Tex. Codes » Family Code · TITLE 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · SUBTITLE D. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES · CHAPTER 231. TITLE IV-D SERVICES
Texas Codes

Tex. Fam. Code § 231.002 (2026)

Powers And Duties

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 231.002. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The Title IV-D agency may:

(1) accept, transfer, and expend funds, subject to the General Appropriations Act, made available by the federal or state government or by another public or private source for the purpose of carrying out this chapter;

(2) adopt rules for the provision of child support services;

(3) initiate legal actions needed to implement this chapter; and

(4) enter into contracts or agreements necessary to administer this chapter.

(b) The Title IV-D agency may perform the duties and functions necessary for locating children under agreements with the federal government as provided by 42 U.S.C. Section 663.

(c) The Title IV-D agency may enter into agreements or contracts with federal, state, or other public or private agencies or individuals for the purpose of carrying out the agency's responsibilities under federal or state law. The agreements or contracts between the agency and other state agencies or political subdivisions of this or another state, including a consortia of multiple states, and agreements or contracts with vendors for the delivery of program services are not subject to Chapter 771 or 783, Government Code.

(d) Consistent with federal law and any international treaty or convention to which the United States is a party and that has been ratified by the United States Congress, the Title IV-D agency may:

(1) on approval by and in cooperation with the governor, pursue negotiations and enter into reciprocal arrangements with the federal government, another state, or a foreign country or a political subdivision of the federal government, state, or foreign country to:

(A) establish and enforce child support obligations; and

(B) establish mechanisms to enforce an order providing for possession of or access to a child rendered under Chapter 153;

(2) spend money appropriated to the agency for child support enforcement to engage in international child support enforcement; and

(3) spend other money appropriated to the agency necessary for the agency to conduct the agency's activities under Subdivision (1).

(e) The Title IV-D agency may take the following administrative actions with respect to the location of a parent, the determination of parentage, and the establishment, modification, and enforcement of child support, medical support, and dental support orders required by 42 U.S.C. Section 666(c), without obtaining an order from any other judicial or administrative tribunal:

(1) issue an administrative subpoena, as provided by Section 231.303, to obtain financial or other information;

(2) order genetic testing for parentage determination, as provided by Chapter 233;

(3) order income withholding, as provided by Chapter 233, and issue an administrative writ of withholding, as provided by Chapter 158;

(4) take any action with respect to execution, collection, and release of a judgment or lien for child support necessary to satisfy the judgment or lien, as provided by Chapter 157; and

(5) adjust the support obligations of an incarcerated obligor, as provided by Sections 231.1015, 231.1016, and 231.1017.

(f) The Title IV-D agency shall recognize and enforce the authority of the Title IV-D agency of another state to take actions similar to the actions listed in this section.

(g) The Title IV-D agency shall develop and use procedures for the administrative enforcement of interstate cases meeting the requirements of 42 U.S.C. Section 666(a)(14) under which the agency:

(1) shall promptly respond to a request made by another state for assistance in a Title IV-D case; and

(2) may, by electronic or other means, transmit to another state a request for assistance in a Title IV-D case.

(h) Repealed by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 164, Sec. 3, eff. May 26, 2009.

(i) The Title IV-D agency may provide a release or satisfaction of a judgment for all or part of the amount of the arrearages assigned to the Title IV-D agency under Section 231.104(a).

(j) In the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a child support order, the Title IV-D agency is not:

(1) subject to a mediation or arbitration clause or requirement in the order to which the Title IV-D agency was not a party; or

(2) liable for any costs associated with mediation or arbitration.

(k) The Title IV-D agency may cease child support enforcement services against an obligor for child support arrearages if the obligee is confined in a local, state, or federal jail or prison for an offense constituting an act of family violence committed against a child covered by the child support order.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 874, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 68, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 6.27, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 556, Sec. 51, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 310, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 610, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 164 (S.B. 1661), Sec. 3, eff. May 26, 2009.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 742 (S.B. 355), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1150 (S.B. 550), Sec. 42, eff. September 1, 2018.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 152 (S.B. 870), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2023.

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 61 (S.B. 1403), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2009–2025 · leading case: Smith v. Abbott, 311 S.W.3d 62 (Tex. App. 2010).
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Smith v. Abbott, 311 S.W.3d 62 (Tex. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “*82 Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 231.002. The remaining appellants judicially admitted in their pleadings that the Attorney General and SOAH entered into an interagency contract in January 2004 whereby SOAH agreed to conduct all administrative Title IV-D child support hearings referred…”
Off. of the Attorney Gen. v. Crawford, 322 S.W.3d 858 (Tex. App. 2010). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 231.002(d)(1)(A) (Vernon Supp.”
in the Interest of Z.O.M. & K.R.M., Child. (Tex. App. 2020). · cites it 2× “See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 231.002(a). 2 Access and Visitation, KEN PAXTON: ATT’Y GEN.”
Brian Charles Smith Robert Hammond, David Talton & John Collins, Individually, & on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Greg Abbott, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the State of Texas Cathleen Parsley, in Her Off. Capacity as Chief Admin. Law Judge, State Off. of Admin. Hearings & Alicia Key, in Her Off. Capacity (Tex. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 231.002 . Appellants judicially admitted in their pleadings that the Attorney General and SOAH entered into an interagency contract in January 2004 whereby SOAH agreed to conduct all administrative Title IV-D child support hearings referred to it by 27 The…”
Brian Charles Smith Robert Hammond, David Talton & John Collins, Individually, & on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Greg Abbott, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the State of Texas Cathleen Parsley, in Her Off. Capacity as Chief Admin. Law Judge, State Off. of Admin. Hearings & Alicia Key, in Her Off. Capacity (Tex. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 231.002 . Appellants judicially admitted in their pleadings that the Attorney General and SOAH entered into an interagency contract in January 2004 whereby SOAH agreed to conduct all administrative Title IV-D child support hearings referred to it by the…”
Brian Charles Smith Robert Hammond, David Talton & John Collins, Individually, & on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Greg Abbott, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the State of Texas Cathleen Parsley, in Her Off. Capacity as Chief Admin. Law Judge, State Off. of Admin. Hearings & Alicia Key, in Her Off. Capacity (Tex. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 231.002 . The remaining appellants judicially admitted in their pleadings that the Attorney General and SOAH entered into an interagency contract in January 2004 whereby SOAH agreed to conduct all administrative Title IV-D child support hearings referred to…”
Brian Charles Smith Robert Hammond, David Talton & John Collins, Individually, & on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Greg Abbott, in His Off. Capacity as Attorney Gen. of the State of Texas Cathleen Parsley, in Her Off. Capacity as Chief Admin. Law Judge, State Off. of Admin. Hearings & Alicia Key, in Her Off. Capacity (Tex. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 231.002 . The remaining appellants judicially admitted in their pleadings that the Attorney General and SOAH entered into an interagency contract in January 2004 whereby SOAH agreed to conduct all administrative Title IV-D child support hearings referred to…”
in the Interest of J.G., a Child (Tex. App. 2018). “See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 231.002 (“Powers and Duties”).”
in the Interest of Z.O.M. & K.R.M., Child. (Tex. App. 2020). “TEX. FAM. CODE § 231.002(d). The clear purpose of section 231.”
in the Interest of Z.O.M. & K.R.M., Child. (Tex. App. 2020). “TEX. FAM. CODE § 231.002(d). Texas law further authorizes the OAG to “enter into agreements or contracts with federal, state, or other public or private agencies or individuals for the purpose of carrying out the agency’s responsibilities under federal or state law.”
In the Interest of S.T.S. v. the State of Texas (Tex. App. 2023). “1; see also TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 231.002(c). “Chapter 203 provides for the creation of domestic relations offices to collect, monitor, and enforce child support in their respective jurisdictions.”
Durant v. Paxton (N.D. Tex. 2025). “And, although there are provisions in state law that relate to the establishment of a means for submitting a request for assistance to the child support division of the OAG, see TEX. FAM. CODE § 231.002(g)(2), or providing notice to the OAG when the state, a state agency, or a…”
Show all 14 citing cases →
— Tex. Fam. Code § 231.002(a) — 1 case
in the Interest of Z.O.M. & K.R.M., Child. (Tex. App. 2020). “See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 231.002(a). 2 Access and Visitation, KEN PAXTON: ATT’Y GEN.”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 231.002(a)(4) — 1 case
Smith v. Abbott, 311 S.W.3d 62 (Tex. App. 2010). “*82 Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 231.002. The remaining appellants judicially admitted in their pleadings that the Attorney General and SOAH entered into an interagency contract in January 2004 whereby SOAH agreed to conduct all administrative Title IV-D child support hearings referred…”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 231.002(c) — 1 case
In the Interest of S.T.S. v. the State of Texas (Tex. App. 2023). “1; see also TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 231.002(c). “Chapter 203 provides for the creation of domestic relations offices to collect, monitor, and enforce child support in their respective jurisdictions.”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 231.002(d) — 2 cases
in the Interest of Z.O.M. & K.R.M., Child. (Tex. App. 2020). “TEX. FAM. CODE § 231.002(d). The clear purpose of section 231.”
in the Interest of Z.O.M. & K.R.M., Child. (Tex. App. 2020). “TEX. FAM. CODE § 231.002(d). Texas law further authorizes the OAG to “enter into agreements or contracts with federal, state, or other public or private agencies or individuals for the purpose of carrying out the agency’s responsibilities under federal or state law.”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 231.002(d)(1)(A) — 1 case
Off. of the Attorney Gen. v. Crawford, 322 S.W.3d 858 (Tex. App. 2010). “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 231.002(d)(1)(A) (Vernon Supp.”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 231.002(d)(1)(B) — 1 case
in the Interest of Z.O.M. & K.R.M., Child. (Tex. App. 2020). “See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 231.002(a). 2 Access and Visitation, KEN PAXTON: ATT’Y GEN.”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 231.002(e) — 1 case
In the Interest of Z. W.-M. v. the State of Texas (Tex. App. 2025).
— Tex. Fam. Code § 231.002(g)(2) — 1 case
Durant v. Paxton (N.D. Tex. 2025). “And, although there are provisions in state law that relate to the establishment of a means for submitting a request for assistance to the child support division of the OAG, see TEX. FAM. CODE § 231.002(g)(2), or providing notice to the OAG when the state, a state agency, or a…”
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