Legal Research Guides > Grandparent’s Rights (last updated: 03/13/2024)

General Information

Texaslawhelp.org contains several research articles about Grandparent & Other Nonparent Caregivers in Texas. Read More.

• Asking the Court to Allow an Authorization Agreement for Nonparent Adult Caregiver

• Authorization for Nonparent Care of a Child

• Best Interest of the Child Standard

• Custody Disputes Between a Parent and Nonparent in a Modification

• Requirements for Nonparent Intervention in a CPS Case

Texas Attorney General provides some general information on their Grandparent’s Page.

State Law Library of Texas

• Do grandparents have a legal right to see their grandchildren?

Texas Laws

Texas Family Code

• Rights of Grandparent, Aunt, or Uncle—Tex. Fam. Code §§ 153.431 - 153.434.

Court Rules

• Texas Rules of Civil Procedure

• Texas Rules of Evidence

• Rules of the Judicial District of Harris County, Texas Family Division

• Court Policies and Procedures (Harris County)

 *Be sure to check the website of the court to which you are assigned. Policies, procedures, and requirements may vary from court to court.

Forms

Online

• I need court approval for an authorization agreement for a nonparent adult caregiver.

• I need a custody order. I am not the child's parent (SAPCR).

• I need to change a custody, visitation, or support order (Modification).

Print (Available at the Law Library)

• O’Connor’s Texas Family Law Forms (Also available through Westlaw at the Law Library)

• The Handbook of Texas Family Law: A Quick Reference Guide to the Texas Family Code (Also available through Westlaw at the Law Library and through Westlaw Patron Access Remote)

• Texas Family Law Practice Manual

• Texas Jurisprudence Pleadings and Practice Forms (Also available through Westlaw at the Law Library and through Westlaw Patron Access Remote)

• Texas Legal Practice Forms (Also available through Westlaw at the Law Library and through Westlaw Patron Access Remote)

• Texas Litigation Guide (Dorsaneo) (Also available online through the Law Library’s LexisNexis Digital Library)

• West’s Texas Forms (Also available through Westlaw at the Law Library and through Westlaw Patron Access Remote)

Print Resources

• Children and the Law in a Nutshell, By Douglas E. Abrams, Susan Vivian Mangold, and Sarah H. Ramsey. To learn more, grandparents are mentioned on pages 34, 293, and 371.

• Grandparents' visitation rights: a legal research guide By Joel Fishman. Authored by Joel Fishman, this guide offers a thorough and organized approach to legal research on grandparents’ visitation rights.

• O’Connor’s Texas Family Law Handbook. Chapter 4 J, Original Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship, goes over Grandparent Possession or Access.

• Texas Kincare Primer By Texas Kincare Taskforce. This book offers essential insights and information on the legal and practical aspects of caring for kinship children in Texas. Kinship children live with relatives such as grandparents.

• Texas Practice Guide. Family Law. By Ike Vanden Eykel and Kathryn J. Murphy. Chapter 11, Conservatorship, examines all aspects of conservatorship including conservatorship determinations, possessory conservatorship, possession, enforcement, and nonparent conservators. See Chapter 11 section 5 Grandparent Rights and Access/Nonparent Conservators (Also available through Westlaw at the Law Library.)

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Resources: The State Bar of Texas requires licensed attorneys to take 15 credits of CLE each year. CLE courses typically focus on a particular area of law and might include legal theory, practice tips and guidance, developments in the law, or legislative updates. CLEs are secondary resources that are especially useful in that they provide current information about legal topics and issues.

• State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Family Law Course

• State Bar of Texas Family 101 Course

• State Bar of Texas Litigation

Related Topics

• Adoption

• Basics of Legal Research

• Child Custody & Support