Where are you located?

The Harris County Child Support Division is located at:
              Family Law Building
              1115 Congress, Room 10
              Houston, Texas 77002-1902

Are you an enforcement agency?

The Harris County Child Support Office, through partnership with the Domestic Relations Office and the Attorney General’s Office, has implemented the FOCAS (Focus on Collection and Services) Program. The FOCAS Program monitors the collection of child support and will contact the non-custodial parent when he/she falls behind in child support.   To have child support enforced, you may contact one of the following:

• The Attorney General’s Office is a state office that can assist in every aspect of child support enforcement. The telephone number is (713) 243-7100.
• The Harris County Domestic Relations Office assists Harris County residents (the applicant is required to reside in Harris County and the other party in Texas) with enforcement of child support, enforcement of visitation, paternity establishment, termination of wage withholding and offer attorney consultations. Their telephone number is (713) 755-6757.
• A private attorney.
• Third Party Collectors are private child support collection agencies.

Where do I mail my child support payments?

          Texas State Disbursement Unit
          PO Box 659791
          San Antonio, Texas 78265
Note: All payments must have your cause number listed.  If a cause number is not provided, it will only delay the payment's being processed, or the payment may be returned to you for additional information.

To whom do I make my check payable?

Texas State Disbursement Unit.

Who is the payor/payee?

The person making the payment is the payor or obligor.  The person receiving the payment is the payee or obligee.

What method of payments does the State Disbursement Unit accept?

The State Disbursement Unit accepts personal checks, cashier's checks, money orders, company checks and electronic transfers.

When will my payment be posted?

All payments posted by the State Disbursement Unit are processed within 48 hours of receipt, provided all the necessary information is included and the payment meets all of the State Disbursement Unit's acceptance criteria.

Can I get a record of all the payments I have made or a payment history printout?

Yes. We can provide a payment history to anyone who asks. A payment history is a list of payments made. We do not keep record of payments sent directly to the Attorney General's Office nor can we record payments that are made directly to the payee. A payment history is public record. There are three ways you may obtain a payment history:

• You can send a self-addressed stamped envelope to :

                   Harris County Child Support
                   1115 Congress, Room 10  
                   Houston, TX 77002-1927

Cause number must be included with the request.

• You can request one in person at 1115 Congress, Room 10. You can pick up a payment history printout Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and  4:00 p.m. at the inquiry window.

• From our Web site at payment history.

Note: Law (Privacy Act, Govt. code section 552.101), prohibits us from giving out the payee’s and/or the payor’s address and phone number. This information should not be given to anyone regardless of his or her association to the case. The only time address information can be released is if we receive a court order signed by the judge. For this reason, address information is not on the payment history.

I sent my payment in with no cause number, what do I need to do?

You can call us at (713-755-6077) and provide us your check number, amount of check, date of issue, payor and payee's name, name on the check and the number that it should be posted to. Once identified, it will then be processed to your account.

What if I receive a payment that is not my normal amount?

If you feel there is a possibility that the check is not yours, don’t cash it.  You should call customer service at (713) 755-6077 to have them research the payment to verify that the payment belongs to you.

How can I get my employer to automatically withdraw child support from my check?

After the judge has signed a wage withholding order, customers wanting the payor’s wages withheld should contact our Family Intake Section.

Family Intake's mailing address is:

    Harris County District Clerk’s Office
    P.O Box 4651
    Houston, TX 77210-4651.

Family Intake's physical address is:

    1115 Congress, Room 23
    Houston, TX 77002-1927.

The phone number is (713) 755-5750. There is a $15 fee for this service. Family Intake accepts accept cash, cashier’s checks, credit cards or money orders as payment. Family Intake does not accept personal checks. A new wage-withholding request must be filed each time the payor changes employment.

What is my balance? Do I owe arrearages?

We do not maintain balance information. You must look on your court order or divorce decree to find out how much you should pay and do your own calculations. If your case is an Attorney General case, you may contact them at (713) 243-7100 to find out about arrearages. Also, if your case is a Friend of the Court case, you may contact the Harris County Domestic Relations Office at (713) 755-6757.

Can I stop paying my child support once my child turns 18?

Harris County Child Support can NOT determine whether child support can or will be stopped. If your case is with the Attorney General, you need to contact that agency directly. If your case is not with the Attorney General, you should refer to your court order. If wages are being garnished, you will need to contact your employer to find out what is required by the employer to terminate child support. Should a termination order be necessary, you will need to contact either a private attorney, the Harris County Domestic Relations Office or you can go to any law library to retrieve information on how to prepare your own termination order. The Harris County Law Library is located at 1019 Congress, 17th floor, Houston, Texas 77002-1700.

My payments have been redirected to the State Disbursement Unit, how do I set up or update my direct deposit information with them?

If your payments have been redirected to the State Disbursement Unit (SDU), the SDU requires you to submit a new direct deposit application. You can retrieve a copy of it at http://www.oag.state.tx.us, click on Child Support, then on Contacts & Forms, then on Direct Deposit. Please return to the address listed on the form.

My payments have been redirected to the State Disbursement Unit, how can I place a stop payment on one of their checks?

If your payments have been redirected to the State Disbursement Unit (SDU), the SDU requires you to submit their stop payment form. You can retrieve a copy of it at http://www.oag.state.tx.us, click on Child Support, then on Contacts & Forms, then click on Warrant Cancellation. Please return to the address listed on the form.

How do I change my name with your office?

The request for change of name may be done in person, at 1115 Congress, Room 10, at our information window or by fax at (713) 755-4359. You may also mail the request to 1115 Congress, Room 10, Houston Texas 77002-1927. The following information must be provided to process a change of name:

• Cause number
• Payor and payee’s name
• The new and old name of the person changing his/her name
• Signature of person making the change
• Daytime telephone number
• One of the following documents:
• A copy of your state-issued valid I.D. noting your new name
• A copy of your marriage certificate
• Signed court order stating the change of name

How do I change my address?

We CANNOT make payee address changes on Attorney General cases. Attorneys CANNOT make changes to their clients’ addresses.

How do I set up direct deposit?

The request for direct deposit or ACH should be done through the State Disbursement Unit. The form is located on our website under the FORMS HOME link on the right of this screen.

How do I change my direct deposit?

Changes in direct deposit should be requested through the State Disbursement Unit. The form is located under the FORMS HOME link on the right of this screen on the sidebar menu.

If I have not received a child support check that has been mailed, can I have a stop payment placed on it and how do I do this?

A stop payment can be processed after 10 business days from the date the payment was mailed. To process a stop payment prior to the 10 business days, you must agree to pay the $20.00 fee assessed by the bank. This fee cannot be taken from the payment being stopped or any future payment. The following information is needed on the request, which can be faxed, mailed or submitted to the information window:

• Cause number
• Payor and Payee’s names
• Date of check
• Amount of check
• Harris County check number
• Signature of the payee
• Copy of the payee’s state-issued I.D.
• Daytime phone number

If the check has not been cashed, it will be voided and reissued within three business days.

How do I file for child support?

Harris County Child Support does not have the paperwork to establish child support. When a customer wants to establish child support, the customer can hire an attorney, ask the Attorney General for representation, contact the Harris County Domestic Relations Office or go to any law library to obtain information on how to prepare a petition for child support. The Harris County Law Library is located at 1019 Congress, 17th floor, Houston, Texas 77002-1700.

How do I set up a case in the Child Support Office?

Harris County must receive a Child Support Information Sheet or a copy of the court order. Once we receive the Child Support Information Sheet, we can establish the case so payments can be processed.

What is a modification order?

A modification is any change to the terms of a child support order and must be signed by a judge. Possible changes include an increase or decrease in child support, a change of payee, change of payor, or the frequency of the payment. This modification must be submitted to Harris County Child Support before the change can be made in our system. To obtain a modification, you must contact a private attorney, the Harris County Domestic Relations Office, the Attorney General’s Office or obtain information from a law library on how to prepare your own modification. The Harris County Law Library is located at 1019 Congress, 17th floor, Houston, Texas 77002-1700.

Can I make a payment in person at the Harris County Child Support Office?

Yes, payments can be made at 1115 Congress, Rm. 10 (Basement), Houston, TX 77002. We take cash payments, MasterCard payments using www.E-childspay.com, and bank drafts payments via www.ExpertPay.com.

How will this affect an obligor of a case (cause) who has wage withholding?

Texas is converting cases to the Texas Child Support Disbursement Unit (TXCSDU) on an employer-by-employer basis. Eventually, your employer will be contacted regarding the child support payments issued by their office. Once the TXCSDU is updated with all the pertinent information they would need to process a child support payment, the employer will receive an official NOTICE OF PLACE OF PAYMENT, which will instruct the employer to redirect the payments that qualify to the TXCSDU.

Will the obligor be notified if and when his case is redirected to SDU?

Yes. The obligor, the obligee, the court of continuing jurisdiction, the local child support registry, and the employer will all be notified once this change occurs.

Will the obligor continue to send payments to Harris County Child Support or will this change?

The NOTICE OF PLACE OF PAYMENT will instruct the obligor to stop sending payments to Harris County Child Support and begin sending them to the TXCSDU located in San Antonio.

If there are changes for the obligor in the method of payment, what are they?

The TXCSDU will accept the same payment types as the Harris County Child Support Office. Therefore, there will not be any change in this area.

How do I file for divorce and can I obtain the documents through your office?

Unfortunately, our office cannot assist you with the preparation of your documents. You are responsible for preparing the documents you wish to file. Once you have your documents, you may file them in person or by mail. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 4651, Houston, Texas 77210. Our physical location is 1115 Congress, Room 23. A divorce handbook is located on the Texas Young Lawyers Association Web site located at www.tyla.org.

How much does it cost to file a case in Family Intake?

Filing fees vary depending on the type of action. Please refer to the fee schedule. The total fee is the sum of the applicable filing fee, the process/issuance fee (if applicable), and the service fee (if applicable).

Where can I mail or file my documents?

If you wish to mail your documents to our office, please mail to Harris County District Clerk, P.O. Box 4651, Houston, Texas 77210. If you wish to file your documents in person, please file at 1115 Congress, Room 23 (Basement).

Is there a number I can call to get case information?

To obtain an accurate civil records search, specific names are required, as well as other important information, i.e. year filed, party a plaintiff or defendant, type of case, etc. The contact number for a search is (713) 755-5758. If the person has a case number, they can call (713) 755-5015 or (713) 755-5016 for case information.

How can I obtain a copy of my divorce decree?

You may obtain a copy in person or by mail. To obtain a copy in person, please visit 201 Caroline. You will receive your copy the same day. To obtain a copy by mail, please mail your request to Harris County District Clerk, P.O. Box 4651, Houston, Texas 77210. The cost is $1 per page. The request will need to contain the case number and what you would like a copy of. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. General processing time is between two to three weeks via mail.

How can I obtain a restraining/protective order?

Unfortunately, our office cannot assist you with the preparation of your documents. You are responsible for preparing the documents you wish to file. Once you have your documents, you may file them in person or by mail. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 4651, Houston, Texas 77210. Our physical location is 1115 Congress, Room 23. A protective order packet is located on the Office of the Attorney General’s Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us

How can I set up wage withholding?

Our office will need a request in writing. You may mail or bring your request to our office. Our mailing address is Harris County District Clerk, P.O. Box 4651, Houston, Texas 77210. Our physical location is 1115 Congress, Room 23 (Basement). A required fee of $15.00 is due at the time of the request. Payment is acceptable by mail in the form of a money order or cashier’s check payable to the Harris County District Clerk. In person, all forms of payment are acceptable, except for personal check. The request will need to contain the case number, name of the employer, payroll mailing address of the employer, and the name of the person who is responsible for the child support. The request should also list the name of the order and the approximate date signed, if known. Once our office receives the request, it is issued within four business days. Anyone with questions relating to the issuance should call the Child Support Office at (713) 755-6077.

How can I fax file?

You may fax file by faxing your documents to our office at (713) 755-5754. There is a fax filing charge in addition to any costs associated with the document. The cost to fax file is $1 per page, plus a 4% credit card convenience fee. Payment must be by credit card. To facilitate this process, please include a fax filing authorization form with your documents. You can obtain this form on our Web site at www.hcdistrictclerk.com. Select Forms from the toolbar, download the form and fax with your documents. Otherwise, to assess the charges by fax, please send the credit card name, credit card number, expiration date, and a signed statement authorizing the District Clerk to use the credit card for this transaction. If you have any questions about the fax filing process, please call Family Intake at (713) 755-5758. You cannot fax file returns of service on issuances, bonds, signed orders or judgments.

How can I e-File?

Please visit the Texas Online Web site at www.TexasOnline.com/efiling

How much are the Filing Fees?

This schedule, effective October 2004, of Filing and Service Fees for Civil and Family Cases separates the fees for filing of pleadings, issuance of citations, notices and writs, and the service of process. To determine the total cost, please calculate the total fee as follows:

Applicable Filing Fee + Process Fee or Issuance Fee + Service Fee = TOTAL FEE

• Civil filing & service fees, family filing & service fees, constable fees
• Local Rules for: Civil Courts, Family Courts and Juvenile Courts

For more Civil Court information, e-mail us.
For more Family Court information, e-mail us.

Where do I file my pleadings?

Civil pleadings such as petitions, cross-actions, counterclaims, etc. may be filed in Civil Intake, first floor Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline. These types of pleadings have fees to be receipted for at time of filing. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. To 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday except when the Astros have home games.

Civil pleadings such as answers, amended petitions, etc. may be filed in the Civil Intake No Fees section, Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline. These type of pleadings have no fees associated with their filing. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. To 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday except when the Astros have home games.

Do you have computer terminals that the public can use?

Yes. The public can search for civil records for free. Just come to the Civil Courthouse, located at 201 Caroline, seconond floor, room 210.

Is there a number I can call to get case information?

To obtain an accurate civil records search, specific names should be known, as well as other important information, such as the year the case was filed, is the party a plaintiff or defendant in the case and the type of case filed. Contact (713) 755-8307.

How do I find information on a divorce?

To obtain information regarding the date a divorce decree has been signed, the volume and page of the order, and the number of pages contained in the order call (713) 755-5758. There is a fee of $5.00 for this service.

Can I request copies by mail?

When requesting copies by mail, please specify on the envelope if the request is for Civil or Family. The mailing address is P.O. Box 4651, Houston, Texas, 77210-4651. Copies are $1.00 per page, certified or non-certified. We accept cashier's checks and money orders made payable to Theresa Chang, Harris County District Clerk, and accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover Card.

Can I request information by fax?

Fax filing requests can be made using a credit card. Please fax your requests to (713) 755-8974, or for information call (713) 755-8306 or (713) 755-8307. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover Card.

How do I get a certified copy?

If you wish to purchase certified copies of public records in person, you may between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday in the Civil Customer Service Section, Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline.

I'm an attorney and would like to change my name/address information. How do I do this?

To register an attorney change of name and/or address, please send a signed letter, which includes your bar number, or fill out and sign an attorney register change form.

The form can be found on our Web site at www.hcdistrictclerk.com.

You may pick up a copy in the Civil Courthouse at 201 Caroline, Room 210.

Mail it to the District Clerk's Office, P.O. Box 4651, Houston, Texas 77210-4651 or the letter or form may be delivered to the Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline, Room 210.

You can also use the e-Attorney service to change your name/address information electronically.

How do I go about filing a civil bond?

For information on filing civil bonds, please call (713) 755-8308.

What is the fee to request an Abstract or Execution?

$8.00 for each Abstract and $8.00 for an Execution.

I need to have an Abstract or Execution issued. What do I do?

You will need to send a written request (This request can be found on our Web site www.hcdistrictclerk.com, under the forms link.) plus the filing fee ($8.00) to our office or in person at the Post Judgment Department.

I am requesting an Abstract or Execution. Can't I pay with a check?

If you are an attorney using a law firm or local company check, yes. If it is a personal check, no. It must be a cashier's check or money order. Cash and credit cards are also accepted for payment.

Do I need to supply a certified copy of the judgment with my request for Abstract or Execution?

No.

My judgment is against different defendants. Can't I request an Abstract against each defendant?

No, all defendants are identified in the abstract. You may have as many abstracts as you want on a case but you only need multiple abstracts when you plan to file them in other counties.

Can I request an Execution against each defendant?

No. Only one execution can be issued at a time no matter how many defendants you have. The execution will contain all defendants.

I need this (abstract, execution, cost statement, etc) NOW! What do I need to do?

In order for us to do a rush, we must have an affidavit stating the reason for the rush order. If you are requesting a execution prior to the 30 days from the time a final judgment is signed, the affidavit must be according to Rule 628 T.R.C.

Can I pick up my Abstract or Execution?

Yes. Be sure to state in your request that you want to pick it up. Pick up is in Civil Post Judgment, 201 Caroline, Room 250.

When will my Abstract or Execution be ready?

The time to prepare an abstract or execution will vary depending upon the request. Most abstracts/executions are prepared within (14) days of the request.

I need to have my Execution served, can you send it to the Constable?

Harris County Constables prefer that the requesting party make arrangements directly with them for serving the Execution as they may have questions about the writ.

What do I do with the abstract now that I have it?

The abstract can be filed in the county in which you believe the debtor might own property. In most counties, the abstract is filed with the County Clerk’s Office. (An original abstract is required for each county.)

What is the filing fee to file an Abstract?

Abstracts are not filed with the District Clerk’s Office. They are filed with the County Clerk’s Office in Real Property Records.

The Execution was returned “Nulla bona.” What does that mean?

This is when the constable has not found any goods of the defendant on which he could levy.

My judgment is almost 10 years old and I need to keep it alive; how can I do this?

If a writ of execution is not issued within the first 10 years of the judgment, it becomes dormant and we can not issue an execution. After the first execution is issued the dormant date runs from issue date of that execution.

We bought this judgment and we are the assignee. Can we be listed as the Plaintiff in the abstract or execution?

If you file an Assignment of Judgment, this information will be included in the abstract/execution.

We are filing a Supersedeas Bond on a case and a Writ of Execution has been issued, how do we stop the service on the Execution?

The quickest way is to go to Post Judgment and request a Writ of Supersedeas ($8.00 filing fee) and have the clerk walk the receipt to civil post judgment. We will then issue and return the writ of supersedeas (which recalls the execution) to the requesting party so that they can deliver it to the Constable that served the execution.

I need to appeal my case, what do I do?

A Notice of Appeal must be filed according to the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Do you have a form to fill out for that?

No, you may refer to Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure or research Appellate Procedures at the Harris County Law Library located on the 17th floor at 1019 Congress. That phone number is (713) 755-5183.

Where do I go to file a Notice of Appeal?

You need to come to Civil Courthouse Building, 201 Caroline, Room 250, second floor, Civil Post Judgment Department or mail the notice to Theresa Chang, District Clerk, Attn: Civil Post Judgment, P.O. Box 4651, Houston, TX 77210-4651.

Is there a fee for filing a Notice of Appeal?

No.

What are the costs of my appellate clerk's record?

The cost is $1.00 per page. The actual cost will be determined when all the pleadings are pulled, copied and numbered. A deposit may be required for large records.

I didn’t do a written request designating the clerk's record, so how do you know what to include in the record?

If there is no written request, your transcript is prepared per Rule 34 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.

When will I be notified of the amount due on the clerk's record?

Once the transcript has been completed, we will notify the requesting party by phone and letter.

Where do I go to pay for the clerk's record?

You may come to the Civil Post Judgment Department, 210 Caroline, room 250.

Why did I get a bill in the mail when I’ve already paid for the clerk's record?

When the record is completed we make a phone call to let you know of the completion and the costs involved. We also mail out a copy of the bill. If you have already paid, please ignore the bill.

The clerk's record is not due until a certain day, so why did you send it up before the due date?

Once payment has been received, the transcript will be sent to the Court of Appeals that day if it is received before 3:00 p.m., otherwise it goes out the next working day.

How can I get a copy of the clerk's record?

Once the record is paid and forwarded to the Court of Appeals, the request is made through them. Copies of any pleading included in the record can be obtained through Civil Customer Service.

How do I request a supplemental record?

Send a written request identifying the documents you want included to the Post Judgment department, 201 Caroline, Room 250. Because there is no due date for a supplemental, they are calendared for preparation within 30 days.

How much do I put up for a Supersedeas Bond?

Must be at least the amount of the judgment, interest for the estimated duration of the appeal, and costs.

A Mandate was issued and I need to know how to get a copy of that Mandate.

All Mandates are imaged. A copy can be requested through the Civil Customer Service Department located at 201 Caroline, second floor, room 210 or (713) 755-5769.

There is a Mandate issued on our case. We won on appeal and we need to know how to get the funds from the Supersedeas Bond released to us.

Motion and Order must be filed with the trial court asking for the release of the Bond.

How can I get a cost bill?

A written request along with the case number, requesting party, and payment of the $15.00 filing fee.

What is the turn-around time for a cost statement?

Regular cost statements are usually processed within (7) days of the request. Attorney cost statements are normally processed within (14) days of the request.

What is the time frame to transfer a case out of Harris County?

After the order is signed and imaged, the case file will be sent to post judgment for processing. The transfer is normally processed within 30 days of the order.

What is the cost for transferring a case to another county?

Fees are $1 per page on all orders and docket sheets, and 12 cents per page on divorce and family pleadings.

What are the fees to file a petition for Expunction?

The fee is $212 for filing the petition, with an additional $8.50 for each defendant that requires service.

Am I eligible for an expunction?

Contact the District Attorney at 713-755-5816. You will be required to give your name and date of birth.

Where do I file the expunction petition?

You may file the petition at Civil/Family Post Trial, located at 201 Caroline, 2nd floor, Room 250.

Do I have to have an attorney?

No, however in all cases, an expunction petitioner benefits from the assistance of counsel. The District Clerk strongly urges anyone pursuing a petition for expunction of criminal records to consult with an attorney of his or her own choice.

Does the District Clerk provide blank forms for the preparation of an expunction?

No, you may obtain a petition from the District Attorney by e-mail only. You must have an e-mail address.

How long does it take to have my records expunged?

Please be patient, It is possible it could take up to 6 months for the entire process to be completed.

Where do I get a copy of my court documents?

The Customer Service Department located at 201 Caroline, second floor, room 210. You may also obtain copies from the Web site. Go to www.hcdistrictclerk.com click on e-Clerk.

Are my copies ready for pickup?