83R8434 KSD-D
By: Hughes H.B. No. 3490
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the liability of a spouse in certain divorce suits for
costs, attorney's fees, and expenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 6, Family Code, is amended
by adding Section 6.7085 to read as follows:
Sec. 6.7085. LIABILITY FOR COSTS, ATTORNEY'S FEES, AND
EXPENSES IN CERTAIN DIVORCE SUITS. (a) In this section, "family
violence" has the meaning assigned by Section 71.004.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, in a suit in which a
divorce is granted in favor of one spouse under Section 6.003 based
on adultery committed by the other spouse, or under Section 6.002 or
6.004 based on the commission of family violence by the other
spouse, the spouse who has not committed adultery or family
violence, as applicable, is not liable to the other spouse for the
payment of costs, attorney's fees, or expenses in the suit.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a suit for dissolution of a marriage filed on or after the
effective date of this Act. A suit filed before that date is
governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.