HB 1753
AN ACT relating to a court order for the exclusive occupancy of the primary
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
This Texas bill allows a court to grant exclusive occupancy of the primary residence to a spouse during a divorce proceeding, with mandatory exclusive occupancy if the other spouse has been convicted of certain family violence or criminal offenses within the past three years. The law aims to protect victims by ensuring they can remain in their primary residence during legal proceedings, applying to both pending and future divorce cases starting September 1, 2025. The bill provides safeguards for the victim spouse, who can also file a motion to vacate the exclusive occupancy order at any time during the suit.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to a court order for the exclusive occupancy of the primary residence or other residential property by a spouse during the pendency of a suit for dissolution of a marriage. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 6.502, Family Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to (a) While a suit for dissolution of a marriage is pending and on the motion of a party or on the court's own motion after notice and hearing, the court may render an appropriate order, including the granting of a temporary injunction for the preservation of the property and protection of the parties as deemed necessary and equitable and including an order directed to (1) requiring a sworn inventory and appraisement of the real and personal property owned or claimed by the parties and specifying the form, manner, and substance of the inventory and appraisal and list of debts and liabilities; (2) requiring payments to be made for the support of (3) requiring the production of books, papers, documents, and tangible things by a party; (4) ordering payment of reasonable attorney's fees and (5) appointing a receiver for the preservation and protection of the property of the parties; (6) awarding one spouse exclusive occupancy of the primary residence or other residential property during the pendency (7) prohibiting the parties, or either party, from spending funds beyond an amount the court determines to be for reasonable and necessary living expenses; (8) awarding one spouse exclusive control of a party's usual business or occupation; or (9) prohibiting an act described by Section 6.501(a). (d) While a suit for dissolution of a marriage is pending and on the motion of a party, the court shall render an appropriate order awarding the party exclusive occupancy of the primary residence during the pendency of the suit under Subsection (a)(6) if the adverse party has, during the pendency of the suit or in the three-year period preceding the date the suit was filed, been convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community (1) a felony offense under Title 5, Penal Code, for which the court has made an affirmative finding that the offense involved family violence under Article 42.013, Code of Criminal Procedure, that was committed against the party filing the motion or a member of that party's family or household; or (2) an offense under Section 25.11, Penal Code, committed against the party filing the motion or a member of that (e) A party that has been awarded exclusive occupancy of the primary residence under Subsection (d) may file a motion to vacate that order at any time during the pendency of the suit. (1) "Family" has the meaning assigned by Section (2) "Household" has the meaning assigned by Section SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a suit for dissolution of a marriage that is pending in a trial court on the effective date of this Act or that is filed on or after the SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to a court order for the exclusive occupancy of the primary
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