Navigating the Texas legal system can be confusing, especially when your case is assigned to a specialized court. In Bell County and across Texas, family law and criminal matters are often heard by non-elected judges or courts created by the legislature for efficiency and specialization. These include:

1. Associate Judge Courts

Appointed, not elected, associate judges handle most family law matters such as divorce, child custody, enforcement, and protective orders. They can also preside over criminal arraignments. Their decisions are binding unless challenged by a de novo appeal to the elected district judge—meaning the referring court re-hears the case from scratch. You must act quickly; strict deadlines apply.

2. Magistrate Courts

Created by legislative authority, magistrate courts handle expanded criminal law functions such as arraignments, bond hearings, probable cause determinations, and some pretrial matters. While they provide critical access to justice, their decisions are still subject to review or further proceedings in the referring court.

3. Child Protection Courts

These courts handle Child Protective Services (CPS) cases. In Bell County, these are managed by appointed child abuse court judges who specialize in handling removal, placement, and termination of parental rights cases. Their rulings can also be appealed de novo to the referring court.

4. IV-D (Child Support) Courts

IV-D courts work in collaboration with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, focusing on the establishment of paternity and enforcement of child support. The State represents the interest of the child—not either parent. Like other associate courts, their rulings can be challenged with a timely de novo hearing request.

Why This Matters

If you don’t agree with a ruling from one of these courts, you may have a limited time to request a de novo hearing. Failing to act can make that decision final.

At Barina Law Group in Temple, we appear before all of these courts and regularly handle both initial hearings and de novo appeals. Whether your issue is family law, criminal law, or child support, we know how to navigate these complex systems.

👉 Need guidance? Start here: www.bobbybarinalaw.com