As of January 1, 2025 the Waller County Court at Law No. 1 handles all family law, juvenile and child-protection cases.

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Yes, Waller County has special standing orders for family law cases, including a Standing Restraining Order that goes into effect automatically in divorce and child-related cases to preserve the status quo. These orders and other local rules are available on the Waller County District Clerk's website and should be carefully reviewed. 

Waller County's Standing Orders

• Scope: The Standing Restraining Order applies to all divorce suits and suits affecting the parent-child relationship in Waller County.

• Purpose: Its goal is to protect the parties and their children, and to preserve their property while the lawsuit is pending.

• Content: It includes provisions that prohibit or require certain actions regarding children, finances, insurance, and property.

• Effectiveness: The order becomes effective automatically when the initial petition is filed and remains in effect until a final order is signed or the case is dismissed. 

Other Local Rules

• Local Rules: In addition to the standing order, there are other local rules for courts, such as the 506th Judicial District Court, which govern case management and jurisdiction.

• Filing: Family law cases are e-filed with the District Clerk's office.

• Mediation: There are also policies regarding mediation for temporary orders that require financial information to be submitted. 

Where to find the orders

• County Clerk's Office: You can find the Standing Restraining Order and other local rules on the Waller County Courts at Law website.

• Texas Courts Website: The Office of Court Administration's website also has a searchable database of local rules, forms, and standing orders for courts across the state

1. Filing the Case All custody cases in Waller County go to County Court at Law No. 1. Your lawyer files the petition electronically with the District Clerk.

2. Standing Order Applies Immediately A Standing Order automatically goes into effect. It prevents either parent from removing children from Texas, changing schools, hiding children, harassing the other parent, or destroying property.

3. Serving the Other Parent The other parent must be formally notified by service or by signing a waiver.

4. Mediation Before Temporary Orders Waller County requires mediation before a temporary-orders hearing unless safety concerns allow a waiver.

5. Temporary Orders If no agreement is reached, the judge can make temporary decisions about custody, visitation, and support until the case ends.

6. Parenting Class Both parents must complete the Kids First parenting class (or another approved program) before final orders.

7. Mediation Before Final Orders A second mediation is usually required before a final trial unless the judge waives it.

8. Final Orders A case can end with an agreed order or with a final trial where the judge makes the decisions.

In Waller County family law, mediation is a structured, confidential process where a neutral third party helps parents or spouses settle disputes outside of court, such as over child custody or property division. Its role is to facilitate communication and negotiation to create a Mediated Settlement Agreement (MSA) that both parties can agree to, which then becomes the foundation for legally binding final orders. If an agreement isn't reached, the case may proceed to a judge for a decision. 

Role and function of mediation

• Facilitates negotiation: A mediator guides the discussion to help parties move from their stated wants to understanding the underlying reasons, leading to compromise.

• Promotes cooperation: It encourages a collaborative environment to resolve issues like child custody, visitation, and property division, reducing the adversarial nature of court proceedings.

• Enables party control: Mediation allows parties to retain control over the outcome of their case, rather than leaving crucial decisions entirely to a judge.

• Creates binding agreements: When successful, the parties sign a Mediated Settlement Agreement (MSA) that is legally binding and irrevocable, forming the basis for the final court order.

• Saves time and money: It is typically less expensive and time-consuming than a full trial. 

Waller County-specific aspects

• Court-ordered: In Waller County, both parties are required to participate in mediation in good faith, as outlined in the Standing Mediation Order.

• Confidentiality: The process is confidential, governed by Texas rules, which helps parties feel more comfortable discussing sensitive issues openly. 

What happens if no agreement is reached

• If the parties cannot reach a full agreement, the mediator will declare an impasse, and the case will move forward to a trial for a judge or jury to decide.

• Even after mediation, parties may continue to negotiate and can still settle their case before a final order is issued.