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 § 153.501 (2026)

Necessity Of Measures To Prevent International Parental Child Abduction

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 153.501. NECESSITY OF MEASURES TO PREVENT INTERNATIONAL PARENTAL CHILD ABDUCTION. (a) In a suit, if credible evidence is presented to the court indicating a potential risk of the international abduction of a child by a parent of the child, the court, on its own motion or at the request of a party to the suit, shall determine under this section whether it is necessary for the court to take one or more of the measures described by Section 153.503 to protect the child from the risk of abduction by the parent.

(b) In determining whether to take any of the measures described by Section 153.503, the court shall consider:

(1) the public policies of this state described by Section 153.001(a) and the consideration of the best interest of the child under Section 153.002;

(2) the risk of international abduction of the child by a parent of the child based on the court's evaluation of the risk factors described by Section 153.502;

(3) any obstacles to locating, recovering, and returning the child if the child is abducted to a foreign country; and

(4) the potential physical or psychological harm to the child if the child is abducted to a foreign country.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 612, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 22 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2005–2025 · leading case: In Re Sigmar, 270 S.W.3d 289 (Tex. App. 2008).
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In Re Sigmar, 270 S.W.3d 289 (Tex. App. 2008). · cites it 6× “7 See Tex Fam. Code Ann. §§ 153.501(a), 153.503(2) (Vernon Supp.”
Smith v. Karanja, 546 S.W.3d 734 (Tex. App. 2018). · cites it 3× “], is of the age of maturity and/or 16 years of age" pursuant *736 to Texas Family Code section 153.501, which provides that if credible evidence indicating a potential risk of international abduction of a child by a parent is presented, the court may take certain protective…”
Katy Shuk Chi Lau Messier v. Luc J. Messier, 389 S.W.3d 904 (Tex. App. 2012). · cites it 4× “” Although Luc did not cite the specific statute in his petition, this is a request for the trial court to make a determination under Texas Family Code section 153.501. This statute, entitled “Necessity of Measures to Prevent International Parental Child Abduction,” provides in…”
Sylvia Yolanda Arredondo v. Antonio A. Betancourt, Jr., 383 S.W.3d 730 (Tex. App. 2012). · cites it 3× “503 (listing abduction-prevention measures the trial court may take based upon certain findings); see also Tex. Fam.Code § 153.501 (providing that the court shall determine whether abduction-prevention measures are required); § 153.”
Boyo v. Boyo, 196 S.W.3d 409 (Tex. App. 2006). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. §§ 153.501(a), 153.503 (Vernon Supp.”
in Re Axel Michael Sigmar (Tex. App. 2008). · cites it 4× “7 See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 153.501(a), 153.503(2) (Vernon 6 While these statutes are similar in many ways, we note that the UCAPA differs from the Texas statutes insofar as the UCAPA seeks to deter both “domestic and international child abductions.”
LaMar Carver Bunts v. Sensimone B. Williams (Tex. App. 2019). · cites it 2× “TEX. FAM. CODE § 153.501(a). One of the measures listed in Section 153.”
in the Matter of the Marriage of Ephraim Karsagi & Alyssa Lyn Karsagi & in the Interest of E.B.K. & A.Y.K., Child. (Tex. App. 2022). · cites it 2× “TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 153.501, 153.503. Texas courts are vested with “broad discretion in determining which preventive measures to impose.”
Scarlett Rebecca Kogel v. Thomas Wyatt Robertson (Tex. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 153.501 -.03 (West Supp.”
Scarlett Rebecca Kogel v. Thomas Wyatt Robertson (Tex. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 153.501 -.03 (West Supp.”
Scarlett Rebecca Kogel v. Thomas Wyatt Robertson (Tex. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 153.501 -.03 (West Supp.”
Andrew Boyo, ABNL, Inc. & ABNL, Ltd. v. Margaret Boyo (Tex. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “Texas Family Code section 153.501 provides that if credible evidence indicating a potential risk of international abduction of a child by a parent is presented, the court must determine whether to take measures prescribed in section 153.”
Show all 22 citing cases →
— Tex. Fam. Code § 153.501(a) — 8 cases
Katy Shuk Chi Lau Messier v. Luc J. Messier, 389 S.W.3d 904 (Tex. App. 2012). “” Although Luc did not cite the specific statute in his petition, this is a request for the trial court to make a determination under Texas Family Code section 153.501. This statute, entitled “Necessity of Measures to Prevent International Parental Child Abduction,” provides in…”
Sylvia Yolanda Arredondo v. Antonio A. Betancourt, Jr., 383 S.W.3d 730 (Tex. App. 2012). “503 (listing abduction-prevention measures the trial court may take based upon certain findings); see also Tex. Fam.Code § 153.501 (providing that the court shall determine whether abduction-prevention measures are required); § 153.”
Boyo v. Boyo, 196 S.W.3d 409 (Tex. App. 2006). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. §§ 153.501(a), 153.503 (Vernon Supp.”
In Re Sigmar, 270 S.W.3d 289 (Tex. App. 2008). “7 See Tex Fam. Code Ann. §§ 153.501(a), 153.503(2) (Vernon Supp.”
LaMar Carver Bunts v. Sensimone B. Williams (Tex. App. 2019). “TEX. FAM. CODE § 153.501(a). One of the measures listed in Section 153.”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 153.501(b) — 4 cases
Sylvia Yolanda Arredondo v. Antonio A. Betancourt, Jr., 383 S.W.3d 730 (Tex. App. 2012). “503 (listing abduction-prevention measures the trial court may take based upon certain findings); see also Tex. Fam.Code § 153.501 (providing that the court shall determine whether abduction-prevention measures are required); § 153.”
In Re Sigmar, 270 S.W.3d 289 (Tex. App. 2008). “7 See Tex Fam. Code Ann. §§ 153.501(a), 153.503(2) (Vernon Supp.”
LaMar Carver Bunts v. Sensimone B. Williams (Tex. App. 2019). “TEX. FAM. CODE § 153.501(a). One of the measures listed in Section 153.”
in Re Axel Michael Sigmar (Tex. App. 2008). “7 See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 153.501(a), 153.503(2) (Vernon 6 While these statutes are similar in many ways, we note that the UCAPA differs from the Texas statutes insofar as the UCAPA seeks to deter both “domestic and international child abductions.”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 153.501(b)(1) — 2 cases
In Re Sigmar, 270 S.W.3d 289 (Tex. App. 2008). “7 See Tex Fam. Code Ann. §§ 153.501(a), 153.503(2) (Vernon Supp.”
in Re Axel Michael Sigmar (Tex. App. 2008). “7 See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 153.501(a), 153.503(2) (Vernon 6 While these statutes are similar in many ways, we note that the UCAPA differs from the Texas statutes insofar as the UCAPA seeks to deter both “domestic and international child abductions.”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 153.501(b)(3) — 1 case
In Re Sigmar, 270 S.W.3d 289 (Tex. App. 2008). “7 See Tex Fam. Code Ann. §§ 153.501(a), 153.503(2) (Vernon Supp.”
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