Texas Child Welfare Law Bench Book and Bench Cards

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The Children's Commission releases and maintains a Texas Child Welfare Law Bench Book (Bench Book) which outlines the state and federal statutory requirements for judges handling child welfare cases, as well as chapters on topics such as health, well-being, safety, system issues, and family connections. The Bench Cards provide high-level legal and topical information through at-a-glance, easy-to-use checklists that outline relevant laws at the various stages of a child welfare case as well as by topic (e.g., education).

While the Bench Book was originally designed for and is primarily used by judges, many attorneys and other child welfare stakeholders may also find it to be informative and helpful.

The Bench Book and Bench Cards are available at no cost using the links below in PDF for print and also as an interactive resource through LawBox. For view on mobile device, downloading the LawBox App is recommended and instructions are included below. 

Bench Book

The 2024 Texas Child Welfare Law Bench Book (updated January 2025) is available in the following formats:

  • Available for mobile or tablet device by downloading the LawBox App

 

Bench Cards

Bench Cards are abbreviated reference cards on specific hearing types and relevant topical matters for quick reference. Many Bench Cards are available in two formats: as one-page checklists without citations (short) which are intended for easy use at hearings and as extended versions with Texas Family Code citations.