Supervised visitation in Texas.

If you're navigating supervised visitation in Texas, this guide walks through the parts that are specific to your state — the court that will hear your case, where to look for providers, what they typically cost in Texas, and resources you can use today.

About Texas's family court system

In Texas, supervised visitation matters are handled by the District Court (designated Family District Court in larger counties). Larger Texas counties have designated Family District Courts that handle only family matters.

What's distinctive about Texas: Texas is second only to California in population and has one of the country's largest networks of supervised visitation providers. Larger Texas counties have designated Family District Courts that hear only family matters.

Notable: Texas has one of the largest concentrations of supervised visitation providers in the country, including programs funded through the Texas Office of the Attorney General.

As with every state, Texas judges decide custody and visitation based on the best interests of the child. The specifics of how that standard is applied vary by county and judge, but the underlying framework is consistent.

Why Texas courts order supervised visitation

Texas judges, like judges in every state, order supervised visitation when they want to protect a child's safety while preserving the relationship with the visiting parent. The most common reasons:

• Allegations or history of abuse, neglect, or violence.
• Substance abuse concerns or a parent in early recovery.
• Long separation or estrangement that needs gradual rebuilding.
• Mental health concerns that affect parenting time.
• High conflict between parents that makes exchanges unsafe.
• Risk of parental kidnapping or order violations.

Your order spells out the reason in your case, the type of supervision required, who pays, and how often visits occur. Read it carefully — most of your specific questions are answered there.

Finding a provider in Texas

Professional providers and supervised visitation centers in Texas tend to cluster in the major metros — including Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin. Families outside these areas often combine community-based supervision with virtual visits.

Texas families typically find providers through:

• The Supervised Visitation Institute (SVI) national directory — search by your Texas zip code. Our find a provider page links to it.
• Your Texas attorney — family law attorneys in Houston and surrounding areas know which providers are reliable.
• Your local District Court (designated Family District Court in larger counties) — many courts maintain a list of approved providers, or have a self-help center that can refer you.
• Texas legal aid — most counties have legal aid programs that help income-qualifying families with family law matters.
• Local domestic violence agencies in Texas — many offer supervised visitation services free or at low cost, especially in Houston and San Antonio.

For a complete step-by-step process, read our guide to finding a qualified provider.

What it costs in Texas

Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio have many provider options. Texas also has a network of family service non-profits offering supervised visitation.

General cost ranges Texas families can expect:

• Professional supervisor: $50–$150 per hour
• Visitation center: $30–$100 per visit (sliding scale common)
• Therapeutic supervisor: $100–$250+ per hour
• Supervised exchange: $15–$50 per exchange
• Virtual supervision: $30–$80 per session

For the full breakdown of cost factors and ways to lower the monthly spend, see our complete cost guide.

Getting a court order in Texas

To ask the District Court (designated Family District Court in larger counties) for a supervised visitation order, you typically file a motion or petition in an existing case. If you don't have an open case, you generally start by filing a petition to establish custody and parenting time.

The exact forms and procedures vary by Texas county. Your court's self-help center is the right place to start — they can help with forms and procedural questions, though they can't give legal advice. For advice about your specific case, a Texas family law attorney is the right call. The Texas State Bar Association's lawyer referral service can connect you with someone, often with a low-cost initial consultation.

For a complete walk-through, read our guide to getting a court order.

Texas resources at a glance

• Texas State Bar Association — search "Texas state bar lawyer referral" to find their current site and referral service.
• Texas court self-help — your county court website typically has a "self-help" or "family law" section with forms and procedural guidance.
• Texas legal aid — search "Texas legal aid" for income-qualifying assistance with family law matters.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline — 1-800-799-7233, 24/7. Can connect you with Texas DV advocates who handle supervised visitation referrals.
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 for free, confidential mental health support.

Next steps for Texas families

1. Read the overview to understand the framework.
2. Learn the types of supervision so you know what your order requires.
3. Find a qualified provider in Houston or your part of Texas.
4. Prepare for your first visit with practical tips.
5. Read the FAQ for answers to common questions.

A note for Texas parents. The specifics of family court procedure differ across states, but what tends to help parents do well is consistent everywhere: show up to every visit, follow the order, focus on your child, and ask for help when you need it. The path back to standard parenting time runs through those four things.