What is a Parenting Course?

In a Texas divorce or child custody case, Section 105.009 of the Texas Family Code authorizes a family court judge to order the parties to attend a Parent Education and Stabilization Course.  The court can enter such an order either in an original proceeding or in a motion to modify an existing custody order if the Court finds it to be in the best interest of the child.

Additionally, several Houston-area family courts including Fort Bend County, Harris County and Montgomery County have standing orders in place pertaining to whether attending a parenting course is required.  These standing orders pertain to whether parties may take an online class or whether they must attend a parenting class in person.

The standing orders also govern whether parties must attend the class together, as well as when the parenting class must be completed and what providers of the parenting course will be accepted by the Court.  If there is a history of family violence between the parties, the Court may prohibit the parties from taking the parenting class together.  A parenting course must be at least four hours long and cannot exceed twelve hours.

The parenting course must be designed to educate and as