El Paso County, Texas: CPS Courts, Court Records, DFPS Offices and Free Legal Help

This page is for families in El Paso County, Texas, including El Paso and Socorro. It gives you official local contacts for CPS cases: the family courts, the clerk who keeps court records, the DFPS offices, free or low-cost legal help, and help in Spanish. This is legal information, not legal advice.

The short answer

El Paso County lists three family district courts: the 383rd, the 388th and the 65th El Paso County, Texas, District Courts - Family Cases Only. It lists Child Protective Service cases and terminations among the family cases they hear El Paso County, Texas, District Courts - Family Cases Only. All three list addresses at 500 E San Antonio in El Paso El Paso County, Texas, 383rd District Court El Paso County, Texas, 388th District Court El Paso County, Texas, 65th District Court. DFPS (the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Texas DFPS, Contact Us, the state agency whose programs include Child Protective Services Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs) lists El Paso County in its Region 10 Texas DFPS, Counties in DFPS Regions and Districts. The Region 10 headquarters is at 501 Hawkins Blvd., El Paso, TX 79915-1945 Texas DFPS, Region 10.

Courts that handle CPS cases in El Paso County

El Paso County groups the 383rd, 388th and 65th District Courts as "District Courts - Family Cases Only" El Paso County, Texas, District Courts - Family Cases Only. The county lists their case types as divorces, child support modifications, protective orders, adoptions, terminations, Child Protective Service cases and juvenile prosecutions El Paso County, Texas, District Courts - Family Cases Only. Terminations are cases that ask a court to end the legal relationship between a parent and a child.

The county also lists County Courts at Law that hear only family cases, such as divorces, modifications, protective orders, adoptions and terminations El Paso County, Texas, County Courts at Law - Family Cases Only. County Court at Law 5 is listed there El Paso County, Texas, County Court at Law 5. The county's Family Law - Associate Judges page also lists three associate family courts: 383rd District Court - Associate Family Court 2, 388th District Court - Associate Family Court 1, and County Court at Law 5 Associate Family Court 4 El Paso County, Texas, Family Law - Associate Judges.

Where the courts are (addresses as the county publishes them):

• 383rd District Court: 500 E San Antonio, Suite 1101, 11th Floor, El Paso, TX 79901 El Paso County, Texas, 383rd District Court.
• 388th District Court: 500 E San Antonio, Suite 902, 9th Floor, El Paso, TX 79901 El Paso County, Texas, 388th District Court.
• 65th District Court: 500 E San Antonio, Suite 1105, 11th Floor, El Paso, TX 79901 El Paso County, Texas, 65th District Court.
• County Court at Law 5: 500 E San Antonio, 8th Floor, Suite 803, El Paso, TX 79901. Phone: (915) 273-3707 El Paso County, Texas, County Court at Law 5.

Before you go:

• The 383rd District Court says the court and its staff are not allowed to give legal advice, and legal questions should go to a lawyer El Paso County, Texas, 383rd District Court.
• If you need an interpreter: The 388th District Court says to tell the court the day before, or an hour before, a scheduled hearing. Even then, the court cannot promise an interpreter will be there El Paso County, Texas, 388th District Court. Because criminal courts get first priority for county interpreters, you may choose to hire your own El Paso County, Texas, 388th District Court.

Not sure which court has your case? The District Clerk links to an online public access search for pending family cases El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk: Family Cases, or you can call the District Clerk at 915-273-3534 El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk.

Getting court records

The Family Division of the El Paso County District Clerk keeps the documents filed in family law cases El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk: Family Cases. A clerk is the office that files court papers and keeps the official record of each case.

El Paso County District Clerk

• Address: 500 E San Antonio, Suite 103, El Paso, TX 79901 El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk. Phone: 915-273-3534 El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk.
• Hours: the clerk's directory lists Civil Division hours as Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. El Paso County, Texas, Directory: District Clerk.
• Seeing your file: Call 915-273-3534 ahead of time so your file is waiting for you, or email your request to the District Clerk. Closed (disposed) cases need a 24-hour wait to pull the file El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk: Family Cases.
• The clerk's staff cannot give legal advice El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk: Family Cases, and the office does not provide forms El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk: Family Cases.
• Court costs: The District Clerk's page offers the Statement of Inability form in English and Spanish El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk. The clerk accepts only the Texas Supreme Court's approved Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs or an Appeal Bond El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk.

Court records are different from DFPS's own case records. To ask DFPS for its records, see How to Get Your CPS Case Records in Texas.

DFPS in El Paso County

DFPS lists El Paso County in DFPS Region 10 Texas DFPS, Counties in DFPS Regions and Districts. The Region 10 headquarters is at 501 Hawkins Blvd., El Paso, TX 79915-1945 Texas DFPS, Region 10.

DFPS's office list shows five locations in El Paso County Texas DFPS, Region 10 Office Locations:

• 501 Hawkins Blvd., El Paso, Texas 79915. Phone: (915) 542-4535. Programs listed: CPI, CPS, MS, RMG and SWI Texas DFPS, Region 10 Office Locations.
• 11295 Edgemere, El Paso, Texas 79936. Phone: (915) 629-3321. Programs listed: CPI, CPS, MS and SWI Texas DFPS, Region 10 Office Locations.
• 7400 Diana Dr., El Paso, Texas 79904. Phone: (915) 759-3497. Programs listed: CCI, CPI, CPS and MS Texas DFPS, Region 10 Office Locations.
• 10640 N. Loop Dr., Socorro, Texas 79927. Phone: (915) 791-8651. Programs listed: CPI, CPS and MS Texas DFPS, Region 10 Office Locations.
• Franklin Bldg., 401 E. Franklin St., Ste. 350, El Paso, Texas 79901. Phone: (915) 834-5743. Programs listed: APS and MS Texas DFPS, Region 10 Office Locations.

In DFPS's list, APS means Adult Protective Services, CCI means Child Care Investigations, CPI means Child Protective Investigations, CPS means Child Protective Services and MS means Management Services Texas DFPS, Region 10 Office Locations. RMG means Records Management Group and SWI means Statewide Intake Texas DFPS, Region 10 Office Locations.

If you have a question or complaint about your own case, DFPS says to contact its Office of Consumer Affairs Texas DFPS, Questions and Complaints. Its contact details are under "Statewide numbers" below.

Free and low-cost legal help

TexasLawHelp.org lists four free legal aid groups for El Paso County under Child Protective Services (CPS) TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (El Paso County, Child Protective Services):

• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) gives free civil legal services to residents of 68 Southwest Texas counties TexasLawHelp.org, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. TexasLawHelp.org lists CPS among its areas of work and El Paso among the counties linked to it TexasLawHelp.org, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. Its central toll-free line is (833) 329-8752, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. TexasLawHelp.org, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. TRLA also lists (956) 996-8752, open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Offices.
• Help before there is a court case: TRLA has a special project for parents involved with DFPS before a court petition is filed Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family. It helps in stages where parents don't get a court-appointed lawyer, including investigations, voluntary services and challenges to investigation findings Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family. If you are involved with CPS and don't have a court-appointed lawyer, you can call (956) 996-8752 to complete an intake any weekday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family.
• For other family law problems, TRLA's intake hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays only, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family. TRLA cannot represent everyone who qualifies, and many people get only referral information Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Family.
• TRLA lists an El Paso office at 1331 Texas Ave., El Paso, TX 79901 Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Offices.
• Texas Foster Youth Justice Project gives free legal help to current and former foster youth in Texas. Phone: (877) 313-3688 TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (El Paso County, Child Protective Services).
• Texas Free Legal Answers lets Texans with low or modest incomes work online with a volunteer lawyer for free TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (El Paso County, Child Protective Services).
• Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC) offers legal education, advocacy, advice and representation to underserved Texans TexasLawHelp.org, Legal Help Directory (El Paso County, Child Protective Services).

The District Clerk also lists texaslawhelp.org as a guide for preparing your own uncontested papers El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk: Family Cases.

Free legal information by phone: The Texas Legal Services Center Family Helpline gives free legal information and education about CPS issues TexasLawHelp.org, Child Protective Services (CPS). TexasLawHelp.org lists its number as 844-888-6565 TexasLawHelp.org, I want help and information on dealing with Child Protective Services.

Can the court give you a lawyer? In some CPS cases, yes. If DFPS sues to end your parental rights or to be named your child's conservator (the person or agency the court gives legal custody), the court must appoint a lawyer for a parent who is indigent (can't afford a lawyer) and who opposes the case Tex. Fam. Code §107.013(a). If you don't have a lawyer the first time you appear in court in that kind of case, the court must tell you about your right to a lawyer and, if you are indigent and oppose the case, your right to a court-appointed one Tex. Fam. Code §107.013(a-1). Learn more in Your Right to a Lawyer in a Texas CPS Case.

Lawyer referral: The District Clerk lists the El Paso Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at 915-532-7052 for information on licensed attorneys El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk: Family Cases.

Help in Spanish (Ayuda en español)

These official and legal-aid sources publish help in Spanish:

• TRLA: Its phone message is posted in Spanish: "Si usted necesita asistencia legal, llame al (956) 996-8752 o (833) 329-8752 gratuito," Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Offices. Its help page tells callers in English and Spanish to call (956) 996-8752 to apply for free legal help Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Get Help. TRLA's Spanish page (trla.org/ayuda) asks people with a family law problem to call on Tuesdays and Thursdays during hotline hours Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Ayuda (en español).
• TexasLawHelp.org en español: It has a Spanish-language CPS section TexasLawHelp.org en español, Servicios de protección infantil (CPS). Its Spanish CPS guide gives the Family Helpline number, 844-888-6565, for free legal information about DFPS matters TexasLawHelp.org en español, guía sobre los Servicios de protección infantil.
• DFPS en español: DFPS's Spanish page says to call the 24-hour line, 1-800-252-5400, to report suspected abuse or neglect Texas DFPS, En Español. It lists the Office of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-720-7777, a toll-free line Texas DFPS, En Español. DFPS also publishes its parents' guide to investigations in Spanish. It lists the Family Helpline at (844) 888-6565, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Texas DFPS, Guía para padres sobre las investigaciones de DFPS.
• El Paso County courts: The District Clerk offers the Statement of Inability form in Spanish El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk and a Protective Order Kit in Spanish El Paso County, Texas, District Clerk. The 388th District Court posts a self-representation manual in Spanish, "Manual Para Litigantes de Auto Representacion" El Paso County, Texas, 388th District Court. If you need an interpreter in court, see "Before you go" above El Paso County, Texas, 388th District Court.

Statewide numbers

• Emergency: DFPS says to call 9-1-1 Texas DFPS, Contact Us.
• Texas Abuse/Neglect Hotline: 1-800-252-5400, or report online at www.txabusehotline.org. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week Texas DFPS, Hotlines.
• DFPS Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA): (800) 720-7777, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs. DFPS's hotline list gives the same hours in Central Time Texas DFPS, Hotlines. The OCA handles complaints about specific cases that involve DFPS program policy Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs. You can also use its online question and complaint form, or write to OCA/DFPS, PO Box 149030, MC: Y946, Austin TX 78714-9030 Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs.
• The OCA also does formal reviews when a CPS investigation concludes that a person abused or neglected a child. DFPS used to call this the OCR review process Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs. See How to Ask for an ARIF (Administrative Review of CPS Findings) in Texas and CPS Investigation Findings in Texas: Reason to Believe, Ruled Out and More.
• The OCA does not review what courts or law enforcement do or order Texas DFPS, Office of Consumer Affairs.
• Texas Parent Helpline: 1-833-680-0611. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Texas DFPS, Hotlines.
• DFPS Records Management Group (to ask for a DFPS record): 1-877-764-7230. Open 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday Texas DFPS, Hotlines.
• Family Helpline (Texas Legal Services Center): 844-888-6565, for free legal information and education about CPS and DFPS issues TexasLawHelp.org, Child Protective Services (CPS) TexasLawHelp.org, I want help and information on dealing with Child Protective Services.

Guides that apply in El Paso County

• The Texas CPS Investigation Process, Step by Step (Family Code §§261.301–261.302)
• Your Rights When Texas CPS Contacts You (Family Code §261.307)
• CPS Investigation Findings in Texas: Reason to Believe, Ruled Out and More
• Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS) in Texas: What Families Should Know
• Court-Ordered Services in Texas CPS Cases (Family Code §264.203)
• CPS Drug Testing in Texas: What DFPS Policy Says
• Your Right to a Lawyer in a Texas CPS Case
• How to Get Your CPS Case Records in Texas

Information verified against official sources on 2026-10-02. Call ahead; hours and locations can change.