Tarrant County Family Law Courts: Overview
Tarrant County — home to Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, North Richland Hills, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, and Keller — is the third-largest county in Texas and one of the busiest family court jurisdictions in the state. Its seven family law district courts handle thousands of enforcement, modification, and post-decree matters annually.
For family law practitioners in the Fort Worth and mid-cities area, this guide covers the specific caption requirements, local practices, and eFileTexas procedures for all seven Tarrant County family law district courts.
The Seven Tarrant County Family Law District Courts
231st Judicial District Court
One of Tarrant County's established family courts. Caption: "In the 231st Judicial District Court, Tarrant County, Texas."
233rd Judicial District Court
Caption: "In the 233rd Judicial District Court, Tarrant County, Texas." The 233rd handles family law matters across the full range of Tarrant County family law practice.
322nd Judicial District Court
Caption: "In the 322nd Judicial District Court, Tarrant County, Texas."
323rd Judicial District Court
Caption: "In the 323rd Judicial District Court, Tarrant County, Texas."
324th Judicial District Court
Caption: "In the 324th Judicial District Court, Tarrant County, Texas."
325th Judicial District Court
Caption: "In the 325th Judicial District Court, Tarrant County, Texas." One of Tarrant County's active enforcement dockets.
360th Judicial District Court
Caption: "In the 360th Judicial District Court, Tarrant County, Texas."
Fort Worth vs. Arlington: Same Courts, Different Geography
Tarrant County's seven family law district courts serve the entire county — cases from Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, and all surrounding communities are all filed with the Tarrant County District Clerk and assigned to one of these seven courts by random draw. There are no separate courts for Fort Worth vs. Arlington; the county courthouse in downtown Fort Worth handles all district court family law matters.
Tarrant County Caption and Cause Number Format
Tarrant County uses its own cause number format distinct from Dallas and Collin County. Verify the exact cause number format from your client's existing order before filing any enforcement motion.
Using the wrong county's cause number format is one of the most common filing errors for attorneys who practice in multiple DFW counties. Always verify before submitting.
§157.002 Enforcement Motions in Tarrant County
Texas Family Code §157.002(c) applies uniformly across all Texas courts including all seven Tarrant County family district courts. Each alleged violation must be separately pleaded with the specific date, manner, and amount.
Tarrant County family law judges are experienced practitioners who have seen countless enforcement motions. A motion that fails to meet the specificity requirement will face a swift special exception. Make every violation paragraph count:
"On or about February 1, 2026, Respondent failed to pay the monthly child support payment in the amount of $1,200.00 due and owing under the Final Decree of Divorce signed by this Court on August 15, 2023, in Cause No. [CAUSE NUMBER], leaving that amount past due and unpaid."
Local Practice Notes for Tarrant County
Proposed Orders
Tarrant County courts strongly prefer that enforcement motions be accompanied by a proposed enforcement order. Submit the proposed order as a separate PDF attachment in your eFileTexas filing. A well-drafted proposed order that tracks the allegations in your motion precisely signals professional preparation.
Hearing Scheduling
Tarrant County family courts can have busy hearing dockets. Once your enforcement motion is filed, contact the court coordinator promptly to secure a hearing date. In Tarrant County, it is not uncommon for enforcement hearings to be scheduled several weeks out — plan accordingly and ensure your client understands the timeline.
Contempt vs. Enforcement
Tarrant County judges handle both §157.001 contempt and §157.002 enforcement regularly. If you are seeking incarceration as a remedy, ensure your motion clearly invokes the contempt provisions and includes the constitutional notice requirements that attach to contempt proceedings. A motion that blends enforcement and contempt language without clearly distinguishing the remedies can create procedural issues at the hearing stage.
eFileTexas in Tarrant County
All Tarrant County district court filings require electronic submission through eFileTexas. JCIT Technology Standards apply — text-searchable PDF is mandatory. Common Tarrant County rejection reasons include missing certificate of service, incorrect cause number format, and PDF files that are scanned images rather than text-searchable documents.
Communities Served by Tarrant County Family Courts
- Fort Worth — county seat, Texas's fifth-largest city
- Arlington — one of Texas's largest cities, major employment center
- Mansfield — rapidly growing southern Tarrant County community
- North Richland Hills — established mid-cities community
- Hurst, Euless, Bedford (HEB) — mid-cities area
- Keller and Southlake — affluent north Tarrant County communities
- Benbrook, Burleson, Crowley — southwest Tarrant County
JurisFile pre-configures all seven Tarrant County family law district courts including the 231st, 233rd, 322nd, 323rd, 324th, 325th, and 360th JDC. All output requires attorney review before filing.