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Blank Texas Petition To Modify PDF Template

The Texas Petition To Modify form is a legal document used to request changes to existing court orders regarding the parent-child relationship. This form allows individuals to outline specific modifications they seek, whether related to custody arrangements or parental rights. Understanding how to properly complete this form is essential for those looking to navigate the legal system effectively.

Open Form

Open Form

Contents

Form Example

NOTICE: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS SENSITIVE DATA.

(Fill in Cause number and court information exactly as it is written on the orders you want to change.)

In the interest of (List children):

1	Name:	Cause No:
2	Name:
2	Name:	In the _______
3	Name:	In the _______
3	Name:

4Name:

5 Name:

6 Name:

District County Court of: County, Texas

Original Petition to Modify the Parent-Child Relationship

1. Discovery

The discovery level in this case, if needed, is Level 2.

2. Order to be Modified

I ask the court to change the current Order or Orders listed below:

	Title of Order	Date signed by Court
1.		/	/
2.		/	/

3.	Jurisdiction
This Court has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of this case.
4.	Children
The following children are the subject of this case.
	Child’s name	Sex	Date of Birth	Place of Birth	Current Address

(Check one.)

There has been no significant change to the children’s property.

The following changes have occurred to the children’s property since the Court signed the current orders: ____________________________________________________________

© Texas Partnership for Legal Access – Modification Petition, February 2014
Texas Family Code, Chapter 156	Page 1 of 8

5. Parties

Petitioner

My name is _________________________________________________________________.

First

Middle

Last

I am the Petitioner, the person asking the Court to change the order or orders listed below.

The last three numbers of my driver’s license number are: ___		___	___. My driver’s license
was issued in (State) ________________________.
or	I do not have a driver’s license number.
The last three numbers of my social security number are: ___		___	___.
or	I do not have a social security number

I live at _____________________________________________________________________.

Street Address	City	State	Zip
I am the children’s (Check one.)

Sole Managing Conservator.

Possessory Conservator.

Joint Managing Conservator.

______________________________.

I have standing to bring this suit.

Respondents / People Entitled to Legal Notice

You MUST give legal notice of this case to each person named as a party in the current orders and anyone else whose rights may be affected by this case.

You MUST give legal notice of this case to the Office of the Attorney General, Child Support Division if:

●you are asking to change child support or medical support orders and

●the Office of the Attorney General is named as a party in the current orders or the child or anyone on behalf of the child receives or has received TANF, Food Stamps, or Medicaid.

Respondent A

Respondent A’s name is ____________________________________________________.

(PRINT the Respondent A’s full name)

Respondent A lives at _______________________________________________________.

Street Address	City	State	Zip
Respondent A is the children’s (Check one.)
Sole Managing Conservator.	Joint Managing Conservator.
Possessory Conservator.	______________________________.

Legal Notice to Respondent A (Check one.)

Do not send a sheriff, constable, or process server to give a copy of this Petition to Respondent A, at this time. I think Respondent A will sign a Waiver of Service, or voluntarily file an Answer.

I will have a sheriff, constable, or process server give a copy of this Petition to Respondent A

here: ____________________________________________________________________

Street Address	City	State	Zip
© Texas Partnership for Legal Access – Modification Petition, February 2014
Texas Family Code, Chapter 156			Page 2 of 8

If this is a work address, name of business: ______________________________________

I ask the clerk to issue the citation of service. I understand that I will need to pay the fee (or file the form to show the Court that I am unable to pay the fee) and arrange for service.

Respondent B

Check this box if there is no Respondent B, and skip to number 6.

Respondent B’s name is___________________________________________________.

Respondent B lives at __________________________________________________________.

Street Address	City	State	Zip
Respondent is the children’s (Check one.)
Sole Managing Conservator.	Joint Managing Conservator.
Possessory Conservator.	______________________________.

Legal Notice to Respondent B (Check one.)

Do not send a sheriff, constable, or process server to give a copy of this Petition to Respondent B at this time. I think Respondent B will sign a Waiver of Service, or voluntarily file an Answer.

I will have a sheriff, constable, or process server give a copy of this Petition to Respondent

B here: ___________________________________________________________________

Street AddressCityState Zip

If this is a work address, name of business: ______________________________________

I ask the clerk to issue the citation of service. I understand that I will need to pay the fee (or file the form to show the Court that I am unable to pay the fee) and arrange for service.

Respondent C

Check this box if there is no Respondent C, and skip to number 6.

Respondent C’s name is: __________________________________________________.

Respondent C lives at: _________________________________________________________.

Street Address	City	State	Zip
Respondent is the children’s (Check one.)
Sole Managing Conservator.	Joint Managing Conservator.
Possessory Conservator.	______________________________.

Legal Notice to Respondent C (Check one.)

Do not send a sheriff, constable, or process server to give a copy of this Petition to Respondent C at this time. I think Respondent C will sign a Waiver of Service, or voluntarily file an Answer.

I will have a sheriff, constable, or process server give a copy of this Petition to Respondent

C here: ___________________________________________________________________

Street AddressCityState Zip

If this is a work address, name of business: ______________________________________

I ask the clerk to issue the citation of service. I understand that I will need to pay the fee (or file the form to show the Court that I am unable to pay the fee) and arrange for service.

© Texas Partnership for Legal Access – Modification Petition, February 2014
Texas Family Code, Chapter 156	Page 3 of 8

6. Information Required if a Party Lives Out-of-State

(Check one.)

Everyone involved in this case lives in Texas.

Someone involved in this case (one of the Respondents or me) does not live in Texas. (You must complete and attach Exhibit: Out-of-State Party Affidavit. This is required by Texas Family Code Section 152.209.)

7. Modifications (Changes) Requested

The circumstances of the children, a conservator, or other party affected by the order or orders to be modified have materially and substantially changed since the judge announced the prior order or orders.

The requested modifications are in the best interest of the children.

The requested modifications will change the following parts of the current orders:

7a. Changes to Conservatorship (Custody)

(Check one.)

I do not want to change the conservatorship (custody) orders. (If you choose this box, skip to 7b.)

I ask the Court to change the conservatorship (custody) orders as follows:

I ask the Court to change the conservatorship order to name me: (Check one.)

Joint Managing Conservator, with the exclusive right to establish the children’s primary residence, (Home-Parent),

Joint Managing Conservator, noncustodial parent, (Co-Parent)

Joint Managing Conservator, with a geographic restriction on where the children’s

primary residence will be located and neither parent having the exclusive right to establish the children’s primary residence.

Sole Managing Conservator, (Home-Parent)

Possessory Conservator, (Co-Parent)

and name Respondent: (Check one for each Respondent, if applicable. Circle the Respondent’s letter. )

AB C Joint Managing Conservator, with the exclusive right to establish the children’s primary residence, (Home-Parent).

AB C Joint Managing Conservator, noncustodial parent, (Co-Parent).

AB C Joint Managing Conservator, with a geographic restriction on where the children’s primary residence will be located and neither parent having the exclusive right to establish the children’s primary residence.

AB C Sole Managing Conservator, (Home-Parent).

AB C Possessory Conservator (Co-Parent).

(Check one, if applicable.)

© Texas Partnership for Legal Access – Modification Petition, February 2014
Texas Family Code, Chapter 156	Page 4 of 8

I ask the Court to place a geographic restriction on where the children’s primary residence can be located.

I ask the Court to change the geographic restriction on where the children’s primary residence can be located.

I ask the Court to lift the geographic restriction on where the children’s primary residence can be located.

(Check, only if applicable.)

I am asking the Court to change the person who has the exclusive right to designate the children’s primary residence, and it has been less than one year since the order or

settlement agreement was signed. (You must complete and attach Exhibit: Petitioner’s Supporting Affidavit for Modification of Home (Custodial) Parent in Less than One Year of Order.)

7b. Changes to Right and Duties (Check one.)

I do not want to change orders regarding parental rights and duties. (Skip to 7c.)

I ask the Court to change orders regarding parental rights and duties to the following:

M om alone Dad alone M om and Dad	Either	Other
together	M om or Dad	person*

1.Make decisions concerning the children’s education

2.Consent to major medical, dental,

and surgical treatment for the child/ren

3.Consent to psychological treatment for the child/ren

4. Consent to a child’s marriage

5.Consent to a child enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces

6.Manage or control the earnings or services of a child who works

7.Represent the child in a legal action

and make important legal decisions that affect the child

8. Make decisions for the children about their estates if required by law (unless the child has a guardian ad litem or guardian of the estate)

9.Manage the children’s estates if any

were created by the parents’ community or joint property.

© Texas Partnership for Legal Access – Modification Petition, February 2014
Texas Family Code, Chapter 156	Page 5 of 8

* If you checked “Other person,” on the above chart, explain below:

Name of other person: _____________________________________

Relationship to child/ren: ___________________________________

7c. Changes to Possession or Access (Visitation)

(Check one.)

I do not want to change possession or access (visitation) orders. (Skip to 7d.)

I ask the Court to change the possession and access orders to the following:

(Check all that apply.)

Standard visitation, with Petitioner (Home-Parent) having possession and access awarded to a parent with the exclusive right to designate the children’s primary

residence, and with Respondent A B C (Co-Parent) having possession and access awarded to a non-custodial parent.

Standard visitation, with Respondent A B C (Home-Parent) having possession and access awarded to a parent with the exclusive right to designate the children’s

primary residence, and with Petitioner (Co-Parent) having possession and access awarded to a non-custodial parent.

Other (Describe)

© Texas Partnership for Legal Access – Modification Petition, February 2014
Texas Family Code, Chapter 156	Page 6 of 8

7d. Changes to Child Support (Check one.)

I do not want to change child support orders. (Skip to 7e.)

I ask the Court to change the child support orders as follows: (Check all that apply. Circle respondent’s letter)

reducing the amount of child support Petitioner pays each month. increasing the amount of child support Petitioner pays each month.

reducing the amount of child support Respondent	A B C	pays each month.
increasing the amount of child support Respondent	A B C	pays each month.
Other (Describe.)

7e. Changes to Medical Support (Check one.)

I do not want to change medical support orders. (Skip to 8.)

I ask the Court to change the medical support orders as follows: (Check all that apply.)

reducing the amount of medical support Petitioner pays each month. increasing the amount of medical support Petitioner pays each month.

reducing the amount of medical support Respondent A B	C	pays each month.
increasing the amount of medical support Respondent A	B C	pays each month.
ordering Petitioner to provide health insurance.

ordering Respondent A B C to provide health insurance.

Other: (Describe)

© Texas Partnership for Legal Access – Modification Petition, February 2014
Texas Family Code, Chapter 156	Page 7 of 8

8.Children’s Health Insurance.

The children

do not have private health insurance in effect.

Private Health Insurance is in effect: (Complete, if the children have private health insurance.)

Name of insurance company: __________________________________________________

Policy number: ______________________________________________________________

Cost of premium: $___________________________________________________________

Name of person who pays for insurance: __________________________________________

The insurance policy

is not available through the parent’s work.

Private Health Insurance NOT in effect: (Complete, if the children do NOT have private health insurance.)

The children

do not

receive medical assistance through CHIPS or Medicaid.

Cost of premium (if any): $_________________________________________________

Health insurance reasonable cost.

is not available to the person who pays child support at a

9. Information Required By Section 105.006

(Check one.)

I will include in the final Order, the social security and driver’s license numbers, current addresses, and phone numbers for each party and child who is subject to this suit, as required by section 105.006 of the Texas Family Code.

I ask the Court’s permission not to disclose the social security and driver’s license numbers, current address, and telephone numbers in the Final Order because providing that information is likely to cause the child or a conservator harassment, abuse, serious harm, or injury.

10. Prayer

I ask that citation and notice issue as required by law and that the Court make the other orders I have asked for in this Petition and any other orders to which I am entitled.

I ask for general relief.

Respectfully submitted,

Petitioner, Pro Se (Sign your name on the line.)

(PRINT your name and information.):

Name:Telephone:

Mailing Address:

Email Address:

Petitioner’s Fax #

(if available):

Attachment(s) included with this Petition (Check all that apply):

Exhibit Out-of-State Party Affidavit

Exhibit Petitioner’s Supporting Affidavit Modification of Home (Custodial) Parent in Less than One Year of Order

© Texas Partnership for Legal Access – Modification Petition, February 2014
Texas Family Code, Chapter 156	Page 8 of 8

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Common mistakes

Incorrect Cause Number and Court Information: Failing to fill in the cause number and court information exactly as it appears on the existing orders can lead to delays or dismissal of the petition.
Missing Children’s Information: Not listing all children involved in the case can result in incomplete information being presented to the court.
Failure to Specify the Order to be Modified: Not clearly identifying which order or orders are being modified can create confusion and hinder the court’s understanding of the request.
Inaccurate Personal Information: Providing incorrect personal details, such as names or addresses, can complicate the legal process and affect notifications.
Neglecting to Provide Legal Notice: Failing to give legal notice to all necessary parties can lead to challenges in court, as the process may be deemed invalid.
Not Addressing Out-of-State Parties: If any party lives out of state, neglecting to complete and attach the required affidavit can result in procedural issues.
Ambiguous Modifications Requested: Not clearly stating the changes desired to conservatorship or parental rights can lead to misunderstandings and may prevent the court from granting the request.
Forgetting to Check Appropriate Boxes: Overlooking to check the appropriate boxes regarding conservatorship or rights can lead to incomplete requests being submitted.
Ignoring Fees and Service Requirements: Not understanding the need to pay fees or arrange for service can delay the petition process significantly.

Key takeaways

When filling out the Texas Petition To Modify form, ensure that you accurately enter the cause number and court information as stated in the existing orders. This is crucial for the court to process your request correctly.
Clearly list all children involved in the case. This includes their full names, dates of birth, and current addresses. Proper identification of the children is essential for the court's consideration.
Be prepared to explain any significant changes that have occurred since the original order. This could relate to the children’s living situation, financial circumstances, or any other relevant factors that justify the modification.
Provide legal notice to all respondents and parties affected by the modification. This includes notifying the Office of the Attorney General if child support is being modified, ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
Understand that you may need to pay a fee for service of process. If you cannot afford this fee, you must file a form to demonstrate your inability to pay, which allows the court to waive the fee.

⇓ Texas Petition To Modify PDF

Steps to Using Texas Petition To Modify

Filling out the Texas Petition To Modify form requires careful attention to detail. Each section must be completed accurately to ensure the petition is properly filed with the court. After completing the form, the next steps involve filing it with the appropriate court and serving notice to all relevant parties.

Header Information: Fill in the cause number and court information exactly as it appears on the existing orders you wish to modify.
Children's Information: List the names of all children involved in the case.
Discovery Level: Indicate that the discovery level is Level 2.
Order to be Modified: Specify the title and date of the order(s) you are requesting to change.
Jurisdiction: Confirm that the court has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the case.
Children's Details: Provide each child’s name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and current address.
Property Changes: Indicate whether there have been significant changes to the children’s property since the last order.
Petitioner Information: Fill in your name, driver’s license number (or state that you do not have one), social security number (or state that you do not have one), and your current address.
Conservatorship Status: Check your status as a Sole Managing Conservator, Possessory Conservator, or Joint Managing Conservator.
Respondents Information: Provide the names and addresses of all respondents involved. Include their conservatorship status.
Legal Notice: Indicate how you plan to provide legal notice to each respondent. Choose whether to send a sheriff, constable, or process server, or if you believe they will sign a Waiver of Service.
Out-of-State Parties: Check if anyone involved in the case lives out of Texas. If so, complete and attach the required affidavit.
Requested Modifications: Describe the changes you are requesting regarding conservatorship, rights, and duties. Clearly state how these changes will serve the best interest of the children.