Harris County Domestic Relations Office

09/08/2026

The DRO Renews Its Child Support Partnership with the Office of the Texas Attorney General

The Domestic Relations Office (DRO) has recently renewed its partnership with the Office of the Texas Attorney General (OAG), strengthening its child support program and reaffirming Harris County’s commitment to ensuring consistent, reliable financial support for children. These renewed child support agreements provide essential services for families across Harris County:

Integrated Child Support System - The DRO establishes, monitors, enforces, adjusts, and terminates child support orders for non‑TANF cases in the Family District Courts. The DRO currently oversees more than 17,300 child support cases, offering comprehensive support to families. Our team monitors child and medical support obligations and engages in efforts to ensure compliance. When appropriate, child support amounts may be adjusted. Support obligations are enforced through income withholding, tax intercepts, liens, litigation, and other methods that help ensure reliable financial assistance for children.

Community Supervision Services - Parents found in contempt and sentenced to jail for failure to pay court‑ordered child support may instead be placed on community supervision. This alternative approach helps address barriers to compliance and supports parents in meeting their financial responsibilities. Depending on the circumstances, participants may be required to complete parenting classes, substance‑abuse treatment, or employment assistance. Each individual reports monthly to a community supervision officer and demonstrates continued compliance with their court‑ordered child support obligations. The program provides an alternative to incarceration for over 2000 parents.

We value our ongoing partnership with the Family District Courts and the OAG and remain confident that our collaborative efforts will continue to strengthen the financial stability of children and families throughout Harris County.

08/03/2026

August is Child Support Awareness Month, and the Harris County Domestic Relations Office (DRO) is proud to recognize its longstanding commitment to helping children receive the financial support children need to grow and thrive. Timely and reliable financial contributions from parents are essential for meeting children’s basic needs, education, and long-term opportunities.

Through our Legal Services Division, the DRO currently manages 17,214 active child support cases, providing services that include establishing, monitoring, enforcing, modifying, and terminating child support orders. In addition, our Community Supervision Division provides an alternative to incarceration for 2031 probationers who have been sentenced to jail due to delinquent child support obligations. Key components of the DRO’s programs are:

• Financial Stability for Children: Child support ensures children have the resources they need for food, clothing, education, and healthcare.

• Legal and Practical Support: DRO programs help parents understand their rights, obligations, and options for modifying orders if there are significant changes in income or living situation.

• Protection and Safety: Our outreach addresses concerns about fear of the other parent, offering guidance on how programs can help protect families while accessing support.

The DRO’s child support payment rate remains in the top one to three of all Texas counties for collection percentages. Nationwide the statistics are as follows:

• 12 million children received child support services nationwide in 2025
• $29.3 billion collected in FY25
• 74% of payments come from automatic paycheck withholding — making support reliable and consistent for families
• $4.01 collected for every $1 spent — one of the most cost-effective federal programs
• 63 tribal programs serve 56,000 children with services consistent with tribal values and cultures
• $617 million in medical support delivered in FY25, helping children access the care they need

Although there are always more families in need, we can take pride in the meaningful child support work we’ve accomplished

07/27/2026

National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI)

The Domestic Relations Office (DRO) is proud to announce that the National Fatherhood Initiative has awarded a grant to fully cover enrollment for a designated number of Harris County fathers in ProFathering15.

ProFathering15 is an online, self‑paced course designed to help fathers build confidence, strengthen parenting skills, and stay actively engaged in their children’s lives.

This opportunity will empower fathers involved in the Harris County Family Courts and further strengthen families across our community. We are excited to offer this course as a valuable addition to the parenting programs already provided by the DRO.

07/16/2026

Family Court Services Evaluator – Testimony Training

Today, Christy Bradshaw Schmidt, LPC, with Texas Family Law Forensics, provided Family Court Services and Supervised Visitation staff with an excellent training on effective courtroom testimony. She covered several key topics, including:

• Preparing for your court appearance

• Understanding the difference between fact and expert witnesses

• Tips for direct examination

• Responding to hypothetical questions

• Tips for cross‑examination

• Staying grounded in your role

A sincere thank you to Christy for sharing her expertise and equipping our team with valuable tools for confident, effective testimony.

06/22/2026

DRO Family Mediation Program - 2026 National Association of Counties Achievement Award Winner

The Domestic Relations Office’s (DRO) Family Mediation Program has been selected to receive a 2026 National Association of Counties Achievement Award. Congratulations to our outstanding mediation team.

The DRO is grateful for the opportunity to provide mediation services for cases pending in the Harris County Family Courts and for the families who place their trust in us. Since Commissioners Court established the program in 1995, our mediation program has consistently achieved an annual resolution rate above 80%.

Each year, the DRO receives more than 1,700 case requests to mediate, involving two parents per case (3400 applications). Among the cases mediated, over 1,900 children are impacted, 1,200 participants are self-represented, and approximately 450 are Spanish-speaking.

DRO mediators take great pride in helping families reach meaningful and lasting resolutions at no cost. The Office remains grateful for the opportunity to serve our Harris County constituents and the Harris County Family District Courts.

06/11/2026

The DRO participated in the Harris County Housing & Probate Resource Fair on Wednesday, June 10, hosted in partnership with the Communication Workers of America Local Union 6222 Retirees.

The event brought together community members and service providers to share information on housing, legal assistance, and other supports available across Harris County. Probate Judge Pamela Medina and Public Probate Administrator Brandon Cofield led presentations on probate court and estate planning.

We were glad to join the event, connect with attendees, and share information about DRO services.

05/25/2026

05/14/2026

LASTING LEGACIES COMMUNITY EVENT

The DRO was pleased to be a community partner with Harris County Precinct Two and the Harris County Attorney's Office for the Lasting Legacies Community Event, a free public event focused on estate planning and legacy protection. The event was held at the Magnolia Multi-Service Center. Local partners provided helpful resources directly to residents. The DRO hosted a resource table to share brochures, handouts, and other materials with attendees.

05/07/2026

11TH ANNUAL FOOD FROM THE BAR DRIVE
The Domestic Relations Office participated in the 11th Annual Food from The Bar event with the Houston Food Bank and the Houston Bar Association. The DRO team's participation in this endeavor was “AMAZING.” This event was timed to raise critical resources just before summer break 2026. The DRO was one of 27 legal teams - law firms, legal departments, and law schools - participating in separate endeavors for the Houston Food Bank.
1. Food Drive – The DRO food drive was delivered to the Houston Food Bank last week.
2. Fundraising – The Domestic Relations Office collected funds that were donated to the Houston Food Bank.
What an awesome job. Congrats to the DRO Team!

05/01/2026