Texas Statutes
Chapter 202 - Friend of the Court
Section 202.002. Authority and Duties

Sec. 202.002. AUTHORITY AND DUTIES. (a) A friend of the court may coordinate nonjudicial efforts to improve compliance with a court order relating to child support or possession of or access to a child by use of:
(1) telephone communication;
(2) written communication;
(3) one or more volunteer advocates under Chapter 107;
(4) informal pretrial consultation;
(5) one or more of the alternate dispute resolution methods under Chapter 154, Civil Practice and Remedies Code;
(6) a licensed social worker;
(7) a family mediator; and
(8) employment agencies, retraining programs, and any similar resources to ensure that both parents can meet their financial obligations to the child.
(b) A friend of the court, not later than the 15th day of the month following the reporting month:
(1) shall report to the court or monitor reports made to the court on:
(A) the amount of child support collected as a percentage of the amount ordered; and
(B) efforts to ensure compliance with orders relating to possession of or access to a child; and
(2) may file an action to enforce, clarify, or modify a court order relating to child support or possession of or access to a child.
(c) A friend of the court may file a notice of delinquency and a request for a writ of income withholding under Chapter 158 in order to enforce a child support order.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 751, Sec. 81, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 702, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 892, Sec. 21, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

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