The Texas CPS Court Case Timeline: Service Plan, Status Hearing, Permanency Hearings and the One-Year Deadline

The short answer

Most deadlines in a Texas CPS court case count from one date: the day the court renders (officially makes) a temporary order naming DFPS your child's temporary managing conservator. DFPS must file a service plan by the 45th day after that order Tex. Fam. Code §263.101. The court must hold a status hearing by the 60th day Tex. Fam. Code §263.201(a) and a permanency hearing by the 180th day Tex. Fam. Code §263.304(a). Unless trial has started or the court grants an extension, the case is automatically dismissed on the first Monday after the first anniversary of that order Tex. Fam. Code §263.401(a).

What are the deadlines in a Texas CPS case?

The first two hearings count from the day your child was taken. Most later deadlines count from the date the court renders the temporary order naming DFPS your child's temporary managing conservator. The table uses the statute's words.

In a legal removal, DFPS asks the court for that order TexasLawHelp.org, "I want help and information on dealing with Child Protective Services". A managing conservator generally has the right to decide where and with whom a child lives. In a CPS case, temporary managing conservatorship means DFPS temporarily takes custody of your child TexasLawHelp.org, "I want help and information on dealing with Child Protective Services".

Deadline	Counted from	What happens	Law
On or before the first business day after	A removal without a court order	Initial hearing	Tex. Fam. Code §262.106(a)
Not later than the 14th day after	The removal	Full adversary hearing	Tex. Fam. Code §262.201(a)
Not later than the 45th day after	The temporary order	DFPS files the service plan	Tex. Fam. Code §263.101
Not later than the 60th day after	The temporary order	Status hearing	Tex. Fam. Code §263.201(a)
Not later than the 180th day after	The temporary order	Initial permanency hearing	Tex. Fam. Code §263.304(a)
Not later than the 120th day after	The last permanency hearing	Next permanency hearing	Tex. Fam. Code §263.305
Not later than the 60th day before	The dismissal date	Court notifies all parties of the dismissal date	Tex. Fam. Code §263.401(a)
The first Monday after the first anniversary	The temporary order	Automatic dismissal, unless trial has commenced or an extension was granted	Tex. Fam. Code §263.401(a)
Not to exceed 180 days after	The first-Monday dismissal date	Latest date an extension can reach	Tex. Fam. Code §263.401(b)

For example, if the temporary order was rendered on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the first anniversary is Thursday, March 4, 2027, and the first Monday after it is March 8, 2027. Ask your lawyer to confirm the dates in your case.

What is the service plan?

DFPS must file a service plan by the 45th day, except as the aggravated-circumstances rule allows Tex. Fam. Code §263.101. The plan must Tex. Fam. Code §263.102(a):

• be specific, in writing in a language you understand, and prepared with you;
• state deadlines, a primary permanency goal (the long-term plan for your child) and at least one alternative goal;
• state what you must do and what help DFPS or another agency will give you; and
• state any skills you must learn and behavior changes you must show.

DFPS must write it so it is clear and understandable to you Tex. Fam. Code §263.102(d). Whatever the goal, DFPS must provide, as applicable, time-limited family reunification services and adoption promotion and support services at the same time Tex. Fam. Code §263.102(e).

What happens at the status hearing?

The status hearing reviews your child's status and the service plan, by the 60th day Tex. Fam. Code §263.201(a). It is not required if, in an aggravated-circumstances case, the court already held an initial permanency hearing and made the required findings Tex. Fam. Code §263.201(b).

The hearing is limited to the service plan. The court reviews it for reasonableness, accuracy, and compliance with court orders Tex. Fam. Code §263.202(b). It makes findings on whether you have reviewed and understand the plan, and whether the plan is narrowly tailored to the issues DFPS identified Tex. Fam. Code §263.202(b). You get an opportunity to comment on the plan Tex. Fam. Code §263.202(g). Then the court makes the plan part of its orders and may order you to comply Tex. Fam. Code §263.202(b-1).

What happens at permanency hearings?

The first permanency hearing comes by the 180th day. It reviews your child's status and permanency plan so a final order can be made before the dismissal date Tex. Fam. Code §263.304(a). The court must set a final hearing early enough to make a final order before that date Tex. Fam. Code §263.304(b). Each later permanency hearing must be held not later than the 120th day after the last one, and the court may order more frequent hearings Tex. Fam. Code §263.305.

The law presumes that prompt and permanent placement of a child in a safe environment is in the child's best interest Tex. Fam. Code §263.307(a). The court and DFPS should consider listed factors in deciding whether you are willing and able to provide a safe environment Tex. Fam. Code §263.307(b). They include:

• your child's age and vulnerabilities, and the magnitude, frequency, and circumstances of any harm;
• whether your child is fearful of returning home;
• any history of abusive conduct or substance abuse by the family or others with access to the home;
• your family's willingness and ability to seek out, accept, and complete counseling services;
• your family's willingness and ability to make positive changes within a reasonable period of time; and
• whether your family shows adequate parenting skills, and whether extended family and friends can support your child.

What happens at the one-year deadline?

Unless the trial on the merits has commenced (started) or the court has granted an extension, the court's jurisdiction ends on the first Monday after the first anniversary of the temporary order, and the suit is automatically dismissed without a court order Tex. Fam. Code §263.401(a).

To extend the case under this rule, the court must find that extraordinary circumstances require your child to stay in DFPS's temporary managing conservatorship and that this is in your child's best interest. The extension may not exceed 180 days after the first-Monday date Tex. Fam. Code §263.401(b). The court must find extraordinary circumstances if you made a good faith effort to complete your service plan but need more time, and the court intends to return your child when you finish Tex. Fam. Code §263.401(b-3). If you were ordered into substance abuse treatment, the court must consider whether you made a good faith effort to complete it Tex. Fam. Code §263.401(b-2).

If trial has not started by the extended date, the suit is dismissed, and no further extension is allowed Tex. Fam. Code §263.401(c). After a new trial, a mistrial, or an appeals court sending the case back, the court sets a new date not later than the 180th day after Tex. Fam. Code §263.401(b-1). The parties cannot extend the court's deadlines under these rules by agreement or otherwise Tex. Fam. Code §263.402.

What is a monitored return?

A monitored return lets the court keep the case instead of dismissing it while your child goes home. The order must find this is in your child's best interest, and order DFPS to return your child to you or move your child home on a schedule while you finish your plan. DFPS stays temporary managing conservator and monitors your child's safety Tex. Fam. Code §263.403(a). The order must set a new dismissal date no later than the 180th day after it Tex. Fam. Code §263.403(b).

Unless the court already granted a §263.401(b) extension, you or DFPS may ask for six more months to finish a transition home Tex. Fam. Code §263.403(a-1). If your child must be moved out of your home, the court sets a new dismissal date Tex. Fam. Code §263.403(c).

In Parker County

All district court family and juvenile cases in Parker County are filed with the District Clerk, the clerk for the 43rd and 415th District Courts Parker County, "District Clerk". The county's two County Courts at Law have the jurisdiction of a district court, except for felonies Tex. Gov't Code §§25.1861–25.1862, and the County Clerk keeps their records Parker County, "County Clerk". To look for hearings in a pending case, the county says to use the Parker County judicial records search Parker County, 43rd District Court FAQs.

DFPS lists a Weatherford office at 1950 Clear Lake Rd., Weatherford, Texas 76086, phone (817) 596-7502, with CPS among its programs Texas DFPS, Region 3 Office Locations.

Court addresses and clerk hours: Parker County and Weatherford, Texas: CPS and Family Courts, Court Records, DFPS Office and Free Legal Help. Finding a lawyer: Getting a CPS Lawyer in Weatherford and Parker County, Texas.

What the law says

The service plan shall include the following statement: TO THE PARENT: THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT. ITS PURPOSE IS TO HELP YOU PROVIDE YOUR CHILD WITH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE REASONABLE PERIOD SPECIFIED IN THE PLAN. IF YOU ARE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO PROVIDE YOUR CHILD WITH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, YOUR PARENTAL AND CUSTODIAL DUTIES AND RIGHTS MAY BE RESTRICTED OR TERMINATED OR YOUR CHILD MAY NOT BE RETURNED TO YOU. THERE WILL BE A COURT HEARING AT WHICH A JUDGE WILL REVIEW THIS SERVICE PLAN.

In plain words: your service plan must carry this warning, and a judge will review the plan.

A court shall find under Subsection (b) that extraordinary circumstances necessitate the child remaining in the temporary managing conservatorship of the department if: (1) a parent of a child has made a good faith effort to successfully complete the service plan but needs additional time; and (2) on completion of the service plan the court intends to order the child returned to the parent.

In plain words: if you made a good faith effort on your plan but need more time, and the judge intends to return your child when you finish, the judge must find the extraordinary circumstances an extension needs.

The parties to a suit under this chapter may not extend the deadlines set by the court under this subchapter by agreement or otherwise.

In plain words: no one can agree to push back the court's deadlines.

Questions to ask a lawyer

• What date was the temporary order rendered, and what is my dismissal date?
• Is my service plan specific and narrowly tailored?
• What proof of progress should I bring to each permanency hearing?
• If I need more time, could the court find extraordinary circumstances?
• Could a monitored return work in my case?
• What happens to my child if the case is dismissed?

Related

• When CPS Removes a Child in Texas: What Happens in the First 14 Days
• Termination of Parental Rights in Texas CPS Cases
• Your Right to a Lawyer in a Texas CPS Case
• Getting a CPS Lawyer in Weatherford and Parker County, Texas
• Parker County and Weatherford, Texas: CPS and Family Courts, Court Records, DFPS Office and Free Legal Help