Texas Family Code 155.201 – Mandatory Transfer
(a) On the filing of a motion showing that a suit for dissolution of the marriage of the child’s parents has been filed in another court and requesting a transfer to that court, the court having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of a suit affecting the parent-child relationship shall, within the time required by § 155.204, transfer the proceedings to the court in which the dissolution of the marriage is pending.
(a-1) On the filing of a motion showing that a suit in which adoption of a child is requested has been filed in another court located in the county in which the child resides as provided by § 103.001 and requesting a transfer to that court, the court having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of a suit affecting the parent-child relationship with regard to that child shall, within the time required by § 155.204, transfer the proceedings to the court in which the suit for adoption is pending.
Terms Used In Texas Family Code 155.201
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
(a-2) A motion described by Subsection (a) or (a-1) must comply with the requirements of § 155.204(a).
(b) If a suit to modify or a motion to enforce an order is filed in the court having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of a suit, on the timely motion of a party the court shall, within the time required by § 155.204, transfer the proceeding to another county in this state if the child has resided in the other county for six months or longer.
(c) If a suit to modify or a motion to enforce an order is pending at the time a subsequent suit to modify or motion to enforce is filed, the court may transfer the proceeding as provided by Subsection (b) only if the court could have transferred the proceeding at the time the first motion or suit was filed.
(d) On receiving notice that a court exercising jurisdiction under Chapter 262 has ordered the transfer of a suit under § 262.203(a)(2), the court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction shall, in accordance with the requirements of § 155.204(i), transfer the proceedings to the court in which the suit under Chapter 262 is pending within the time required by § 155.207(a).