When CPS gets involved, families are often told that the court must consider whether the Department made “reasonable efforts.” That phrase carries a lot of weight. It affects whether a child is removed, how quickly a family can reunify, and what the long-term plan will be if reunification isn’t safe.

he Texas Legislature’s 2025 session brought some big changes to the Texas Family Code—many of which directly affect families going through divorce, custody, adoption, or child support cases. While some of these updates simply codify what judges have already been practicing, others create entirely new rules. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most important changes, the bills behind them, and how they might impact families moving forward.

If you’re in the middle of a Texas custody case, you might hear something new come up: an amicus attorney has been appointed. If your first reaction is, “Wait… what’s that?!”—don’t worry. You’re not alone. This is one of the most common questions we get from our clients.