Family Code § 201.204

Sec. 201.204. GENERAL POWERS OF ASSOCIATE JUDGE. (a) On the motion of a party or the associate judge, an associate judge may refer a complex case back to the referring court for final disposition after recommending temporary orders for the protection of a child. (b) An associate judge may render and sign any pretrial order. (c) An associate judge may recommend to the referring court any order after a trial on the merits. (d) An associate judge may hear and render an order in a suit for the adoption of a child for whom the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has been named managing conservator. (e) An associate judge may hear and render an order in a suit referred to the associate judge by a juvenile court under Section 51.04, subject to the limitations placed on the associate judge's authority in the order of referral. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1302, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1258, Sec. 18, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 912 (S.B. 1329), Sec. 1.04, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 660 (S.B. 1887), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2019.