Texas Family Law Changes
September 1, 2025 Texas Family Law Updates
Texas family law is evolving, and the changes that go into effect on September 1, 2025, will have a significant impact on divorce, child custody, child support, and other family law matters. Whether you are currently facing a family law issue or planning for the future, understanding these updates is essential to protecting your rights and interests.
If you’re navigating a family law case in Texas, it’s crucial to have an experienced family law attorney on your side. Jeff Galbreath at Galbreath Law Firm in Abilene, Texas, is committed to helping clients understand and adapt to these changes.
Here's a breakdown of the most significant updates and how they might affect you.
New Guidelines for Child Custody and Visitation
One of the most anticipated changes is a modification to Texas' child custody and visitation laws. The update introduces new factors for the courts to consider when determining the best interest of the child, with a particular focus on:
Parental Involvement: Courts will now place greater emphasis on encouraging both parents to be actively involved in their children’s lives, even in high-conflict situations.
Access to Mental Health Resources: The mental and emotional well-being of the child will be more heavily weighed, with an increased focus on ensuring both parents can provide appropriate emotional and mental health support.
Expanded Parental Alienation Laws: The courts will be more proactive in identifying and addressing situations where one parent may attempt to turn the child against the other parent.
What This Means for You: If you're currently navigating a custody battle or planning for one, it’s important to understand how these new factors could influence a judge’s decision. Jeff Galbreath can help you understand the best way to approach these new guidelines and advocate for your parental rights in court.
Changes to Child Support Calculation
Starting in September 2025, Texas will implement a new child support calculation system. The update takes into account:
Income from Other Sources: In addition to wages, child support calculations will consider additional income sources, such as bonuses, stock options, or side businesses, more comprehensively.
Adjusted Support Obligations: Child support obligations will be restructured based on a parent’s ability to pay, factoring in economic conditions and cost of living adjustments.
Shared Custody Adjustments: If parents have equal or near-equal custody, the amount of child support paid will be recalculated based on the time spent with the child and the actual financial costs of providing care.
What This Means for You: If you are involved in a child support case, it’s important to understand how these changes may impact your payments or obligations. Galbreath Law Firm in Abilene has extensive experience in handling child support cases and can guide you through the updated process to ensure your financial obligations are fairly calculated.
New Spousal Support Laws
Texas will see changes in the way spousal support (alimony) is awarded. Under the new rules:
Longer Duration for Long-Term Marriages: Spousal support awards for long-term marriages (10 years or more) will now have a more defined duration, with the potential for extended payments under certain circumstances.
Increased Scrutiny on Fault: The courts will take a deeper look at the behavior of both spouses when determining spousal support. Issues like infidelity, abuse, or other forms of misconduct could now play a larger role in whether spousal support is awarded and how much is given.
Modification of Existing Orders: There will be more options for modifying existing spousal support orders, particularly in cases where there has been a significant change in circumstances, such as job loss or a significant increase in the recipient's income.
What This Means for You: If you are in a divorce where spousal support is being considered, these new laws will change the calculations and conditions under which support is awarded. Jeff Galbreath and his team at Galbreath Law Firm can help you navigate these changes and protect your financial interests, ensuring that your case is handled with the utmost care and attention.
Increased Focus on Family Violence and Protective Orders
Texas is taking stronger measures to address family violence in the context of divorce and child custody cases. Under the new laws:
Stricter Enforcement of Protective Orders: Courts will now have more tools to issue and enforce protective orders in cases involving family violence, including faster action to prevent the accused from having contact with the victim.
Impact on Custody and Visitation: Family violence will be given increased weight when determining custody and visitation arrangements. The court will prioritize the safety of the child and the victim of domestic violence when making custody decisions.
What This Means for You: If you or your children are victims of family violence, it’s critical to understand how these new changes will protect your safety. If you are facing allegations of family violence, these laws could have serious consequences for your visitation and custody rights. Jeff Galbreath can help you protect your rights or defend against false accusations, ensuring that the courts have all the necessary information to make a fair decision.
Updates to Adoption Procedures.
Texas will also make several updates to the adoption process, particularly in cases involving the termination of parental rights and stepparent adoptions. These changes include:
Streamlined Process for Stepparent Adoptions: In situations where a stepparent is adopting a child, the process will be faster and more efficient, with less bureaucracy.
Greater Transparency in Foster Care Adoptions: The state will improve communication and support for those looking to adopt children from foster care, ensuring that prospective parents receive better information and guidance.
What This Means for You: If you are considering adoption, particularly in a stepparent or foster care situation, the new laws could make the process smoother and more predictable. Galbreath Law Firm in Abilene specializes in family law and adoption cases, providing expert legal assistance every step of the way.
Why You Should Contact Jeff Galbreath at Galbreath Law Firm
With these changes coming into effect on September 1, 2025, it’s essential to have the right legal support to navigate your family law case. Jeff Galbreath at Galbreath Law Firm has extensive experience with the new laws and can help you understand how they will affect your specific case. Whether you are dealing with divorce, child custody, spousal support, adoption, or family violence, Jeff Galbreath can provide personalized legal counsel. He will ensure that your rights are protected.
Contact Galbreath Law Firm in Abilene, Texas, today to schedule a free consultation:
Phone: 325-437-7000
Email: jeff@galbreathlawfirm.com
Address: 4542 Loop 322 #102, Abilene, Texas 79602
Website: Galbreath Law Firm
Don’t wait—start planning your next steps now. Let Jeff Galbreath and his team help guide you through these important changes and secure the best possible outcome for your family law case.