Texas Codes

Tex. Fam. Code § 157.318 (2026)

Duration And Effect Of Child Support Lien

✓ current as of May 2026

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Sec. 157.318. DURATION AND EFFECT OF CHILD SUPPORT LIEN. (a) A lien is effective until all current support and child support arrearages, including reasonable and necessary attorney's fees, court costs, expenses, postjudgment interest, and any Title IV-D service fees authorized under Section 231.103 for which the obligor is responsible, have been paid or the lien is otherwise released as provided by this subchapter.

(b) The lien secures payment of all child support arrearages owed by the obligor under the underlying child support order, including arrearages that accrue after the lien notice was filed or delivered as provided by Section 157.314.

(c) The filing of a lien notice or abstract of judgment with the county clerk is a record of the notice and has the same effect as any other lien notice with respect to real property records.

(d) Repealed by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 151 (S.B. 869), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2023.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 420, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 25, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1023, Sec. 26, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 972 (S.B. 228), Sec. 29, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 164 (S.B. 1661), Sec. 2, eff. May 26, 2009.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 151 (S.B. 869), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2023.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 151 (S.B. 869), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2023.

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 593 (H.B. 2524), Sec. 33, eff. September 1, 2025.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 10 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1998–2025 · leading case: Isaacs v. Isaacs, 338 S.W.3d 184 (Tex. App. 2011).

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Isaacs v. Isaacs, 338 S.W.3d 184 (Tex. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. §§ 157.318(a), 158.102, 158.”

in the Interest of D.W.G., a Child, 391 S.W.3d 154 (Tex. App. 2012). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 157.323 (West 2008).”

Schumann v. Breedlove & Bensey, 983 S.W.2d 333 (Tex. App. 1998). “” Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 157.318 (c) (Vernon 1997).”

Barbara Gail Harris v. Hayden R. Mayfield, Indep. of the Est. of Hayden R. Mayfield, & Tr. Under the Will of Hayden R. Mayfield (Tex. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “It is a non-dormancy special statute for child support judgments that prevails over appellees’ cited Section 31(a)(b) effective in 1997, the predecessor to Texas Family Code § 157.318 . Citing Section 31(a)(b) , and ignoring the non-dormancy statute, this Court wrongfully holds…”

Barbara Gail Harris v. Hayden R. Mayfield, Indep. of the Est. of Hayden R. Mayfield, & Tr. Under the Will of Hayden R. Mayfield (Tex. App. 2015). · cites it 2× “It is a non-dormancy special statute for child support judgments that prevails over appellees’ cited Section 31(a)(b) effective in 1997, the predecessor to Texas Family Code § 157.318 . Citing Section 31(a)(b) , and ignoring the non-dormancy statute, this Court wrongfully holds…”

Untitled Texas Attorney Gen. Opinion: KP-0494 (Tex. Att'y Gen. 2025). “TEX. FAM. CODE § 157.318(a). 4 A levy on the financial institution of a deceased obligor is governed by a separate section of the Family Code.”

Barbara Gail Harris v. Hayden R. Mayfield, Indep. of the Est. of Hayden R. Mayfield, & Tr. Under the Will of Hayden R. Mayfield (Tex. App. 2014). “Laws 1660 , 1661 (current version at TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 157.318(a) (West 2014)).”

John W. Overton v. Mae W. Overton (Tex. App. 2011). “” Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 157.318 (a), (c) (West Supp.”

in Re Amy Williams (Tex. App. 2015). “Interpreting substantively identical language in Texas Family Code §157.318 regarding child support liens– providing “a lien is effective until all current support and child support arrearages, including interest, any costs and reasonable attorney’s fees .”

— Tex. Fam. Code § 157.318(a) — 6 cases

Isaacs v. Isaacs, 338 S.W.3d 184 (Tex. App. 2011). “See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. §§ 157.318(a), 158.102, 158.”

Barbara Gail Harris v. Hayden R. Mayfield, Indep. of the Est. of Hayden R. Mayfield, & Tr. Under the Will of Hayden R. Mayfield (Tex. App. 2014). “It is a non-dormancy special statute for child support judgments that prevails over appellees’ cited Section 31(a)(b) effective in 1997, the predecessor to Texas Family Code § 157.318 . Citing Section 31(a)(b) , and ignoring the non-dormancy statute, this Court wrongfully holds…”

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