (2026)

Public Policy

✓ laws through the 89th Legislature (2025)
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Sec. 153.001. PUBLIC POLICY. (a) The public policy of this state is to:

(1) assure that children will have frequent and continuing contact with parents who have shown the ability to act in the best interest of the child;

(2) provide a safe, stable, and nonviolent environment for the child; and

(3) encourage parents to share in the rights and duties of raising their child after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage.

(b) A court may not render an order that conditions the right of a conservator to possession of or access to a child on the payment of child support.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 751, Sec. 25, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 787, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 262 cases (44 in the last 5 years), 1996–2026 · leading case: In the Interest of J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256 (Tex. 2002).
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In the Interest of J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256 (Tex. 2002). · cites it 2× “” Tex. Fam.Code § 153.001(a). The statute further provides that “[t]he best interest of the child shall always be the primary consideration of the court in determining the issues of conservatorship and possession of and access to the child.”
Lenz v. Lenz, 79 S.W.3d 10 (Tex. 2002). · cites it 3× “Like Texas, the California Family Code pronounced a public policy in favor of “frequent and [continuing] contact” between the parents and children.”
Patterson v. Brist, 236 S.W.3d 238 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006). · cites it 4× “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.001 (a)(2) (“The public policy of this state is to .”
In re Lee, 411 S.W.3d 445 (Tex. 2013). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Fam.Code §§ 153.001, .002, .0071. 1.”
Niskar v. Niskar, 136 S.W.3d 749 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004). · cites it 2× “applicable law The Texas Family Code § 153.001 outlines Texas public policy for all suits affecting the parent-child relationship: (a) The public policy of this state is to: (1) assure that children will have frequent and continuing contact with parents who have shown the…”
Robinson v. Crown Cork & Seal Co., 335 S.W.3d 126 (Tex. 2010). · cites it 2× “(quoting TEX. FAM. CODE § 153.001(a)(2)). [114] A.”
In the Interest of J.R.D. & T.C.D., 169 S.W.3d 740 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005). · cites it 2× “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.001 (a) (West 2002).”
In the Interest of B.L.D., 113 S.W.3d 340 (Tex. 2003). “See Tex. Fam.Code § 153.001(a). “[U]ntil the State proves parental unfitness, the child and his parents share a vital interest in preventing erroneous termination of their natural relationship.”
In the Interest of E.C.R., Child, 402 S.W.3d 239 (Tex. 2013). “See also Tex. Fam.Code § 153.001(a)(2) ("The public policy of this state is to .”
Stamper v. Knox, 254 S.W.3d 537 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008). · cites it 2× “We therefore consider whether Knox bore his burden of establishing (1) that Stamper was equitably estopped from denying his paternity and (2) that it was in K.”
Critz v. Critz, 297 S.W.3d 464 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009). · cites it 2× “251(b) (Vernon 2008). I would hold that erasing the parental presumption in an original suit on custody when a court appoints multiple parties as managing conservators but gives primary possession to a nonparent would weaken these constitutional and statutory interests and would…”
Comanche Nation v. Fox, 128 S.W.3d 745 (Tex. App.—Austin 2004). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 153.001(a)(2) (West 2002).”
Show all 262 citing cases →
Tex. Fam. Code § 153.001(1): 1 case
in the Interest of C.M., a Child, No. 04-12-00395-CV (Tex. App.—San Antonio May 14, 2014).
Tex. Fam. Code § 153.001(a): 65 cases
In the Interest of J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256 (Tex. 2002). “” Tex. Fam.Code § 153.001(a). The statute further provides that “[t]he best interest of the child shall always be the primary consideration of the court in determining the issues of conservatorship and possession of and access to the child.”
In the Interest of B.L.D., 113 S.W.3d 340 (Tex. 2003). “See Tex. Fam.Code § 153.001(a). “[U]ntil the State proves parental unfitness, the child and his parents share a vital interest in preventing erroneous termination of their natural relationship.”
Niskar v. Niskar, 136 S.W.3d 749 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004). “applicable law The Texas Family Code § 153.001 outlines Texas public policy for all suits affecting the parent-child relationship: (a) The public policy of this state is to: (1) assure that children will have frequent and continuing contact with parents who have shown the…”
In the Interest of J.R.D. & T.C.D., 169 S.W.3d 740 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005). “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.001 (a) (West 2002).”
Naguib v. Naguib, 137 S.W.3d 367 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004).
Tex. Fam. Code § 153.001(a)(1): 31 cases
Lenz v. Lenz, 79 S.W.3d 10 (Tex. 2002). “Like Texas, the California Family Code pronounced a public policy in favor of “frequent and [continuing] contact” between the parents and children.”
Stamper v. Knox, 254 S.W.3d 537 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008). “We therefore consider whether Knox bore his burden of establishing (1) that Stamper was equitably estopped from denying his paternity and (2) that it was in K.”
Critz v. Critz, 297 S.W.3d 464 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009). “251(b) (Vernon 2008). I would hold that erasing the parental presumption in an original suit on custody when a court appoints multiple parties as managing conservators but gives primary possession to a nonparent would weaken these constitutional and statutory interests and would…”
in the Matter of the Marriage of Nikki Lanelle Christensen & Dean Christensen, Jr., & in the Interest of W.C., a Child, 570 S.W.3d 933 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2019).
Stucki v. Stucki, 222 S.W.3d 116 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2006).
Tex. Fam. Code § 153.001(a)(1)(3): 1 case
Heather Hamilton v. Arthur Maestas, No. 07-18-00320-CV, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 2911 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Apr. 7, 2020).
Tex. Fam. Code § 153.001(a)(2): 45 cases
In the Interest of J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256 (Tex. 2002). “” Tex. Fam.Code § 153.001(a). The statute further provides that “[t]he best interest of the child shall always be the primary consideration of the court in determining the issues of conservatorship and possession of and access to the child.”
Robinson v. Crown Cork & Seal Co., 335 S.W.3d 126 (Tex. 2010). “(quoting TEX. FAM. CODE § 153.001(a)(2)). [114] A.”
Patterson v. Brist, 236 S.W.3d 238 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006). “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.001 (a)(2) (“The public policy of this state is to .”
In the Interest of E.C.R., Child, 402 S.W.3d 239 (Tex. 2013). “See also Tex. Fam.Code § 153.001(a)(2) ("The public policy of this state is to .”
Lenz v. Lenz, 79 S.W.3d 10 (Tex. 2002). “Like Texas, the California Family Code pronounced a public policy in favor of “frequent and [continuing] contact” between the parents and children.”
Tex. Fam. Code § 153.001(a)(3): 4 cases
Lenz v. Lenz, 79 S.W.3d 10 (Tex. 2002). “Like Texas, the California Family Code pronounced a public policy in favor of “frequent and [continuing] contact” between the parents and children.”
in the Interest of V.M.T., a Child, No. 04-17-00575-CV (Tex. App.—San Antonio Aug. 15, 2018).
Prabhakar Gopalan v. Andrea Marsh, No. 25-0161 (Tex. May 22, 2026).
In re Jamie Majors, No. 12-15-00193-CV (Tex. App.—Tyler Dec. 3, 2015).
Tex. Fam. Code § 153.001(a)(l): 2 cases
In the Interest of M.A.M., 346 S.W.3d 10 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011).
In the Interest of K.L.W., 301 S.W.3d 423 (Tex. App. 2009).
Tex. Fam. Code § 153.001(a)(l)(2): 1 case
Tasha Rose Marsh v. Robert Christopher Marsh, No. 09-17-00184-CV (Tex. App.—Beaumont Dec. 11, 2017).
Tex. Fam. Code § 153.001(a)(l)(2)(3): 1 case
Tasha Rose Marsh v. Robert Christopher Marsh, No. 09-17-00184-CV (Tex. App.—Beaumont Dec. 11, 2017).
Tex. Fam. Code § 153.001(a)(l)(3): 1 case
Tasha Rose Marsh v. Robert Christopher Marsh, No. 09-17-00184-CV (Tex. App.—Beaumont Dec. 11, 2017).
Tex. Fam. Code § 153.001(b): 8 cases
in the Interest of H.S.B., a Child, 401 S.W.3d 77 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2011).
In re A.N.H., a Child, 70 S.W.3d 918 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2002).
In the Interest of P.D.D., a Child, 256 S.W.3d 834 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2008).
In re PDD, 256 S.W.3d 834 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2008).
in the Interest of M. E. H., 631 S.W.3d 244 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2020).
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