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 155. CONTINUING, EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION; TRANSFER
Texas Codes

Tex. Fam. Code § 155.204 (2026)

Procedure For Transfer

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Sec. 155.204. PROCEDURE FOR TRANSFER. (a) A motion to transfer under Section 155.201(a) or (a-1) may be filed at any time. The motion must contain a certification that all other parties, including the attorney general, if applicable, have been informed of the filing of the motion.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (a) or Section 262.203, a motion to transfer by a petitioner or movant is timely if it is made at the time the initial pleadings are filed. A motion to transfer by another party is timely if it is made on or before the first Monday after the 20th day after the date of service of citation or notice of the suit or before the commencement of the hearing, whichever is sooner.

(c) If a timely motion to transfer has been filed and no controverting affidavit is filed within the period allowed for its filing, the proceeding shall, not later than the 21st day after the final date of the period allowed for the filing of a controverting affidavit, be transferred without a hearing to the proper court.

(d) On or before the first Monday after the 20th day after the date of notice of a motion to transfer is served, a party desiring to contest the motion must file a controverting affidavit denying that grounds for the transfer exist.

(e) If a controverting affidavit contesting the motion to transfer is filed, each party is entitled to notice not less than 10 days before the date of the hearing on the motion to transfer.

(f) Only evidence pertaining to the transfer may be taken at the hearing.

(g) If the court finds after the hearing on the motion to transfer that grounds for the transfer exist, the proceeding shall be transferred to the proper court not later than the 21st day after the date the hearing is concluded.

(h) An order transferring or refusing to transfer the proceeding is not subject to interlocutory appeal.

(i) If a transfer order has been signed by a court exercising jurisdiction under Chapter 262, the Department of Family and Protective Services shall file the transfer order with the clerk of the court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction. On receipt and without a hearing or further order from the court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction, the clerk of the court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction shall transfer the files as provided by this subchapter within the time required by Section 155.207(a).

Notwithstanding the amendments made to Subsection (i) of this section by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 317 (H.B. 7), Sec. 11, and Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 910 (S.B. 999), Sec. 2, identical amendments to Subsection (i) of this section were made by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 572 (S.B. 738), and take effect only if a specific appropriation is provided as described by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 572 (S.B. 738), Sec. 5, which states: This Act takes effect only if a specific appropriation for the implementation of the Act is provided in a general appropriations act of the 85th Legislature.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1150, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1390, Sec. 14, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 916 (H.B. 260), Sec. 15, eff. June 18, 2005.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 317 (H.B. 7), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 572 (S.B. 738), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 910 (S.B. 999), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 722 (H.B. 369), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2019.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 89 cases (14 in the last 5 years), 1996–2026 · leading case: In re Leder, 263 S.W.3d 283 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007).
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In re Leder, 263 S.W.3d 283 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007). · cites it 5× “The mandamus record shows that Rachel timely filed the motion to transfer venue, see Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204, and it is undisputed that T.”
In re Wheeler, 177 S.W.3d 350 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2005). · cites it 3× “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 155.204 (e) (Vernon 2002).”
In re Compton, 185 S.W.3d 526 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006). · cites it 3× “Laws 113 , 171 (codified at Tex Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204). 7 . Calloway v.”
In re Nabors, 276 S.W.3d 190 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2009). · cites it 2× “" Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(a) (Vernon 2002).”
In re Sanchez, 1 S.W.3d 912 (Tex. App.—Waco 1999). · cites it 3× “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(a) (Vernon 1996).”
In re Daly, 148 S.W.3d 578 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2004). · cites it 4× “Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(a). Lucy’s controverting affidavit was due to be filed on April 12, 2004.”
Bollard v. Berchelmann, 921 S.W.2d 861 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996). · cites it 3× “See Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(a) (Vernon Supp.”
In the Interest of D.W., 533 S.W.3d 460 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2017). · cites it 2× “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 155.204 (i) (West 2014).”
In the Interest of S.G.S., 53 S.W.3d 848 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2001). · cites it 6× “Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(a), (b) (emphasis added).”
In re Ferguson, 172 S.W.3d 122 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2005). · cites it 2× “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 155.203 (Vernon 2002).”
In re Calderon, 96 S.W.3d 711 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2003). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(e) (Vernon 2002).”
In the Interest of C.G., 495 S.W.3d 40 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2016). “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 155.204 (b). However, Chase filed his first motion to transfer out of Moore County on August 6, 2012.”
Show all 89 citing cases →
Tex. Fam. Code § 155.204(a): 14 cases
In re Nabors, 276 S.W.3d 190 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2009). “" Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(a) (Vernon 2002).”
Bollard v. Berchelmann, 921 S.W.2d 861 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996). “See Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(a) (Vernon Supp.”
In re Sanchez, 1 S.W.3d 912 (Tex. App.—Waco 1999). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(a) (Vernon 1996).”
In the Interest of S.G.S., 53 S.W.3d 848 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2001). “Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(a), (b) (emphasis added).”
In re Compton, 185 S.W.3d 526 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006). “Laws 113 , 171 (codified at Tex Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204). 7 . Calloway v.”
Tex. Fam. Code § 155.204(b): 18 cases
In re Leder, 263 S.W.3d 283 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007). “The mandamus record shows that Rachel timely filed the motion to transfer venue, see Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204, and it is undisputed that T.”
In re Simonek, 3 S.W.3d 285 (Tex. App.—Waco 1999).
In re Sanchez, 1 S.W.3d 912 (Tex. App.—Waco 1999). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(a) (Vernon 1996).”
In re Mark Thompson, Sr., 434 S.W.3d 624 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014).
In re Daly, 148 S.W.3d 578 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2004). “Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(a). Lucy’s controverting affidavit was due to be filed on April 12, 2004.”
Tex. Fam. Code § 155.204(c): 11 cases
In re Lester, 254 S.W.3d 663 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2008).
In re John Phelps, No. 04-13-00360-CV (Tex. App.—San Antonio July 31, 2013).
In re Tonya Burling, No. 05-16-00529-CV, 2016 WL 3438075 (Tex. App.—Dallas June 21, 2016).
In re Kelsey Lynn Estes, Relator, No. 07-17-00225-CV, 2017 WL 3122359 (Tex. App.—Amarillo July 19, 2017).
In re Michael L. Bird, No. 03-20-00222-CV, 2020 WL 7063583 (Tex. App.—Austin Dec. 3, 2020).
Tex. Fam. Code § 155.204(c)(d): 1 case
In re Daly, 148 S.W.3d 578 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2004). “Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(a). Lucy’s controverting affidavit was due to be filed on April 12, 2004.”
Tex. Fam. Code § 155.204(d): 8 cases
Silverman v. Johnson, 317 S.W.3d 846 (Tex. App.—Austin 2010).
In re Victoria Gonzalez v. the State of Texas, No. 08-23-00053-CV (Tex. App.—El Paso Feb. 24, 2023).
In re Callie Sheard, No. 01-15-01027-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Dec. 7, 2015).
In re Sonia Alvarez, No. 05-16-00753-CV (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 15, 2016).
In re Marcus D'Shun Lewis v. the State of Texas, No. 10-24-00046-CV (Tex. App.—Waco Aug. 30, 2024).
Tex. Fam. Code § 155.204(e): 12 cases
In re Calderon, 96 S.W.3d 711 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2003). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(e) (Vernon 2002).”
Chalu v. Shamala, 125 S.W.3d 737 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2003).
In re Compton, 185 S.W.3d 526 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006). “Laws 113 , 171 (codified at Tex Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204). 7 . Calloway v.”
In re Ferguson, 172 S.W.3d 122 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2005). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 155.203 (Vernon 2002).”
In re Daly, 148 S.W.3d 578 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2004). “Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204(a). Lucy’s controverting affidavit was due to be filed on April 12, 2004.”
Tex. Fam. Code § 155.204(f): 1 case
Veronica Chavez Vara v. Mark S. Vara, No. 03-12-00844-CV (Tex. App.—Austin July 23, 2014).
Tex. Fam. Code § 155.204(g): 2 cases
In re Tara Brook Tyndell, No. 06-15-00086-CV (Tex. Crim. App. Oct. 28, 2015).
In re Kevin Lee Gonzales, No. 04-14-00226-CV (Tex. App.—San Antonio Apr. 9, 2014).
Tex. Fam. Code § 155.204(h): 15 cases
In re Kerst, 237 S.W.3d 441 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2007).
In re Leder, 263 S.W.3d 283 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007). “The mandamus record shows that Rachel timely filed the motion to transfer venue, see Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 155.204, and it is undisputed that T.”
In re Mark Thompson, Sr., 434 S.W.3d 624 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014).
In re Cynthia Meza, No. 13-20-00178-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Apr. 15, 2020).
In re M. R. & R. R., No. 13-21-00259-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Oct. 1, 2021).
Tex. Fam. Code § 155.204(i): 1 case
in the Interest of S. H., a Child, No. 13-18-00240-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Sept. 27, 2018).
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