Dallas County’s domestic relations office is established, and designated district judges control key appointments, supervision, reporting, and policy direction.
Sec. 152.06331. DALLAS COUNTY DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE. (a) The domestic relations office of Dallas County is established. Except to the extent of a conflict with this section, Chapter 203, Family Code, applies to the office, and the office has the powers and duties of a domestic relations office provided by that chapter. (b) The judges of the district courts in Dallas County that give preference to family law matters shall, on a majority vote, appoint the director of the domestic relations office. The director serves at the will of those judges, except that those judges may delegate the decision to terminate the director's appointment to the presiding judge of those judges' courts. (c) The judges of the district courts in Dallas County that give preference to family law matters shall, by majority vote, supervise the activities of the director and the domestic relations office, including the office's structure and budget, or those judges may delegate the supervisory duties to the presiding judge of those judges' courts. (d) The domestic relations office shall report to the Dallas County district and county courts administrator, and the administrator shall report to the judges of the district courts in Dallas County that give preference to family law matters, regarding: (1) the domestic relations office's performance of all matters relating to family court services or successor services and child support collection and administration; and (2) all other functions performed by the office. (e) The judges of the district courts in Dallas County that give preference to family law matters have final authority over decisions regarding the administration of the functions and duties of the domestic relations office and have the right to direct the district and county courts administrator to adopt and adhere to the policies adopted by the judges with regard to the domestic relations office. (f) Fees for the preparation of a court-ordered child custody evaluation or adoption evaluation or any other services provided by the domestic relations office, other than services related to the collection of child support, must be reasonable and imposed on a sliding scale according to the financial resources of the parties using the services. (g) A judge may not be subjected to a suit for, and is immune from liability for damages arising from, an act or omission committed while performing a duty under this section unless the act or omission is: (1) committed intentionally, wilfully, or wantonly; or (2) committed with: (A) gross negligence; or (B) conscious indifference or reckless disregard for the safety of others. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1171 (H.B. 3531), Sec. 2, eff. October 1, 2005. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 1449), Sec. 3.08, eff. September 1, 2015.