Texas Family Laws

Welcome to FindLaw’s Texas Family Laws section, with links to state resources and regularly updated information about such topics as marriage, divorce, adoption, child support, and child custody.

Created by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and editors

| Last updated June 20, 2016

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Most family laws are quite similar to those of other states, with a few differences. For example, Texas does not permit same-sex couples to get married and has tight restrictions on abortion (which is legal under federal law). As a practice area, family law also includes child abuse, domestic abuse, stalking, and protective orders (all of which cross over into criminal law as well). Click on a topic below to learn more.

Learn About Texas Family Laws

Texas Adoption Laws

Basic information about adoption laws in Texas, such as who is eligible for adoption; the age of consent; home residency requirements; and links to related adoption articles and resources.
Texas Abortion Laws

Summary of Texas laws and regulations pertaining to abortion in the state, such as the determination of when a fetus is considered “viable” and physician licensing requirements.
Texas Prohibited Marriage Laws

Overview of the acceptable grounds for having one’s marriage annulled in the state of Texas, such as a lack of capacity or the discovery that the marriage was fraudulent.

Texas Protective Order Laws

How Texas law handles protective orders, often called “restraining orders,” which are sought by victims of domestic violence or those who are threatened or stalked by former spouses.
Texas Child Custody Laws

Texas laws and regulations governing child custody decisions, rules, and procedures; including information about the types of custody, availability of grandparents’ visitation rights, and links to additional information about custody.
Texas Marriage Requirement Laws

What you need to know to get married in Texas with respect to age; such as the age required to get married with or without parental consent.