Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2524

Filed
2/6/25  
Out of House Committee
4/23/25  
Voted on by House
5/8/25  
Out of Senate Committee
5/22/25  
Voted on by Senate
5/25/25  
Governor Action
6/20/25  

Caption

Relating to the recovery of fees, court costs, and expenses in family law proceedings.

Impact

The bill represents a significant shift in the handling of financial obligations during family disputes. By clearly allowing courts to grant attorney's fees and costs, it aims to reduce the financial burden on parties involved, particularly those representing themselves or those facing challenges in hiring legal representation. This change is intended to promote equitable access to justice in family law cases, potentially impacting the resolution processes for issues such as child custody and support. By ensuring that legal costs can be recouped, the bill seeks to deter frivolous lawsuits while promoting accountability among parties involved in disputes.

Summary

House Bill 2524 amends key sections of the Texas Family Code relating to the recovery of attorney's fees, court costs, and other legal expenses in family law proceedings. The bill establishes guidelines for courts to award reasonable and necessary legal expenses incurred during various family law cases, including divorce and child support disputes. Specifically, it empowers courts to issue orders for attorney's fees to be paid directly to the attorney, allowing them to enforce the payment as a judgment for debt. The motivation behind this legislation is to enable fair recourse for parties that incur significant costs during family legal proceedings, ensuring there is legal support available for those unable to afford it.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 2524 appears to be generally supportive among advocates of family law reform, who view it as a necessary adjustment to support individuals facing the high cost of legal representation in family matters. Proponents argue that by improving access to legal resources, the bill enhances the integrity of family law proceedings and helps ensure that justice is served fairly. However, some financial concerns have been raised regarding the implications of granting broad authority for recovering fees, with opponents cautioning that it may inadvertently lead to increased litigation and potential abuse of the fee recovery system.

Contention

Notable points of contention include concerns about the potential for misuse of fee recovery provisions. Critics worry that the allowance for courts to enforce fees without stringent oversight could lead to financial exploitation by legal professionals or create adversarial situations where one party is burdened with excessive legal costs due to the actions of the other. Maintaining a fair balance between the need for accountability and the risk of imposing undue financial strain remains a focal issue as stakeholders discuss the implications of HB 2524.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Family Code

  • Chapter 152. Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction And Enforcement Act
    • Section: 208
    • Section: 312
    • Section: 312
  • Chapter 154. Child Support
    • Section: 012
  • Chapter 156. Modification
    • Section: New Section
  • Chapter 231. Title Iv-d Services
    • Section: 211
    • Section: 303
    • Section: 006
    • Section: 211
    • Section: 303
    • Section: 211
    • Section: 211
  • Chapter 157. Enforcement
    • Section: 268
    • Section: 318
    • Section: 322
    • Section: 323
    • Section: 330
    • Section: 507
    • Section: 110
    • Section: 211
    • Section: 268
  • Chapter 6. Suit For Dissolution Of Marriage
    • Section: 502
    • Section: 708
    • Section: 709
    • Section: 502
    • Section: 708
    • Section: 709
    • Section: 502
    • Section: 708
    • Section: 709
    • Section: 502
    • Section: 708
    • Section: 709
    • Section: 502
    • Section: 708
    • Section: 709
    • Section: 502
    • Section: 708
    • Section: 709
  • Chapter 8. Maintenance
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: 0591
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: 0591
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: 0591
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: 0591
  • Chapter 41. Liability Of Parents For Conduct Of Child
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: 0025
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: 0025
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: 0025
  • Chapter 42. Civil Liability For Interference With Possessory Interest In Child
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: New Section
  • Chapter 160. Uniform Parentage Act
    • Section: 636
    • Section: 762
    • Section: 636
    • Section: 762
    • Section: 636
    • Section: 636
  • Chapter 159. Uniform Interstate Family Support Act
    • Section: 313
    • Section: 305
    • Section: 313
    • Section: 313
    • Section: 313
  • Chapter 1. General Provisions
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: New Section
  • Chapter 9. Post-decree Proceedings
    • Section: 106
    • Section: 205
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: 106
    • Section: 205
    • Section: 014
    • Section: 106
    • Section: 205
    • Section: 106
    • Section: 205
  • Chapter 2. The Marriage Relationship
    • Section: 006
  • Chapter 158. Withholding From Earnings For Child Support
    • Section: 0051
    • Section: 0051
  • Chapter 81. General Provisions
    • Section: New Section
    • Section: New Section

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

TX HB1546

Relating to the recovery of fees, court costs, and expenses in family law proceedings.

TX HB2906

Relating to the expenses and fees awarded to a property owner in certain eminent domain proceedings.

TX HB2094

Relating to a court order for the exclusive occupancy of the primary residence by a spouse during the pendency of a suit for dissolution of a marriage.

TX SB1612

Relating to court administration and costs; increasing certain court costs; authorizing fees.

TX HB3403

Relating to court administration and costs; increasing certain court costs; authorizing fees.

TX HB3474

Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures regarding proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including the service of process and delivery of documents related to the proceedings, the administration of oaths, and the management of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, and the composition of certain juvenile boards; establishing a civil penalty; increasing certain court costs; authorizing fees.

TX HB3952

Relating to the jurisdiction of courts in cases of forcible entry and detainer and forcible detainer.

TX HB2715

Relating to a prohibition on following an individual and tracking or monitoring the individual's personal property or motor vehicle and to the criminal prosecution of that conduct.

TX SB869

Relating to suits affecting the parent-child relationship, including the payment and enforcement of support ordered in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

TX HB2246

Relating to suits affecting the parent-child relationship, including the payment and enforcement of support ordered in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

Similar Bills

TX HB1546

Relating to the recovery of fees, court costs, and expenses in family law proceedings.

TX HB2567

Relating to attorney's fees in certain postjudgment proceedings.

TX HB913

Relating to an award of costs and attorney's fees and the imposition of sanctions in certain suits for the dissolution of a marriage or affecting the parent-child relationship.

TX HB3085

Relating to an award of costs and attorney's fees and the imposition of sanctions in certain suits for the dissolution of a marriage or affecting the parent-child relationship.

TX HB5214

Relating to actions brought by the attorney general on behalf of certain persons under the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act of 1983.

TX HB4256

Relating to actions brought by the attorney general on behalf of certain persons under the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act of 1983.

TX HB3060

Relating to actions brought by the attorney general on behalf of certain persons under the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act of 1983.