Texas community resource
Child Return Habeas Corpus Self-Help Toolkit
TexasLawHelp.org
Free petition, response, writ, and proposed-order forms for asking a Texas court to enforce a superior right to possession of a child.
Information last checked:
How to get help
Determine the superior possession right and proper county, complete and file the petition or response, obtain issuance and arrange required service, prepare evidence and child-safety information, and attend the expedited hearing with proposed orders. The judge decides whether return is required or an exception applies.
Who this service helps
May be used by a person with a custody order giving the right to possession when another person wrongfully keeps the child, by a parent seeking return from a nonparent, or by a respondent opposing a filed child-possession habeas petition. Statutory exceptions and child-safety issues can affect relief.
Where this service is available
Service area: People handling eligible Texas legal matters, including residents and court users in Central Texas.
A service area describes where help is offered or who may be served. It is not necessarily the organization’s physical location.
Cost / fees
The guide and forms are free. Filing, issuance, service, copies, travel, and legal-assistance costs may apply; a fee-waiver form is available for eligible parties.
About this service
The toolkit provides separate petitioner and respondent instructions, filing and service steps, hearing preparation, and forms for the court to issue the writ and grant or deny return of the child.
Other resources that may help
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